The Peacock Flies Southeast

The Peacock Flies Southeast (traditional Chinese: 孔雀東南飛; simplified Chinese: 孔雀东南飞), originally titled An Old Poem Written for Jiao Zhongqing's Wife (古詩為焦仲卿妻作), is a long narrative gushi (古詩) poem, and it is well-known by literary critics throughout the history of Chinese literature. The poem is traditionally dated to near the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, approximately between 196—219 AD.[1] It has been called by some critics as being one of the two best-known works of yuefu (樂府), the other being the Ballad of Mulan (木蘭辭).

In the poem, Liu Lanzhi (劉蘭芝) married Jiao Zhongqing (焦仲卿), but Jiao’s mother made them divorce because she didn't like Liu. Liu's brother made her marry another man after she returned. Not willing to forsake Jiao, Liu committed suicide before her second wedding. Upon hearing the news, Jiao also killed himself.[2]

This poem was later collected in the 11th-century collection Yuefu Shi Ji (樂府詩集) by Guo Maoqian.[2]


  • Cover of a modern edition
  • Cover of a 1930 play adaptation of the poem
  • Title page of a 1935 English-language translated version of the play adaptation, The Peacock Flies South-East

References

  1. ^ "A Peacock Flying to the Southeast". Western Kentucky University.
  2. ^ a b s:zh:古詩為焦仲卿妻作 (An Old Poetry Written for Jiao Zhongqing's Wife).
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