A Modern Retelling of the Liang Zhu Legend: Take a Case of A Storm

After the “Ballad Movement” in the early 20th century revealed and systematized the Liang Zhu legend, numerous literary works had created a rich body of classic reinterpretations. This paper argues that Yang Yinshen’s A Storm stands as the earliest modern literary creation that actively embraced the folk Liang Zhu legend. By situating the ancient story of Zhu Yingtai in a contemporary context, the play replaces the traditional core values of “loyalty and righteousness” with modern themes of pursuing free love, amplifying women’s autonomy. Through a modern tragic love story, it achieves a classic reinterpretation of the classical folk legend. The “revised narrative” in A Storm primarily involves derivative adaptations, incorporating contemporary revisions to characters and themes. Its threeact structure also forms the foundational framework for subsequent reinterpretations of the Liang Zhu legend. The play demonstrates a conscious absorption of the rebellious spirit in folk literature, incorporates dialectal speech, and provides valuable insights into how modern literature can utilize oral traditions.