Picture of Xixiang Ji Paper Cutting

The paper cutting vividly presents one of the most famous Chinese dramatic works, Xixiang Ji, also known as Romance of the West Chamber. It was written by the Yuan Dynasty playwright Wang Shifu (1260-1336) and set during the Tang Dynasty. It is a story of young lovers consummating their love without parental approval, and has been called "China's most popular love comedy" and a "lover's bible". At the same time, some have called it potentially dangerous, as there are stories of readers pining away under its influence. The play is composed of twenty-one acts in five parts…