Record of Places Outside the Tributaries

...those who do not understand principles still end up behaving like birds and beasts. Yet Jiao and Shen, these two, were able to establish a model of integrity and righteousness amidst the changing circumstances of young love. Is it not true that they did not go too far astray? Therefore, Zisai’s words here are spoken because of the utmost reach of their emotions. And yet, this is also in accordance with the Emperor’s intent to broadly encourage moral transformation, and he who practices it is one who carries this out. As for his casting of words and smelting of phrases, they transcend the ordinary and enter the sacred; the rhymes align with the musical notes, and the language contains the weight of metal and stone. Compared to Tang Ruoshi Tang Xianzu, the renowned playwright, he is someone who strikes and moves the people of the world. That people sigh for him is a step further; this is just to speak of his lyrics. It is not the ultimate purpose of why Zisai wrote this record.

Inscribed by Chen Hongshou of Zhuji, in the final month of the Jimao year of the Chongzhen reign 1639.

The entire play is beautiful.

This is the inner chamber.

It is the residence of a fisherman.

Inscribed Poem

Righteous husbands and chaste wives throughout the world, those who remain steadfast even until death, do they do so because they believe it is what principle requires? No. It is because they are sincere in their nature and their feelings erupt from within. They have no intention that the world should praise them. Even when there are those who do not understand and laugh at them for being mistaken, they remain steadfast. Since ancient times, loyal ministers and filial sons have not always existed, yet righteous husbands and chaste wives have appeared from time to time. Righteous husbands are rarely seen, but as for those called chaste wives, one will find them in every town of ten households. Why? Because the seeds of emotion and nature are planted most deeply in men and women. The feelings of women do not rely on the texts of poetry, books, or principles to guide them; they do not know why they reach the point they do, yet they reach it nonetheless. The events recorded in this biography concerning Wang Jiao and Shen Sheng might seem like the acts of foolish children or licentious women, but I entitle it "Chaste"...