The love legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai appeared a thousand years ago during the Jin dynasty (III-V centuries) and still remains one of the most beloved Chinese folk tales.
In the Chinese city of Nimbo, where according to legend, the love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai took place, in 2007, a statue of Juliet was installed, which was given by the residents of Verona. In 2008, during the festival of love in Verona, a monument to Chinese lovers, romantic heroes of the legend of butterflies in love, was erected. Photo: Photoxpress in the Chinese city of Nimbo, where according to legend, the love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai took place, in 2007, a statue of Juliet was installed, which was given by the residents of Verona. In 2008, during the festival of love in Verona, a monument to Chinese lovers, romantic heroes of the legend of butterflies in love, was erected. Photo: Photoxpress in the Chinese city of Nimbo, where according to legend, the love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai took place, in 2007, a statue of Juliet was installed, which was given by the residents of Verona. In 2008, during the festival of love in Verona, a monument to Chinese lovers, romantic heroes of the legend of butterflies in love, was erected. Photo: Photoxpress
Animated and feature films were created based on the legend, as well as the famous Symphony. The plot of “butterflies in Love” (this is how this story is often called in China) is not very similar to the plot of “Romeo and Juliet”. They have in common the age of the characters, but there are no duels, poisonings, or Shakespearean passions, and they reflect steadfastness, loyalty, and a sense of duty.
The main character of the legend is a young girl named Zhu Yingtai. She was the only daughter of a wealthy family. Despite the fact that at that time women were not allowed to attend schools, Intai asked her father to send her to study, and he, of course, was against this and did not intend to break the tradition. But Intai was very persistent, she so persistently persuaded the parent that he agreed. Of course, her father had made the concession only because he had never doubted for a moment that no school would accept a girl.
After getting the agreement, Zhu Yingtai Packed up her things and went to her uncle’s house in Hangzhou, where she expected to go to school. Of course, she knew that the girl would not be accepted, so she went to the trick. She changed into men’s clothes and cut her hair to look like a young man. The trick worked, and it was accepted.
In class, Zhu Yingtai immediately noticed Liang Shanbo. They quickly became friends and soon became inseparable friends. Moreover, Zhu Yingtai loved Liang with all her heart and wanted to become his wife and live with him to the grave…
In her fourth year, Zhu Yingtai received a letter from her father, who ordered her to return home immediately. Not daring to disobey, she Packed up and went home. Liang Shanbo volunteered to accompany her. On the way, the girl several times wanted to tell him the truth, but could not decide, limiting herself to hints: “Liang, look, a couple of mountain ducks are flying! You and I are as inseparable as these two mountain ducks.” But Liang Shanbo did not take the hint, although he should have, because the people always represented a pair of mountain ducks with their lovers…
Since Liang Shanbo didn’t understand anything, Zhu Yingtai decided to use a trick: “Liang, I have a beautiful sister, it would be great if you would marry her after graduation.” The young man liked this idea, marrying Zhu’s sister would allow him to stay with his bosom friend, and he promised that he would marry his sister. At this point, the two young men parted: Zhu Yingtai went home, and Liang Shanbo returned to Hangzhou.
“The love legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai” – China’s intangible cultural heritage
Time passed, and the day came when Liang Shanbo graduated from high school. He immediately hurried to his best friend Zhu Yingtai, but on the threshold of the house he was met by a young beauty: “Liang, it’s me, your Zhu Yingtai! I love you and I want to be your wife!”
And then the young man felt that his heart was also filled with love for Zhu Yingtai… The young people appeared before Zhu Yingtai’s father and asked for the blessing of the marriage. But the father, though desirous of his daughter’s happiness, had already given his word to the rich merchant to give his daughter for him. And this word could not be broken, so my father refused.
Liang Shanbo was desperate. He suffered so much that his heart, seized with pain, could not stand it, and the young man died. He was buried in the local cemetery. Zhu Yingtai was also desperate. There was no limit to her grief. Life seemed meaningless to her without her lover. Meanwhile, the wedding day with a rich merchant was approaching. When the ceremony began, a hurricane suddenly came out of nowhere and scattered the entire procession. Zhu Yingtai miraculously found herself at Liang Shanbo’s grave. The wind tore off the tombstone, and Zhu Yingtai, without thinking, rushed to the grave to her lover. The heavy stone slab slammed shut. But before that, two butterflies had flown out of the grave and were dancing in love. It was the souls of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo that turned into butterflies, and now nothing could interfere with the happiness of the lovers.
This is an old legend that is still popular among the people. In 1959, based on an ancient legend, students of the Shanghai music school he Zhanhao and Chen gang wrote the violin Symphony “Liang-Zhu”, which later became internationally famous and became the most famous work in the history of classical music in China. Chen gang believes that the secret of Liang-Zhu’s success lies in the appropriate combination of Chinese music and European traditions. Even during the creation of the main musical theme, many advised to emphasize the national character of the Symphony by introducing parts on Chinese instruments to the string orchestra – the Chinese yueqin gusli, the Chinese Pipa lute, and others.
But this idea had to be abandoned, because the European orchestra had Chinese traditional instruments that sounded inharmonious. The plot of the Symphony “Liang-Zhu” is Chinese, but the musical language uses techniques and “lexicon” of world Symphony music, so this music is loved not only by Chinese listeners, it is understood all over the world.
Abroad, the Symphony “Liang-Zhu” was first performed in 1960 by the Moscow radio Symphony orchestra, and the orchestra was conducted by the Chinese musician Cao Peng, who had just finished his studies in the USSR. Since then, hundreds of world groups have performed the Liang-Zhu Symphony for music lovers in the United States, Germany, France, Singapore, Malaysia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Italy and other countries. “Liang-Zhu”, or “the Ballad of butterflies in love”, has become a musical hallmark of Chinese culture
