Love Marriage in Tang China
The story of Ts'ui Ying-ying takes place during the T'ang dynasty, which is one of the most well known dynasties. This story is one that is good example to see what it was like to live during that time, especially in the context of romantic love and marriage. The story of Ying-ying seems to be filled with double standards and examples of how people react and deal with love outside of the framework of marriage during this time period. In this time period of classic China, romantic love and passion are things that are not a prerequisite for marriage as they are assumed to be in the modern world.Chang, the protagonist in this story is portrayed as a "person of great beauty" referring to his qualities as a gentleman. This introduction to his character is important as we can see his actions as acceptable and normal in the context of that society and time. He is also introduced as a man who has "not yet enjoyed a woman's beauty", which can hold several meanings. This could mean that he has not been in love, or perhaps that he has not yet even been with a prostitute, a thing that is culturally a norm for men to do. After paying careful attention to the text, I can see that what it means to say is that he has not yet been in l
Ying-Ying, on the other hand, aware of Chang's advances only seems to hesitate because she probably knows the implications of having a romantic relationship. To Chang, the conquest and the idea of falling in love is something all men experience which is why possibly he is "laughed at" in the beginning by other men when he tells them he has never been with a woman. This story, while sad because of the love lost, is a good example of how the notion of romantic love fit in with society. While in modern times, many cultures feel that two people should be in love when they marry and that it is the key to a healthy marriage. However, it seems in this society romantic love is something found outside of marriage. For the man, the affair is not a stigma, but a passing phase. For the woman, the affair leaves her impure and saddened by the love she cannot keep. I do not think that Chang is not sad but rather feels that he is obligated to break off the relationship based on some cultural norms. It ends with Chang suggesting that Ying-Ying get over their affair and concentrate on her current husband. The ending just reiterates how normal the affair was and how normal it is that Ying-Ying should be devoted to her current husband. The idea that Ying-Ying was in love with Chang and vice versa simply does not have a place in that society. Throughout the entire story, there is a
Some common words found in the essay are:
Ying-ying Chang, Ts'ui Ying-ying, romantic love, love chang, , socially acceptable, love marriage, current husband, woman affair,
Approximate Word count = 931
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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