The Peony Pavilion (Chinese: Mdn Tng) 685g .999 silver medal

The Peony Pavilion (The Return of the Soul) is the famous love story of China written by Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty and first performed in 1598 at the Pavilion of Prince Teng. It has traditionally been performed as a Kunqu (/) opera.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uioKlkOgfdY[/youtube]

A long play of fifty-five scenes, revolves round the love story of Liu Meng-mei (Willow Dreaming Plum), a young student, and Tu Li-niang, the daughter of a high official in Nan-an in southern Kiangsi. In a visit to the family garden a the back of the official residence, Tu Li-niang fell asleep and was accosted in a dream by a young scholar, Liu Meng-mei, with whom she had an affair in the Peony Pavilion. Having awakened from her dream, she became lovesick and un-consoled in her longing, until she finally pined away with a broken heart in the seclusion of her maidenly chamber.
Before she died, she had a picture painted of herself which she buried under a stone in the garden, where her remains were later interred beside a plum tree.

Shortly afterwards, Governor Tu was transferred to a military post in northern Kiangsu. Before the family departure, provision was made for sacrifices to her spirit tablet in a shrine in the garden.

In the meantime, Liu Meng-mei, on his way from Kwangtung to the imperial examination in Hangchow, fell ill at Nan-an and was given a resting-place at the summer house in the Tu family garden. The discovery of the girl's portrait led to many hours of longing and fond gazing at her lovely form; his wishes were granted, for one night she appeared to him and they renewed the relationship of the dream. At her bidding, the coffin was opened and there she lay alive, as fresh and beautiful as ever.

The couple then left for Hangchow, where Liu Meng-mei took the examination, but there was a delay in the proclamation of its result due to a national crisis caused by the invasion of northern Kiangsu by a rebel leader in the employ of the Jurchen Tartars.

Worried by the news of the war that had spread to her father's district, Tu Li-niang sent her husband to look for him, taking her portrait as an identification.

By this time, Governor Tu had already quelled the rebellion through a ruse. In celebration of the victory, his subordinates gave him a feast in the yamen (Governor's office). This happy event, however, was disturbed by the intrusion of Liu Meng-mei, who claimed to be the honor-guest's son-in-law. Having been told previously of the supposed burglary of his daughter's grave, Governor Tu suspected imposture and foul play. Instead of recognizing Liu as his son-in-law, he had him arrested and sent under escort to Hangchow, where Governor Tu himself had an appointment for an audience with the emperor.

Upon arriving at Hangchow, Liu Meng-mei was given a sound whipping in he governor's yamen before he was rescued by an official party in search of the scholar who had come out first in the imperial examination.

Finally, in an audience before the throne, Liu Meng-mei proved successively his claims, with the help of his resurrected wife.

The play ends, as usual, with the official promotion and family reconciliation and reunion.





This is big size silver medal 865 gram .999 silver which minted by same company of minting the xi shi. Mintage is much lower than xi shi at 20. all no 4 and 7 coa will skip so the last coa no is 25 instead of 20. This is a China culture way for printing the coa for Shanghai century mints.



Will post photo after receiving the real medal.

 

Hi Andy,

Thanks for introducing yet another amazing medal and writing info about its background story! That makes things even more interesting. I guess this medal is quite expensive and very hard to get?

Correct weight is 865g or 685g? There is a difference between topic title and info at the end of your post.

 

Btw, wish they would make more medals for "4 beauties", not only Xi-Shi.

 

It is around 685. Each medal will have different weight but mire the less around 650 to 720.

 

As my understand, no plan at this moment for the other beauty.

Brass medals are more welcoming and demanding in China but the shipping cost and PayPal fee to overseas make the medal expansive.

Silver will cost more so the mints always reserve and reluctant to mints. Some even is order to mints.

The dianasour medal which I post last few day is a good example.