#404 The “Scholar and Beauty” Trope: Yingying’s Story​

Chen Hongshou carved the woodblock print above as a scene for the 1639 edition of The Romance of the West Chamber (Xixiang ji 西厢记), published by Zhang Shenzhi. The 21-act play is based on Yingying's Story, and revisits Zhang and Yingying's romance, though with a happy twist at the end.

This is a Tang story that could almost as easily have been written in the Song. As we discuss, think about the important role that Confucianism plays in the backdrop (a set of ethical norms that would become more pronounced in the Song with the advent of what has become known in the West as “Neo-Confucianism”). This work also foreshadows some of the themes that we will engage with after Thanksgiving break.

“Yingying’s Story” is credited to Yuan Zhen (元稹, 779-831) due to the extended poem in the latter part that is introduced by Stephen Owen, the translator, with the phrase “I, Yuan Zhen of He-nan, completed . . .” (Owen, 547). The first person reference is not present in the original (“河南元稹，亦續生 . . .”), though this may be a reasonable reading at a time when deliberate ambiguity may have served to shield the author from being dismissed for engaging in such a trivial pursuit as short-story writing. It is even possible that this is something of “an autobiographical work” (Owen, 540). Today, Yuan Zhen is remembered for what Victor Mair describes as “perhaps the most celebrated of all classical-language short stories. . .  [and] probably the best known of all Chinese love stories” (Mair, 851).

Discussion:

• What kind of story is this? Fill in the blank: "It is a _____ story." There's no right answer. For example, I might describe Star Wars as "heroic," "science fantasy," or perhaps "optimistic." Be prepared to briefly explain why you have chosen your answer.
• How would you describe Zhang? What kind of man is he?
• What event allows Zhang and Yingying to meet? What can we tell about their first interactions?
• What are the obstacles for them to spend time together? How do they overcome those obstacles to meet?
• What role does poetry play in their relationship?
• How does the story end? What were your own personal feelings about the ending? Was Zhang's decision appropriate? With whom did you feel more sympathetic as you read the story—what passages drew your sympathies?