Wang Shifu (1250–c. 1337, courtesy name Dexin) was a playwright of zaju (variety shows) in the Yuan dynasty. Little is known about his life, except that he was born in today’s Beijing. Such obscurity is possibly due to the fact that he was an unappreciated and penniless intellectual who spent most of his time in brothels and small theatres. Most of his works were created in the 1290s and 1300s. Among his librettos, thirteen are still extant, including The Hall of Beautiful Spring and Love in a Broken Hovel. His magnum opus, The Romance of the Western Chamber, tells the story of a young couple struggling against feudal patriarchy for the freedom of marriage. Portrayed in it are several household characters with distinct personalities: Zhang Sheng, the hero, is an honest and poor scholar who remains loyal to love; Cui Yingying, the heroine, is the daughter of a premier and a modest, discreet girl; her maid Hong Niang is smart, vivacious, and courageous; whereas Cui’s mother is cruel, arrogant, and treacherous—an embodiment of feudal authoritarianism. To highlight these personalities, the work does a remarkable job in capturing each character’s inner thoughts with luminous details. The plot is not without a glimpse of hope, and the whole story is presented with ornate, poetic lines. Needless to say, the work became an instant hit upon its debut. Thanks to its profound anti-feudalism theme and perpetual artistic value, it has captured many generations of audiences and enjoyed a prominent place in Chinese literature.
