Love

The story opens by describing the social and political climate of China. In short, a war is on and money must be raised. Therefore, the emperor decides to sell positions in the imperial academies. This accomplishes three things: it raises money for the war effort, brings together students with influential people who will help forward their careers, and finally, it brings the young romantic hero to Peking (old Pinyin for the current Beijing) to meet the young romantic heroine.

Tu Shih-Niang, the heroine, is described as a "flawless piece of jade" (p. 147). In her seven years as a courtesan every man she had been

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mixed with a dependency and fear of being "stranded far away from home and die[ing] without a burial place" (p. 153). Love Between Friends This story seems to be the most forgiving of the type of love found between close friends and this love is demonstrated through both Li Chia and Tu Shih-Niang. Li Chia had a friend, Liu Yu-ch'un, who had remained friends with Li Chia throughout the two years at the capital. When Li Chia goes to Liu Yu-ch'un for help, Liu at first advises his friend to break it off. He sees Tu Shih-Niang and the "mother" of the house as people who are purposefully draining Li Chia dry and then finding a reason to send him away. However, when he sees how Tu Shih-Niang has put her faith into Li Chia by giving him her savings, he understands the potential for a true love and loans Li Chia the rest of the money he needs to buy Tuh Shih-Niang from her "mother". Liu also warns Li "This girl's devotion is not to be doubted. . .now on your part you must not betray her trust" (p. 151). Because of Tu Shih-Niang's obvious devotion to Li, Liu is more willing to trust his friendship with Li and borrow the money for him. Tu Shih-Niang, on her part, has also developed friends who are willing to help her by giving her
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1590
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)