The Soul of Qiannü Leaves Her Body

Introduction

Zheng Guangzu's Yuan zaju from a Tang tale, in which Qiannü's spirit leaves her body to follow Wang Wenju to the capital

The Soul of Qiannü Leaves Her Body, in full Dazed behind the Green Ring Lattice, Qiannü's Soul Leaves Her Body, is a Yuan zaju by Zheng Guangzu based on the Tang tale The Parted Soul by Chen Xuanyou, and it is the best known of his plays. It has a prologue and four acts sung by the lead female, and from the second act the girl's wandering soul appears as a separate role. Wang Wenju and Zhang Qiannü were betrothed by their parents before birth, but her mother, finding him without an official degree, lets them meet only as brother and sister. When Wang leaves for the examinations, Qiannü's soul follows him to the capital by moonlight while her body lies sick at home, and only when he returns with a post do soul and body join again so that the two can marry. Four early texts survive, including the Yuanqu xuan edition, and the play is thought to have inspired Tang Xianzu's Ming drama The Peony Pavilion.

Parts

1. PrologueQiannü's mother has her greet her betrothed Wang Wenju as a brother
2. Act OneWang Wenju leaves for the examinations and Qiannü sees him off at the Zheliu Pavilion
3. Act TwoQiannü's soul leaves her body and catches up with Wang Wenju's boat by moonlight
4. Act ThreeWang Wenju writes home with news of his post, and the sick Qiannü takes it for word of another marriage
5. Act FourWang Wenju returns with the spirit, which rejoins the sick body, and the two are wed