Appreciation of a Fine Work | “Love Arises Without Knowing Its Source, Yet Deepens with Each Passing Day”: Tang Xianzu’s Dream of the Red Chamber in Jinling

During the Ming Dynasty, the renowned scholar‑poet Tang Xianzu, a man of deep emotion and unyielding sincerity, once visited Nanjing. Enthralled by its landscapes, he cultivated a rich circle of friends and left behind numerous cultural achievements and literary works, composing a unique “Dream of Jinling” all his own.

Appreciation of a Fine Work | Tang Xianzu: His Lyrics Transcend Life and Death, and His Heart Holds the Mountains and Rivers Within

Tang Xianzu: His lyrical verses transcend life and death, and his heart embraces the mountains and rivers. Li Ran, No. 1 Middle School of Nanjing “Love arises without knowing whence; once kindled, it burns deep and unyielding. The living may die, and the dead may live…” This legendary tale, conjured by Tang Xianzu through pen and ink—a story that transcends the boundaries of life and death—has long been celebrated both at home and abroad. He passed away in the same year as Shakespeare and is revered as the “Sage of Chinese Opera.” Yet beyond his identity as a dramatist, Tang Xianzu traversed the full spectrum of human experience, saw through the complexities of the world, and stood as a steadfast Confucian scholar who refused to bend, as well as a poet whose heart was filled with profound compassion. In truth, his aspirations were never confined to the narrow confines of the stage.

Picture Storybook | Tales of Ancient Literati: “Tang Xianzu” (5) – Published by Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, 2010; illustrated by Xu Youwu and Xu Yougang.

Picture Storybook | Tales of Ancient Literati: “Tang Xianzu” (4) – Published by Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, 2010; illustrated by Xu Youwu and Xu Yougang.

Picture Storybook | Tales of Ancient Literati: “Tang Xianzu” (3) – Published by Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, 2010; illustrated by Xu Youwu and Xu Yougang.

Picture Storybook | Tales of Ancient Literati: “Tang Xianzu” (2) – Published by Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, 2010; illustrated by Xu Youwu and Xu Yougang.