Speak of love, and fight for it

I first read The Peony Pavilion when I was 13 and was drawn to its poetic language. But as I grew older and watched Pai Hsien-yung's Kunqu adaptation, I began to grasp the deeper meaning behind this enduring classic.

In the story, Du falls asleep in her garden and dreams of a romantic encounter with a young man. After she wakes up, she becomes overwhelmed with longing for her dream lover, gradually falls ill, and eventually dies.

Three years later, the young man from her dream, Liu Mengmei, visits the same garden. Upon discovering Du's portrait, he is instantly captivated by her spirit and falls in love. Touched by their unwavering devotion, the judge of the underworld grants Du a second chance at life, and the two are finally reunited.