This is from Scene Two of Act Four of the Chinese popular drama Romance of the Western Chamber (西厢记 Xixiang Ji).

Miss Cui Yingying 崔莺莺 and Zhang Junrui (张君瑞, also called Scholar Zhang 张生) were deeply in love. Yingying’s maid, Hongniang 红娘, frequently escorted her to Scholar Zhang’s study at night for secret rendezvous. Eventually, Yingying’s mother, Madame Cui, discovered the affair and was furious. She ordered her son, Huanlang 欢郎, to summon Hongniang for interrogation. Yingying pleaded with Hongniang to cover for her.

In the hall, Madame Cui angrily commanded Hongniang to kneel and accused her of tarnishing the family’s reputation. She even threatened to punish Hongniang with a beating. Hongniang defended herself, arguing that the situation was entirely the result of Madame Cui’s own actions—first promising her daughter’s hand in marriage and then going back on her word. She reminded Madame Cui that she had pledged to marry her daughter to whoever could drive away Sun Feihu’s troops. After Scholar Zhang achieved this feat, Madame Cui reneged on her promise, breaking the hearts of the young couple. Hongniang further pointed out that the lovebirds had been seeing each other for over a month, making it impossible to reverse the situation.

Hearing this, Madame Cui had no choice but to consent to the marriage. However, she imposed one condition: Scholar Zhang must first go to the capital to take the imperial examinations and earn a prestigious title.

story scene description by Rachel Ma

See all episodes here: Romance of the Western Chamber

Other figural stories on Chinese artworks:

The dream by the Qiantang River 钱塘梦

Story of the White Hare 白兔记

Legend of the Jade Hairpin 玉簪记

• Fig 1: famille verte porcelain brush pot, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Guangdong Provincial Museum, China

  Fig 2: porcelain dish with underglaze blue decoration, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London

  Fig 3-4: porcelain bowl with overglaze enamelled decoration, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Groninger Museum, Groningen, The Netherlands

  Fig 5: porcelain bowl with underglaze blue decoration, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Princessehof Ceramics Museum, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

  Fig 6-7: porcelain charger of a pair with overglaze enamelled decoration, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Munich Residence Museum; Photograph by Jason Ooi

  Fig 8: porcelain dish with underglaze blue and red decoration, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Christie’s Auction House, New York, 16 March, 2015, Lot 3589

  Fig 9: porcelain bowl with underglaze blue decoration, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Jie Rui Tang Collection

  Fig 10: square copper dish with overglaze enamelled decoration, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Christie’s Auction House, New York, 6 Dec 2017, Lot 44

  Fig 11: black lacquer dish with mother-of-pearl inlay, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), courtesy of the Palace Museum, Beijing