Famous Yueju Opera artists perform The Butterfly Lovers at the 5th US Legacy Art Festival in Los Angeles on August 6, 2022.Photo: VCG

The Butterfly Lovers is an influential legend in China. Originating from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), it was mainly passed down orally throughout what is today East China's Zhejiang Province. 

According to the story, Zhu Yingtai is a pretty and intelligent girl from a rich family in Shangyu (today's Shaoxing) who enjoys studying. Since girls were not allowed to go to school at that time, she disguises herself as a boy despite her father's reluctance. On her way to school, she meets a boy named Liang Shanbo, with whom she becomes "brotherly" friends. During their three years of study in the academy of classical learning, they enjoy each other's company both when studying and in their free time. Although Liang has a crush on Zhu, the boy never finds out his peer is a girl. After three years, Zhu's father orders her home. 

When Liang sees her off, Zhu gives him numerous hints about her identity and also pretends to arrange a marriage between Liang and "her sister." 

After Liang arrives at Zhu's home, he finally finds out that Zhu is the "sister" he is supposed to marry. Unfortunately, he is too late because Zhu's father marries his daughter to Ma Wencai, the son of a local official. At the pavilion in Zhu's home, both of them express their love for each other, but sadly say farewell. 

When Liang returns home, he falls ill and later dies. Zhu becomes heart-broken when she learns the news. On her wedding day, she insists on mourning Liang at his tomb before going to Ma's home. 

When she gets to the tomb she is caught in a storm. Suddenly, lightning cracks the grave open and Zhu jumps in it before it closes. Soon afterwards, two butterflies fly out of the grave and flutter away like a couple of lovers. 

The legend has been adapted to Yueju Opera popular in Zhejiang, films, a TV drama and a violin concerto. Thanks to the concerto, the story has been told all over the world. In order to preserve it, the legend was listed among China's first-batch national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

Global Times