The Chinese legend of the butterfly lovers - Lijun Zhang
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Date: 2022-03-24
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Comments and reviews: 10
Ghost
I find it appealing that in many mythical stories of love throughout history, there is an element of deception which cultivates freedom.
Even though she was in disguise, she felt like she could be herself
Why is it that for many people, including myself, anonymity is the key to being what we feel inside? Why is it through deception that our true nature is set free?
It's strange when I think about it but holds true. At one point some of us grow the need to rewrite our lives in our own image, our true image.
That image may be as simple as a different name, or as drastic as a different birth completely. Many of us spend our lives to rewrite the image we are born with to the image that best represents who we are.
But if everyone in the world didn't care where you're from or what you look like, then we wouldn't need to chase ourselves.
This is the one kindness the internet has provided I think (amongst its dangers. The opportunity of true anonymity cultivates personal freedom.
reply
I find it appealing that in many mythical stories of love throughout history, there is an element of deception which cultivates freedom.
Even though she was in disguise, she felt like she could be herself
Why is it that for many people, including myself, anonymity is the key to being what we feel inside? Why is it through deception that our true nature is set free?
It's strange when I think about it but holds true. At one point some of us grow the need to rewrite our lives in our own image, our true image.
That image may be as simple as a different name, or as drastic as a different birth completely. Many of us spend our lives to rewrite the image we are born with to the image that best represents who we are.
But if everyone in the world didn't care where you're from or what you look like, then we wouldn't need to chase ourselves.
This is the one kindness the internet has provided I think (amongst its dangers. The opportunity of true anonymity cultivates personal freedom.
reply
Men
(Basically what I imagine they talk)
Shanboo: How could I ever be apart of my brother soul despite of our different flesh and bone?
Yingtai: Part of you is not as you known.
Shanboo: Better than ever be. We shall be as one flesh and bone. Together forevermore.
Yingtai: If only fate chose to unite us now by cutting the other lines who interrupt this crossing engagement.
Shanboo: O Yingtai. How you are far but near. Near but so far. Like a ship that I can grasp under palm and yet not able to reach out. Love me if may, at least see me once in my death.
Yingtai: If heaven may not want us to be together in this life, let us be one in death. For a bird with a single wing can't fly without the other.
Shanboo & Yingtai: Love is free but never cheap. If there is no other way better than to sacrifice, then let it be so! Even when it is costly, even if we have to suffer!
reply
(Basically what I imagine they talk)
Shanboo: How could I ever be apart of my brother soul despite of our different flesh and bone?
Yingtai: Part of you is not as you known.
Shanboo: Better than ever be. We shall be as one flesh and bone. Together forevermore.
Yingtai: If only fate chose to unite us now by cutting the other lines who interrupt this crossing engagement.
Shanboo: O Yingtai. How you are far but near. Near but so far. Like a ship that I can grasp under palm and yet not able to reach out. Love me if may, at least see me once in my death.
Yingtai: If heaven may not want us to be together in this life, let us be one in death. For a bird with a single wing can't fly without the other.
Shanboo & Yingtai: Love is free but never cheap. If there is no other way better than to sacrifice, then let it be so! Even when it is costly, even if we have to suffer!
reply
Pandora
in the version i heard yingtai asked boshan to visit her at home, saying she had a sister that looked liked her that she wanted him to marry. and the rest of the conversation went something like:
boshan: you have a sister that looks like you?
yingtai: yes
boshan: EXACTLY like you
yingtai: and acts like me too
boshan: YEAH ILL MARRY HER
another detail is that on her way to her wedding with the ma family son, yingtai insisted that she wear white clothes instead of red, as white was a funeral color in china. ppl wear red to weddings bc that was a festive color, and wearing white to an even like that was considered bad luck and very rude.
oh and there was a popular song a few decades ago about these two that i used to hear on the radio all the time as a kid
reply
in the version i heard yingtai asked boshan to visit her at home, saying she had a sister that looked liked her that she wanted him to marry. and the rest of the conversation went something like:
boshan: you have a sister that looks like you?
