Butterfly Lovers

by Fan Dai

Based on the Chinese folk tale 'Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai', this romantic tragedy portrays 'Romeo and Juliet' from a distinctly Chinese angle, with its two star-crossed lovers facing the obstacle of a class-based arranged marriage and the archaic idea that 'a virtuous woman is one without any talent.' Their fateful convergence begins as the heroine, Yingtai, escapes from her imprisonment in a home where she is not valued and disguises herself as a man, only to fall passionately in love with Shanbo, the poor young scholar she comes to live and study with while she is in disguise. Yingtai's family is not at war with Shanbo's; rather, it does not recognise its existence. Traversing class and gender expectations, Yingtai and Shanbo spiral toward the inevitable consequences of a life so much at odds with tradition.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, China, Classics, Fantasy, Forbidden Love

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2000

Reviews

[Gabi Yuan · Rating 3 out of 5]

a painful but worthwhile read

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book "Butterfly Lovers" is a Romance story about Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo, also known as the Chinese Romeo and Juliet. Their relationship starts as friends and slowly moves up. They are stuck as good "brothers" for a while because Yingtai had to dress as a guy to go to school, the reason being that women couldn't go to school at this time. She met Shanbo on the way to the school. The two studied together for 3 years, building a strong bond, without Shanbo realizing that Yingtai is a girl until she leaves the school. Within those 3 years, Yingtai grew romantic feelings towards Shanbo and when she left the school, her identity was later revealed to him. Shanbo in response hurried back home and tried to ask for her hand in marriage as soon as possible, even though his family was not rich. This request for marriage to Yingtai was sadly shot down by her father who had already arranged a marriage for his daughter, to a wealthier guy from another family. Both suffered a lot of hardships, just for the two to end up dead and their graves were put next to each other. In the end, it showed two butterflies flying around and on their two graves, one representing Yingtai and the other Shanbo, in my opinion. Showing that they could not be separated, finally being able to be together.

The author, Fan Dai, reveals some important insights about women at this time. On how they couldn't go to school and were in a lower class than men. Yingtai, for example, was always stuck at home or requested to go back home, having to obey her fathers' words. Women were overlooked at this time and not respected enough. In my opinion, this novel had its ups and downs. I loved how their relationship slowly flourished. But, what I disliked was how Shanbo died, when he couldn't marry Yingtai and was rejected he disconnected from life, slowly losing his will to live. I believe the author was trying to convey something, but I still feel that it was too dramatic. Overall, their love for each other was definitely shown and grew as the story kept dragging on.

[Ngoc Son · Rating 4 out of 5]

4E 永 forever young

[Alyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book but I couldn't. I've seen a few movies and dramas based on the same story as this book so I had an idea of what would happen in the book. I didn't expect to have such a strong dislike of YingTai, the lead female. I know she is supposed to be a clever girl but I found her to be more manipulative and childish than clever and that bothered me. This book is told mainly from her POV too. ShanBo I liked. He was book smart and a thoughtful guy.

I still love this story. The love between ShanBo and YingTai was done well. It was easy to see how much these two loved each other.

Also, i don't like how they compare this story to Romeo and Juliet. This isn't about two teens from opposing families that fall in love over night. YingTai and ShanBo's love grows over time and well, there is much more meaning and another story behind their love. One would need to do more research to understand what I am trying to get at.

[Dan Ying · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. It is romantic and sad at the same time. Butterfly lover is a chinese version of Romeo and Juliet. This book is about a young woman who want to go to school but during that time period woman aren't allow to go to school. So she dress up as a man and went to a male school. At the school she meets her lover. They couldn't get togther because the two family hate each other. I feel sorry for the woman and the man because they love each other but because of their family they couldn't get marry. And at the end they both dead. I think that is a very sad ending.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the Chinese folk tale Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, this romantic tragedy portrays "Romeo and Juliet" from a distinctly Chinese angle.
Its a sad but beautiful story.....

[Jason]

A famous Chinese Romeo and Juliet -- even before Bill Shakespeares time!