Tale of Eternal Love: The Butterfly Lovers
This beautiful, tragic, and moving love story continues to touch the hearts of readers even after thousands of years.
It is said that during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, in Zhujiashan Village by the Yushui River in Shangyu County, Zhejiang Province, there lived a girl named Zhu Yingtai, the daughter of a wealthy man. She was beautiful and intelligent, and from a young age, she studied poetry and literature alongside her brother, admiring the talents of historical figures like Ban Zhao and Cai Wenji.
However, she lamented the lack of good teachers at home and longed to go to Hangzhou to study. Her father refused her request, but Yingtai was determined. She disguised herself as a fortune teller and told her father, “According to the divination, it is better to let your daughter leave home.” Seeing her disguised in male attire without any flaws, her father, not wanting to disappoint her, reluctantly agreed. Thus, Zhu Yingtai, dressed as a man, set off for Hangzhou to pursue her studies.
On her way, she encountered a scholar named Liang Shanbo from Kuaiji (now Shaoxing), who was also on his way to Hangzhou to study. They immediately formed a deep bond, becoming sworn brothers at the Caoxia Pavilion. Before long, the two arrived at Wansong Academy in Hangzhou, where they became classmates and began their studies. For three years, they were inseparable, and their friendship grew deeper with time. Zhu Yingtai fell deeply in love with Liang Shanbo, but Liang, unaware that Yingtai was a woman, only cherished their brotherly bond, feeling nothing more.
Yingtai’s father, missing his daughter, urgently summoned her back home. Yingtai had no choice but to leave. During their farewell, Liang Shanbo was reluctant to part, and Yingtai continuously dropped hints, trying to express her love. However, Liang Shanbo, being honest and straightforward, failed to understand her intentions. Yingtai, desperate, lied and said she had a younger sister at home who looked just like her, and offered to act as a matchmaker for Liang Shanbo.
However, due to his family’s poverty, Liang Shanbo was unable to visit her family in time. By the time he did, he discovered that Yingtai’s father had already betrothed her to Ma Wencai, the son of the local governor in Maofu City (now Yin County). The perfect match they had hoped for had turned into a fading dream. The two met in a pavilion, gazing tearfully at each other before sorrowfully parting. Before leaving, they swore an oath: “If we cannot share a bed in life, we shall share a tomb in death!”
Later, Liang Shanbo was appointed as the county magistrate of Yin County (now Fenghua County) by the imperial court. However, he fell gravely ill due to his deep sorrow and soon passed away. He requested to be buried in Jiulongxu, Maofu City. Upon hearing of Liang Shanbo’s death, Yingtai swore to follow him in death.
On the day of her forced marriage, she made a detour to Liang Shanbo’s grave to pay her respects. In response to her profound grief, a violent storm suddenly erupted, and the grave split open. Yingtai leaped into the tomb, which then closed up around her. The storm ceased, the sky cleared, and a rainbow appeared high in the sky. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai transformed into butterflies, fluttering together in the human world.
Isn’t love eternal?
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
