Lady Meng Jiang
2022-05-27
Meng Jiangnv was born in Jia Mountain, Changde City, now known as Meng Jiang Mountain, where a large number of related legendary sites lie.
This folktale spreads widely home and abroad, including areas in Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou in China as well as Japan and Southeast Asia, in form of literary works such as ballads and opera.
The story was set in the Qin Dynasty, when the Great Wall was in construction and able-bodied men were frequently sought out by soldiers under the order of Emperor Qin. A handsome young man, who should have been in the servitude, fell in love with Meng Jiangnv at the first sight and soon married her. Three years later, soldiers came and snatched him away. After years of waiting, Meng Jiangnv decided to go to the Great Wall to meet her husband, only to know from others that he had already passed away, leaving nothing but skeletons. Sorrowfully, she died on the way back. Moved by her deeds, her fellow villagers built a temple to commemorate her.
This folktale spreads widely home and abroad, including areas in Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou in China as well as Japan and Southeast Asia, in form of literary works such as ballads and opera.
The story was set in the Qin Dynasty, when the Great Wall was in construction and able-bodied men were frequently sought out by soldiers under the order of Emperor Qin. A handsome young man, who should have been in the servitude, fell in love with Meng Jiangnv at the first sight and soon married her. Three years later, soldiers came and snatched him away. After years of waiting, Meng Jiangnv decided to go to the Great Wall to meet her husband, only to know from others that he had already passed away, leaving nothing but skeletons. Sorrowfully, she died on the way back. Moved by her deeds, her fellow villagers built a temple to commemorate her.
