Ballad Of The Hidden Dragon
- Liu Zhiyuan's journey overcoming challenges in unfamiliar lands
- Triumphant return, becoming the emperor in A.D. 947
- Poignant love story with years of separation from his beloved
- Preserved in literature as a zhukong, combining prose and verse sections
- Believed to be initially sung in the 11th century, transcribed in the 12th century
Journey to Emperordom and Enduring Love
Chinese Mythical Legend: The Story of Liu Zhiyuan
A well-known myth in Chinese folklore narrates the journey of Liu Zhiyuan. He confronts numerous challenges in unfamiliar territories before ultimately returning to ascend as the emperor in A.D. 947. The narrative also unfolds as a poignant love story, given that Liu Zhiyuan endured years of separation from the woman he deeply cared for. This tale is preserved in literature as a zhukong, characterized by a blend of alternating prose and verse sections. Scholars posit that the ballad was initially sung in the 11th century, with the words eventually transcribed in the 12th century.