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The Chinese legend of the butterfly lovers - Lijun Zhang

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Although only boys were allowed at the Confucius Academy, what Zhu Yingtai wanted was to go to school. She begged her parents to let her attend dressed as a boy and, seeing her determination and clever disguises, they finally agreed— as long as she kept her identity a secret and later returned to the traditional path they’d set for her. Lijun Zhang shares the Chinese myth of the butterfly lovers.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Lijun Zhang
  • Director Amir Houshang Moein
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen
  • Storyboard Artist Amir Houshang Moein
  • Animator Amir Houshang Moein
Avatar for Einav Dembin
Lesson in progress

What does this legend show us about the cultural values and traditional norms of the time it was created? How does it challenge those values and norms?


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Avatar for YiTing Hsu
Lesson in progress

The legend of “The Butterfly Lovers” reflects the traditional views of marriage and social hierarchy in ancient China, where many aspects of life were dictated by elders. However, the love between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai breaks these conventions, challenging the traditional marriage system and gender inequality. Though the story ends in tragedy, it highlights their pursuit of true love and freedom, transcending the constraints of the time’s social norms.


Avatar for sofia moya
Lesson completed

The video highlights the culture and traditions of that time, such as women not being able to study, arranged marriages, etc.
The protagonist wants to break all these beliefs, and although she went to school it was difficult and she had to leave, and she could not choose her husband.


Avatar for Ainsley Sea
Lesson completed

This myth shows the value of honor in China at that time. That one should forgo love for the honor of your family. This describes a collectivist society, thinking for not just yourself and your happiness but your families as well. We also see the broken norm of women pursuing education, not only did she attend school but she excelled; only the threat of the people around her forcing her to leave. I find it interesting that her values shifted by the end of the story from education to love.


Avatar for Ajahnay Harleaux
Lesson completed

in response to Ivi Wan Show comment

the time we live in now yes, if you go to tv right now you will see a lot of rich and poor but its like love is love if the broke man or woman was to be everything smart got the looks but not as much money its fine but on tv or letters people make it seem like its not ok . and legends say the only way they can be together is if they are dead.


Avatar for Lorraine Cristina
Lesson in progress

I think that this kind of educational inequality has greatly delayed the encouragement of women in several areas (mainly science and technology).
The most shown, I would say, is that the realization of this forbidden love followed the same path of always "the right people stay together after death".
What I think is coolest in this legend and Mulan, is that the characters fall in love with the person themselves, there's nothing connected to the genre.


Avatar for Ivi Wan
Lesson completed

Today, the invisible gap between rich and poor is still there, as in this legend. So as even today, still many movie or soap opera or k-drama win hearts and tears from audience by presenting miracle love between rich and poor. Actually in this legend, the couple can only be together after dead, it's somehow rebel the traditional values and norms. By the way, as from my view, there is no way a guy can't realize that was a girl stay in the same room, girl's hair falling like.. everywhere, and always cry in tears.


Avatar for Harry Connerty
Lesson completed

This legend does show us about the cultural values and traditional norms of the time it was created are sometimes different today. It does challenge those values and norms because it affects your cultural and traditional family norms.

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