Liu Yi

Origin
China

Source
Tang Ren Chuan Qi (Shang)
-- Legends from Tang Dynasty (Vol. 1)
Edited by Wang Pi Jiang
Introduction by Gong Peng Cheng
Jin Fong Publisher: Taipei, Taiwan, 1987

The Story
Youn scholar Liu Yi meets a girl attending a herd of goats. When inquired why she seems so sad, she relates her ill fate of having an abusive husband. She asks Liu Yi to help delivering a letter to her fahter, the Dragon King of Lake Tung Ting. While Liu Yi is at the Dragon King's palace, the news of the Princess's plight was overheard by the quick-tempered Qian Tang Dragon, the princess's uncle. He rushes out and back in no time, saving his niece and punishing his nephew-in-law by devouring him. Since he is so mad, on the way to his niece's rescue, Qian Tang creates havoc, flooding 800 miles and killing 600,000 people.

Liu Yi does not want to marry the princess under the pressure of Qian Tang, especially after witnessing the fate of her ex-husband. However, karma eventually brings these two together and in time Liu Yi becomes a dragon himself.

Comparative Note:

Unlike the slightly simplified English retelling in Daughter of the Dragon King this version in its original Classical Chinese form has very decorated language. The description of the beauty of the Dragon King's underwater palace is extremely detailed. The highly civilized and artistic entertainment presented by the Dragon King's court. It is made clear that these Dragons are one step above humans as god-like creatures that humans can aspire to become.


Introduction/Index
Copyright 1996 Roxanne Hsu Feldman Last Updated

April 12, 2003