Forbidden love, gender bending, deception, vows, humor, heartbreak, mystical transformations — while I can’t say that every great story has to have these four elements, they’re certainly prevalent in a lot of the stories we hold in high regard in the West, from Shakespeare to Bugs Bunny.

Of course, these elements aren’t bound by culture; they’re part of the human experience, and this week, we’ll look at another of China’s Four Great Folktales, which just so happens to feature all of these: the story of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo. In my experience, it’s one of the most beloved and frequently referenced stories in China, with all the suspense and drama you could hope for.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden stories that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

 

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Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

 

Music:

"The Night" and "Dancing Abroad" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

"An Autumn Moon Over the Han Palace" and "High Mountains, Running Rivers" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use