Chinese prints collection
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Chinese prints collection
- Date
- 1954-1955 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.25 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- China--History--Sung dynasty, 670-1279
- Chinese culture & civilization.
- Arrangement
- The collection is arranged into two series by set.
- Preferred Citation
- 2011ms045 : [identification of item], Chinese Prints collection, 1954-1955, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The picture story of the stage performance of the roles of Liang Shan-po and Chu Ying-tai, folk legends of China. The second set are reproductions of paintings from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 A.D).
- Scope and Content
- The Chinese prints consists of two sets of colored reproductions. The picture story of the stage performance of the roles of Liang Shan-po and Chu Ying-tai, folk legends of China. The second set are reproductions of paintings from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 A.D).
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
Liang Shan-po and Chu Ying-tai
Scope and Contents note
"Liang Shan-po and Chu Ying-tai" is one of the finest folk legends of China. Through the tragic love affair of the young hero and heroine, it reflects the sorrows and sufferings of young people in their marriage problems under the feudal system. This legend is well known in all parts of China, and has been introduced to the broad masses in various dramatic forms, the most popular of which is the Shaohsing opera. The Chinese Shaohsing Opera Troupe during its tour of the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic in 1955 gave performances of this opera, which received very favourable comments from foreign audiences. This small set of coloured pictures, edited and published by the People's Art Publishing House of Shanghai, consists of photographs of actual stage performances, arranged into a picture story. In the roles of Liang Shan-po and Chu Ying-tai are Fan Jui-chuan and Fu Chuan-hsiang, both of whom were awarded the First-class Actor's Medal during the First National Dramatic Contest.
Chu Ying-tai's father, because of his daughter's earnest desire to study, very reluctantly consented to her leaving for Hangchow to attend school., undated
Chu Ying-tai went to Hangchow to study disguised as a man. While there she became bosom friends with her schoolmate Lian San-po, as they shared the same ambitions and ideals of life., undated
Three years later Chu Ying-tai received orders from her father to return home. Just before leaving she entrusted a jade ornament (a kind of love token) to the wife of her teacher and besought the latter to act as a matchmaker between them. Liang Shan-po knew nothing about this., undated
Liang Shan-po accompanied Chu Ying-tai for eighteen li on her journey home. On the way Ying-tai gave hints of her affections by various metaphorical sayings, but the honest and simple scholar failed to grasp her true meaning., undated
When the wife of their teacher told Liang Shan-po everything, he was at once astonished and overjoyed., undated
On the way to the home of the Chus in Hangchow, the sight of familiar scenes and objects - which he had seen while accompanying Chu Ying-tai home - profoundly stirred the emotions of the young scholar. The true meaning of Chu Ying-tai's metaphors suddenly dawned on him, and he blamed himself for not having understood them sooner., undated
Ever since she returned home, Chu Ying-tai had been hoping, day and night, that Liang Shan-po would come to her quickly., undated
Then one day, like a bolt from the blue, Ying-tai's feudal-minded father, by threats and intimidation, betrothed his daughter to a certain Ma Wen-tsai, the son of an official family with wealth and power., undated
Liang Shan-po did not know anything about this until he had arrived in Hangchow and met Ying-tai in her home. Love and compassion overwhelmed the two, but it was all in vain. The cruel feudal system had ruthlessly torn them apart.
Liang Shan-po died soon of a broken heart. On the way to her wedding, Chu Ying-tai stopped by his grave to mourn for him, and in her extreme anguish wished that she could also die. Suddenly the grave opened, the young girl leapt in, and the two lovers, transformed into a pair of butterflies, fluttered out into the sunlight and began dancing. By this "transformation" they revealed to the world their longing for marital freedom and happiness.
Paintings of the Sung Dynasty, 960-1279 AD
Scope and Contents note
First Series, printed by the Palace Museum, Peking, 1954
Peacocks and Red Mei-blossoms by an anonymous painter of the Sung Dynasty.
Pasturing Horses in a Willow-shaden Creek, by an anonymous painter of the Sung Dynasty.
Playing Chinese Lyre in a Secluded Chamber, by an anonymous painter of the Sung Dynasty.
Lotus Emerging from the Water, by an anonymous painter of the Sung Dynasty.
A Basket of Flowers by Li Sung of the Sung Dynasty.
An Aquatic Bird on the Red Water-pepper, by an anonymous painter of the Sung Dynasty.
A Starling on the Autumn Tree, by an anonymous painter of the Sung Dynasty.
Dragon-boat Race, by an anonymous painter of the Sung Dynasty.
A Fairy on the Phoenix's Back, by an anonymous painter of the Sung Dynasty.
Four Goats, by Chen Chu Chung of the Sung Dynasty.
Mei-blossoms, Rocks, Stream and Wild Ducks, by Ma Yuan of the Sung Dynasty.
Chicks, by Li Ti of the Sung Dynasty.
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Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
