''Guanyin Yulan Ji'' or simply ''Yulan Ji'' is a
Ming dynasty play with 32 acts. The written version was first published by Wenlinge (文林閣), a
Nanjing publisher owned by a Tang (唐) family during the
Wanli era (1573–1615). Set in 11th-century
Song dynasty, the play tells the story of a
carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. While carp is consumed in many parts of the world, they are generally considered an invasive species in parts of ...
spirit seducing poor student Zhang Zhen by metamorphosing into a woman, who closely resembles Zhang Zhen's lover Jin Mudan. The goddess of mercy
Guanyin, the
Dragon King and the legendary judge
Bao Zheng work together to subdue and capture the spirit in a fish basket carried by Guanyin.
Modern versions
In the
Yue opera tradition, the play is known as ''Zhuiyu'' (追魚, literally "Chasing the Fish"). In this version, Jin Mudan is a material girl while the carp spirit is kind. This version ends with Zhang Zhen's marriage to Carp Spirit instead of Jin Mudan.
In 1957,
Tian Han and his wife wrote a modern version titled ''Jinlin Ji'' (金鱗記, literally "The story of Golden Fish Scales").
Film and TV
The play has been adapted into numerous films and TV series, including:
Film
*''The Carp Spirit'' (鯉魚精), a 1958 Hong Kong film starring
Yam Kim-fai and Ng Kwan Lai
*''Chasing the Fish'' (追魚), a 1959 Chinese film starring
Wang Wenjuan and
Xu Yulan
*''A Mermaid's Love'' (碧波仙侶), a 1960 Hong Kong film starring
Xia Meng
Xia Meng (; 16 February 1933 – 30 October 2016), a.k.a. Hsia Moon and Miranda Yang, born Yang Meng (), was a Hong Kong actress and film producer. She was a key figure of Hong Kong's Left Wing film scene.
Xia Meng's younger sister Yang Jie ( ...
and Fu Chi
*''Golden Peony and Her Imposter'' (真假金牡丹), a 1965 Hong Kong film starring Tsang Shan Fung and Chan Chor Wai
*''
The Mermaid'' (魚美人), a 1965 Hong Kong film starring
Li Ching and
Ivy Ling Po
TV series
*''Double Fantasies'' (無雙譜), a 1981 Hong Kong TV series starring
Louise Lee and Kwan Chung
*''
Justice Pao
Bao Zheng (; 5 March 999 – 3 July 1062), commonly known as Bao Gong (), was a Chinese politician during the reign of Emperor Renzong in China's Song Dynasty. During his twenty-five years in civil service, Bao consistently demonstrated extr ...
'' (包青天), a 1993–94 Taiwanese TV series (Segment 31 "The Mermaid" which stars Chiu Yu-ting and
Yang Ching-huang
Yang Ching-huang (; born 10 August 1960) is a Taiwanese singer and actor. He released 5 Mandopop
Mandopop or Mandapop refers to Standard Chinese, Mandarin popular music. The genre has its origin in the jazz-influenced popular music of 1930 ...
)
*''The Legend of Mermaid'' (天地傳說之魚美人), a 2000 Chinese/Taiwanese TV series starring
Yuki Hsu and
Roger Kwok
*''The Romance of a Carp Fairy'' (仙鯉奇緣), a 2002 Taiwanese TV series starring Chang Yu-yen and Jimmy Ni
*''
The Legend of Chasing Fish'' (追魚傳奇), a 2013 Chinese TV series starring
Zhao Liying and
Kenny Kwan
Kenny Kwan Chi-Bun (born December 30, 1980) is a Philippine-born Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor, under the music label Emperor Entertainment Group. He was born in the Philippines but grew up in Hong Kong.
At age 20, he and his friend, S ...
*''
Under the Veil
''Under the Veil'' (; literally "Have no equal in this world" etymology from Chinese idiom 舉世無雙) is a 2015 Hong Kong period, fantasy, comedy drama produced by TVB, starring Wayne Lai, Bosco Wong, Raymond Wong Ho-yin, Sonija Kwok, Krista ...
'' (無雙譜), a 2015 Hong Kong TV series (Segment 3 "Chasing the Fish" which stars
Eliza Sam and
Bosco Wong)
References
*
Ming dynasty plays
Plays set in the Song dynasty
Chinese plays adapted into films
Plays adapted into television shows
Shenmo fiction
Buddhist plays
{{China-lit-stub