yingtai: yes
boshan: EXACTLY like you
yingtai: and acts like me too
boshan: YEAH ILL MARRY HER
another detail is that on her way to her wedding with the ma family son, yingtai insisted that she wear white clothes instead of red, as white was a funeral color in china. ppl wear red to weddings bc that was a festive color, and wearing white to an even like that was considered bad luck and very rude.
oh and there was a popular song a few decades ago about these two that i used to hear on the radio all the time as a kid
reply
Izzy
This is one of the stories I had read and loved growing up. In some version it s said that they re the reincarnation of two servants of the Queen Mother of Heaven (WangMu NiangNiang, Gold Boy and Jade Girl, and the reason they re unable to marry is also because YinTai s family is wealthy and ShanBo was born into a poor family, so when she asked her parents to let her marry him, they denied her and arranged the marriage with Ma family instead.
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This is one of the stories I had read and loved growing up. In some version it s said that they re the reincarnation of two servants of the Queen Mother of Heaven (WangMu NiangNiang, Gold Boy and Jade Girl, and the reason they re unable to marry is also because YinTai s family is wealthy and ShanBo was born into a poor family, so when she asked her parents to let her marry him, they denied her and arranged the marriage with Ma family instead.
reply
tired
The Butterfly Lovers is one of my favourite violin concertos and I always wondered what the story behind it was! I love replaying the parts in the piece where they are forced to separate and the very end when they reunite again. The emotions are so raw through the music I can't help but feel sad and then elated during the end.
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The Butterfly Lovers is one of my favourite violin concertos and I always wondered what the story behind it was! I love replaying the parts in the piece where they are forced to separate and the very end when they reunite again. The emotions are so raw through the music I can't help but feel sad and then elated during the end.
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Tiffany
I read a version of this myth or perhaps TedEd chose to focus on the lovers' arc. The two lovers also came to the school with a servant. The servants fell in love with one another and fortunately didn't have to endure the same 'tragedies' as their masters and loved freely.
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I read a version of this myth or perhaps TedEd chose to focus on the lovers' arc. The two lovers also came to the school with a servant. The servants fell in love with one another and fortunately didn't have to endure the same 'tragedies' as their masters and loved freely.
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education
although they left life apart from each other and heartbroken they reunited on thier next life as butterflies, creatures that are free from human rule, stories of legends are mostly sad but somehow deeply beautiful, great animation and great narrating
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although they left life apart from each other and heartbroken they reunited on thier next life as butterflies, creatures that are free from human rule, stories of legends are mostly sad but somehow deeply beautiful, great animation and great narrating
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Esma
Wow. Thank you Ted-Ed. This was very beautiful in a tragic way. It's fascinating to learn about myths from different parts of the world. So it would be interesting to hear about ancient Persian and Turkish mythologies as well.
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Wow. Thank you Ted-Ed. This was very beautiful in a tragic way. It's fascinating to learn about myths from different parts of the world. So it would be interesting to hear about ancient Persian and Turkish mythologies as well.
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Panda-Rond
I love this tale, because it shows that even in Ancient China, gender's roles ( You are born as a girl/boy, so you NEED to do this and that) were a terrible ennemy to freedom, liberty and happiness.
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I love this tale, because it shows that even in Ancient China, gender's roles ( You are born as a girl/boy, so you NEED to do this and that) were a terrible ennemy to freedom, liberty and happiness.
reply
Biswas
Roses are red
Sky is blue
The story was great
Animation too
Yingtai turned into a butterfly
Shanbo turned too
And said 'I love you'
To which Yingtai replied
'Love you too'
reply
Roses are red
Sky is blue
The story was great
Animation too
Yingtai turned into a butterfly
Shanbo turned too
And said 'I love you'
To which Yingtai replied
'Love you too'
reply
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