"Butterfly" Hand Embellished Limited Edition Giclee
Limited Editions > Butterfly
"Butterfly"
© Caroline Young, All Rights Reserved |
Artwork Information
Title: "Butterfly" Medium: Hand Embellished Giclee on Paper Edition Size: 200 S/N Worldwide Copyright: © Caroline Young, All Rights Reserved Dimensions: 9 inches tall by 12 inches wide unframed Care: Do Not Hang In Direct Sunlight Frame: Custom Framing Available for Customer at Additional Cost - Final Frame Size Depends on Frame Selection Offered At: $ 150 You will be billed $150 plus $10 Shipping/Handling/Insurance. Please use our contact page if you would like this artwork Custom Framed.
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"Butterfly" Story
This is one of the most well-known love stories in China. Zhu Yingtai was the only child of a wealthy country squire. Not only was she beautiful, but also from an early age, she showed great talent for the classics, and possessed a strong determination to excel in her studies. Her father wanted to arrange a suitable marriage for her, but she insisted: "I want to travel and study at the academy, to broaden my mind. When I marry, it will be a man of my choosing." Eventually her father allowed her to attend school. Such behavior was not fitting for a girl at that time, so she disguised herself as a young man and set off on her journey.
During her travels, she met up with a handsome young scholar, Liang Shanbo, from a poor family. Together, they journeyed to the Academy, where they studied together, living under the same roof. They became the closest of friends, almost like brothers, and not once did he suspect she was a girl. After graduation, she told him, "You must come to visit me in my home. I have a younger sister I will ask my father to betroth to you." She was of course speaking of herself.
As Liang Shanbo came from a poor family, he felt unworthy of this proposal. He did not make the appointment set up to meet Yingtai's "sister". Not until he had passed the imperial exams and was appointed magistrate of the Yin County did he feel worthy enough to visit the Zhu family. By then, Yingtai's father had betrothed her to the son of the Ma family. When they saw each other again, Yingtai finally revealed her true self to him. Her love for him was evident for all to see. He was overcome with grief when told of her impending marriage. Filled with remorse, he went away and not long afterward, died of a broken heart. He was buried at the foot of the Qingdao Mountain.
On the day of her wedding, as the wedding procession passed the Qingdau Mountain on the way to the Ma residence, a sudden fierce wind forced the revelers to stop. As Yingtai stepped from her bridal sedan chair, she saw Liang Shanbo's grave. Weeping bitterly, she fell on the grave. The grave burst open suddenly, she leapt in, and it closed up behind her. When the wind calmed down, all that could be seen were two exquisite butterflies dancing above the grave, and together they flew off into the distance.
During her travels, she met up with a handsome young scholar, Liang Shanbo, from a poor family. Together, they journeyed to the Academy, where they studied together, living under the same roof. They became the closest of friends, almost like brothers, and not once did he suspect she was a girl. After graduation, she told him, "You must come to visit me in my home. I have a younger sister I will ask my father to betroth to you." She was of course speaking of herself.
As Liang Shanbo came from a poor family, he felt unworthy of this proposal. He did not make the appointment set up to meet Yingtai's "sister". Not until he had passed the imperial exams and was appointed magistrate of the Yin County did he feel worthy enough to visit the Zhu family. By then, Yingtai's father had betrothed her to the son of the Ma family. When they saw each other again, Yingtai finally revealed her true self to him. Her love for him was evident for all to see. He was overcome with grief when told of her impending marriage. Filled with remorse, he went away and not long afterward, died of a broken heart. He was buried at the foot of the Qingdao Mountain.
On the day of her wedding, as the wedding procession passed the Qingdau Mountain on the way to the Ma residence, a sudden fierce wind forced the revelers to stop. As Yingtai stepped from her bridal sedan chair, she saw Liang Shanbo's grave. Weeping bitterly, she fell on the grave. The grave burst open suddenly, she leapt in, and it closed up behind her. When the wind calmed down, all that could be seen were two exquisite butterflies dancing above the grave, and together they flew off into the distance.
