This play was written in the Southern Song Dynasty. Li Niang, the daughter of Du Bao, the magistrate of Nan 'an, fell in love with Liu Mengmei in her dream. When she woke up, she felt sick and died. Three years later, Liu Mengmei came to the plum blossom view in Nan 'an where Du Liniang was buried, and fell in love with Li Niang's ghost freely.
After Frida Meng dug the grave, Li Niang came back to life and fled Lin 'an together after marriage. Frida Meng went to Huaiyang to see her father-in-law, but Du Bao refused to recognize her. It was not until Meng Mei won the first prize that Du Baocai recognized the kiss and tied the knot with the family through the mediation of the emperor.
Extended data:
The work reveals the contradiction between feudal ethics and the love life of young men and women, and enthusiastically praises Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei's indomitable struggle for freedom and happiness, which is more progressive than contemporary love dramas. The plot is full of fantastic colors, the characters are exquisite and profound, and the lyrics are beautiful, which has a great influence on the later drama literature.
There are dozens of editions, such as Tang Yuming's engraving in Wanli period of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Mo's engraving in Taichang of Ming Dynasty, Sixty Songs in Jiguge of Shi Mao in late Ming Dynasty, Four Tang Yuming's engraving by Zhu Lintang in early Qing Dynasty, Mustard Garden's engraving in Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty and Warm Red Chamber's engraving in early Republic of China.
Baidu Encyclopedia-The Story of Peony Pavilion Resurrection