Butterfly Lovers · 梁祝
Long ago, in ancient China, there was a love story so touching that it became a legend — the tale of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, often referred to as China’s Romeo and Juliet.
Zhu Yingtai, a brave and intelligent young woman, disguised herself as a man to pursue education — something rare for women at the time.
At school, she met Liang Shanbo, and over time, their friendship blossomed into something deeper. But Liang never knew Zhu’s true identity. It was only later, when she had to leave and the truth was revealed, that he realized he had fallen in love.
Fate, however, was not kind. Zhu was promised to another man by her family, and when Liang died of heartbreak, the story could have ended there, but it didn’t.
On the day of her arranged wedding, Zhu passed by Liang’s grave. Legend says the earth split open, and she leapt in to join him. The two lovers were then transformed into butterflies, free to fly together at last.
Today, the butterfly is more than a beautiful creature — it’s a symbol of true love, freedom, and the courage to follow one’s heart.