Beyond The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl Myth
Across China, couples and lovers are celebrating Qixi Festival (七夕节)—often referred to as China’s Valentine’s Day—by going on dates and enjoying romantic walks together.
Rooted in the legendary tale of the goddess Zhinü and the mortal Niulang, who are allowed to reunite only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, Qixi is not only a celebration of love but also a time to reflect on some of China’s most iconic romantic legends.
As new couples create memories of their own, it’s the perfect moment to revisit timeless love stories from Chinese tradition—stories that range from joyful to deeply tragic.
You may already know classics like The Legend of the White Snake, The Butterfly Lovers, or The Marriage of the Fairy Princess, but there are many more enchanting tales waiting to be discovered. Visit our blog to explore three romantic stories that capture the spirit of this special day.
Here are three romantic tales for the preparation of the Qixi Festival.
The Oil Peddler and the Plum Flower Girl (油郎獨占花魁)
Also known as The Oil Peddler and the Courtesan, this story, from Ming dynasty (1368–1644) writer Feng Menglong’s (冯梦龙) collection Stories to Awaken the World (《醒世恒言》), recounts a poignant romance between Shen Yaoqin, a beautiful and highly sought-after woman, and Qin Zhong, a humble oil seller, during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127).
Shen was born into a wealthy family in Bianliang (present-day Kaifeng, Henan province), the Northern Song capital. Gifted in music, poetry, and embroidery, she was admired for both her talents and beauty. However, in 1127, the Jurchen invasion forced her family to flee to Lin’an (modern-day Hangzhou). Amid the chaos, Shen was separated from her parents and eventually sold into a brothel. There, she quickly rose to fame as the city's most renowned courtesan, with her skills and charm attracting clients willing to pay 10 taels of silver for a single night.
Despite her success, Shen longed to escape her life in the brothel and dreamed of finding a man who truly loved her and could help secure her freedom.
That man turned out to be Qin Zhong, a modest oil vendor who first saw Shen while working on the street. Struck by her beauty, he became determined to save enough money—despite only owning two or three taels of silver at the time—to spend just one night with her. Over the next two years, he diligently saved until he finally amassed the required 10 taels.
When Qin finally met Shen, she had just returned from a banquet, drunk and oblivious to his presence. She collapsed into bed without acknowledging him. Yet instead of being angry or disappointed, Qin gently cared for her through the night—covering her with a blanket, cleaning up after her, and bringing her hot tea when she awoke.
The next morning, a sober and remorseful Shen thanked Qin, asking if he regretted spending the money. Qin replied, “It’s already enough just to have the opportunity to look after you for one night.” Moved by his words, Shen asked if he would return. Qin answered, “My life’s wish has already come true. I don’t dare to ask for more.”
Shen never forgot Qin’s kindness. Though she continued to meet other clients, she often thought of him as the only man who had treated her with genuine care rather than desire.
Time passed, and the two crossed paths again under dramatic circumstances. Shen, on a boat with a disrespectful client, refused to dine with him. In anger, the man threw her shoes and socks ashore and abandoned her barefoot. With her bound feet, Shen couldn’t walk, and in that era, exposing one’s feet was deeply shameful for women. Desperate and humiliated, she considered ending her life—until Qin appeared. He comforted her and arranged for a palanquin to take her safely back to the brothel.
Overjoyed to see him again, Shen proposed marriage, saying that if Qin could accept her past, she wished to spend her life with him. He happily agreed, though he lacked the money to free her. Shen, however, used her own savings to buy her freedom, and the two were married. They lived modestly but happily together, leaving many to wonder why a celebrated courtesan would choose a poor oil seller as her husband.
Du Shiniang Sinks Her Jewel Box in Anger (杜十娘怒沉百宝箱)
Not all ancient Chinese love stories had a sweet ending, and one of the most tragic is that of Du Shiniang, written also by Feng Menglong .
