In ancient China, during the Eastern Jin dynasty, there lived a young woman named Zhu Yingtai. She was the only daughter in a wealthy family, known for her intelligence, grace, and strong will. In those days, girls were not permitted to study alongside men. Yet Zhu Yingtai longed for knowledge and dreamed of seeing the world beyond her garden walls.
One morning, she dressed in men’s clothing and convinced her parents to let her study in the city of Hangzhou. Carrying only her books and courage, she set off, disguised as a scholar. Along the way, she met a kind young man named Liang Shanbo, who was also traveling to the same academy. They quickly became friends, walking together, sharing stories, and forming a bond as close as brothers.
For three years, they studied side by side. Liang admired Zhu’s brilliance and gentle nature, never suspecting her true identity. Meanwhile, Zhu’s admiration deepened into love. She longed to tell Liang who she really was, but the time never felt right.
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One spring afternoon, as they walked among the blossoming peach trees, Zhu spoke with quiet courage. “Brother Liang,” she said, “when we finish our studies, I will return home. I have a younger sister who would be a good match for you. You should come to my home to meet her.”
Liang smiled warmly. “I would be honored,” he said.
But Zhu Yingtai had no sister. Her words were a delicate hint, a hope that Liang would one day come to her and learn the truth.
When their studies ended, Liang accompanied Zhu halfway home. At the bridge where they were to part, she could no longer hide her feelings. She turned to him and said softly, “Brother Liang, when you come to my home, you will understand.” With that, she rode away, her heart heavy with longing.
Days later, when Liang arrived at the Zhu family estate, he discovered the truth, the friend he had studied with for years was not a fellow scholar but a young woman. Overjoyed and astonished, Liang realized that the love in his heart had always been real.
But fate was cruel. Zhu’s parents had already arranged her marriage to a wealthy man from the Ma family. Though her heart belonged to Liang, she could not disobey her family’s will.
Heartbroken, Liang fell ill from grief. As his strength faded, he wrote letters to Zhu expressing his undying love, then passed away before ever seeing her again. When the news reached Zhu Yingtai, she wept until her eyes could no longer produce tears.
On the day of her wedding, as her bridal procession passed near Liang’s grave, a fierce wind rose from the earth. Thunder rumbled, and the sky darkened. Zhu stepped out of her sedan chair and walked toward the grave.
“Liang Shanbo,” she cried, “if Heaven will not let us live together, then let the earth unite us forever.”
At her words, the grave opened. Without hesitation, Zhu Yingtai threw herself into it. The earth closed around her, and the storm fell silent.
Then, before the eyes of all who watched, two butterflies emerged from the ground delicate, colorful, and free. They danced around each other in the air, rising higher and higher until they disappeared into the sky.
From that day, the people said that the souls of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo had transformed into butterflies, forever together, beyond the reach of sorrow and separation. Their story became a symbol of pure love and freedom, the kind that no power can destroy.
Moral Lesson
True love transcends social barriers and even death itself. It reminds us that devotion and sincerity give life meaning, and that the soul’s desire for unity can outlast the mortal world.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are the main characters in The Butterfly Lovers?
Zhu Yingtai, a noble young woman, and Liang Shanbo, her classmate and true love.
2. Why does Zhu Yingtai disguise herself as a man?
Because women were not allowed to study at that time, and she wanted to pursue knowledge.
3. How does Zhu reveal her feelings to Liang?
She hints that she has a “sister” he should marry, hoping he will discover her secret.
4. What prevents the two lovers from being together?
Zhu’s parents arrange her marriage to another man before Liang learns the truth.
5. How do Zhu and Liang reunite in the end?
Zhu leaps into Liang’s grave, and their spirits transform into butterflies that fly away together.
6. What does the butterfly symbolize in this folktale?
It represents love, freedom, and the soul’s eternal connection beyond death.
Source:
Adapted from the Chinese folktale “Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai”, first documented during the Eastern Jin dynasty and later collected in Folk Songs from Southern China.
Cultural Origin: China (Han Chinese folklore)
