Story from Ancient Times: Broken Mirror Reunion
In the ninth year of Emperor Kaihuang’s reign during the Sui Dynasty (589 AD), the Chen Kingdom was conquered by the Sui Dynasty. Among those captured and taken into the Sui palace were the consorts and relatives of Chen Shubao, the last emperor of Chen, including his sister, Princess Lechang, who was the wife of Xu Degan, an official in the Chen court.
Because Yang Su had played a key role in defeating the Chen Kingdom and Princess Lechang was renowned for her extraordinary beauty and talent, Emperor Wen of Sui arranged for Princess Lechang to become one of Yang Su’s concubines. Yang Su, courtesy name Chudao, was a distinguished and influential figure, known for his wisdom, military prowess, and literary talent. He had assisted Emperor Wen in ending the period of disunity, unifying China under the Sui Dynasty. With a prominent reputation and accomplishments in both civil and military affairs, Yang Su was also captivated by Princess Lechang’s beauty and talents, and thus favored her greatly, even building a residence just for her. However, despite this attention, Princess Lechang remained sorrowful and silent, overwhelmed with grief.
The reason for her sadness was her deep love and attachment to her husband, Xu Degan. On the eve of the fall of the Chen Kingdom, Xu Degan tearfully spoke to his wife, saying, “Our country is on the verge of collapse, and our family cannot escape ruin. Our separation is inevitable. Given your beauty and talent, you will surely be taken into the household of a noble after our country falls. We will be separated for a long time, living in different places, with only longing and dreams connecting us. But if fate allows, and our love endures, we may meet again someday. Therefore, let us keep a token to recognize each other when we reunite.” With that, Xu Degan broke a bronze mirror in half, and each of them kept one half. He continued, “If you are indeed taken into a wealthy household, on the 15th day of the first lunar month next year, take your half of the mirror to the market and sell it. If I am still alive, I will come to the city that day and search for you using the mirror.”
Despite surviving the chaos, the couple was separated and endured the pain of being apart. When the next year’s Lantern Festival (the 15th day of the first lunar month) finally arrived, Xu Degan, after much hardship and wandering, reached the city. As he walked through the streets, he saw an old man selling half of a bronze mirror at a high price, too high for anyone to inquire about. Recognizing his wife’s half of the mirror, Xu Degan was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face. He quickly paid the old man and brought him to his residence. After offering food and drink, Xu Degan recounted the story of the broken mirror and showed the old man his half. As the two halves of the mirror were about to be joined, Xu Degan was already weeping uncontrollably. Moved by their deep love, the old man, with tears in his eyes, promised to deliver a message to Princess Lechang, ensuring the couple’s reunion. Xu Degan then composed a poem by moonlight and entrusted it to the old man to give to his wife. The poem read:
“The mirror and the person are both gone, The mirror returns, but the person does not. No more reflection of Chang’e, Only the moonlight remains.”
When Princess Lechang received the poem and realized how close yet far she was from her husband, she wept bitterly and became even more desolate, refusing food and drink. Yang Su, noticing her sorrow, questioned her repeatedly until she revealed the truth. Touched by their love, Yang Su summoned Xu Degan to his residence, allowing the couple to reunite. Everyone in the household was moved by the story of the reunited couple and Yang Su’s magnanimity in making it possible. After a celebration, the couple returned hand in hand to their homeland in the south. This touching tale of the “reunited mirror” spread far and wide and has been passed down through the ages.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