Du Shiniang, originally named Du Wei and known as “the tenth daughter of the Du family,” was a beautiful woman living in Beijing during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Her father, once a respected government official, died in prison after becoming entangled in a legal scandal. Following his death, Du was sold into a brothel—just like Shen, the protagonist of a previous tale—forced to survive by selling her companionship.
Yearning for true love and freedom, Du believed she had found both in a young scholar named Li Jia. Enchanted by her, Li moved into the brothel to live with her. After several months together, Du asked him to purchase her freedom for 300 taels of silver. Though Li was not wealthy, he managed to borrow 150 taels from a friend, and Du contributed the remaining half from her own savings.
Deeply in love, the couple left the brothel and set out to begin a hopeful new life. However, their dreams soon unraveled when Li’s parents, disapproving of his relationship with a courtesan, refused to accept the union or allow him to return home. With their financial support cut off, Li and Du drifted between Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Du borrowed more money from friends, and the two rented a boat to travel along the Lu River. One evening, they encountered a wealthy merchant named Sun on a neighboring boat. Over dinner and drinks, Li confided in Sun about his parents’ disapproval and his financial troubles.
Sun offered a solution: he would pay Li one thousand taels of silver in exchange for Du. With that money, Li could go home and assure his parents the relationship had merely been a rumor. Li accepted the offer.
That night, he told Du everything. She listened quietly, gave her consent, and said nothing more.
The next morning, Du dressed carefully, did her hair and makeup, and prepared to board Sun’s boat. As the vessels came alongside each other, she stepped onto the deck carrying a small box. Opening it, she revealed a collection of dazzling jewels—clearly worth far more than a thousand taels—accumulated over years. Then, in a fury, Du denounced both Sun and Li for their betrayal, hurling each piece of jewelry into the river. When the box was empty, she leapt into the water and drowned.
The Legend of Liu Yi and the Dragon Princess
Sometimes, love begins with an act of gratitude. In the Tang dynasty tale The Legend of Liu Yi by Li Chaowei, a compassionate scholar named Liu Yi captures the heart of a dragon princess.
While returning to his hometown after failing the imperial exams in the capital, Liu encountered a weeping young woman. She revealed herself as the youngest daughter of the Dragon King of Dongting Lake, married to the son of the Dragon King of Jing River. Tragically, her husband and in-laws subjected her to abuse.
The princess pleaded with Liu to deliver a message to her father, explaining her suffering. Despite the long and arduous journey ahead, Liu agreed. After an exhausting trek, he reached the mystical Dragon Palace beneath Dongting Lake and relayed her message to the Dragon King. Enraged, the Dragon King’s brother launched a rescue mission, killed the abusive husband, and, in his fury, also slaughtered 600,000 innocent people.
Following the rescue, the Dragon family held a grand banquet in Liu’s honor, celebrating him as a hero. During the feast, the Dragon King’s brother offered the princess’s hand in marriage to Liu. However, the proposal came with a veiled threat: “If you agree, we’ll all be happy. If you refuse, we’ll all suffer.” Disturbed by this ultimatum, Liu declined the offer and soon left the palace.
Returning to the human world, Liu married twice, but both wives died from illness. He later married a third time, and his new wife gave birth to a baby boy.
One day, she asked him, “Do you still remember me?” Puzzled, Liu was unsure how to answer. She then revealed, “I am the Dragon Princess of Dongting Lake. When you delivered my message, I vowed to repay you. But when you refused to marry me, my parents arranged another match. I cut off my hair and secluded myself to show my determination to marry no one but you. When they finally relented, you were already married. After your wives passed, I came to be with you.”
Deeply moved, Liu admitted that he had only rejected the marriage due to her uncle’s overbearing behavior, and he had always regretted leaving her. Now that she had joined him in the human world, he pledged to spend the rest of his life with her.
They lived happily together, and the Dragon Princess even shared her immortality with Liu, granting him eternal life beside her.
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