The "Western Chamber" by Wang Shifu 王實甫 (Wang Dexin王德信; 1300) or Han Guanqing 關漢卿 (1230-1300), is an opera basing on a collection of "Tunes of the Western Chamber" Xixiang ji zhu gongdiao 西廂記諸宮調 . It is the love story of Cui Yingying 崔鶯鶯 and Zhang Sheng 張生. In 2023, the Guojia Tushuguan Press 國家圖書館出版社 published a series of musical tablatures for the Western Chamber, edited by Li Junyong 李俊勇. It includes the following "scores": 《西廂記》曲譜 Tunes to the Western Chamber 北西廂訂律 不分卷 Bei Xixiang dinglü (1620s) (Ming) 胡周冕 Hu Zhoumian 校定北西廂弦索譜 二卷 Jiaoding Bei Xixiang xiansuo pu (1657) (Qing) 沈遠 Shen Yuan, 程清 Cheng Qing 太古傳宗琵琶調西廂記曲譜 二卷 Taigu chuanzong pipa diao Xixiangji qupu (1749) (Qing) 顧子式 Gu Zishi, 顧峻德 Gu Junde; 湯彬和 Tang Binhe (comp.); 朱廷鏐 Zhu Tingliu, 朱廷璋 Zhu Tingzhang (rev.) 納書楹西廂記譜 五卷 Nashuying Xixiangji pu (1784) (Qing) 葉堂 Ye Tang 納書楹西廂記全譜 二卷 續 一卷 Nashuying Xixiangji quanpu (1795) Xu (Qing) 葉堂 Ye Tang; 許寶善 Xu Baoshan (rev.) 《南西廂記》曲譜選錄 Selected Southern Tunes to the Western Chamber 納書楹曲譜正集 四卷 續集 四卷 外集 二卷 補遺 四卷 Nashuying qupu zhengji Xuji Waiji Buyi (1792-1794) (Qing) 葉堂 Ye Tang; 王文治 Wang Wenzhi (rev.) 天韵社曲譜吳畹卿傳譜 Tianyunshe qupu Wu Wanqing chuan pu (1881, 1921) 遏雲閣曲譜 Eyunge qupu (1893) (Qing) 王錫純 Wang Xichun (comp.); 王濱 Wang Bin (comm.); 李秀雲 Li Xiuyun (rev.) 昆劇手鈔曲本 一百册 Kunju shouchao quben (c. 1900) 六也曲譜初集 Liuye qupu chuji (1908, 1920) (Qing) 張芬 Zhang Fen (comp.); 朱瑞均 Zhou Ruijun (rev.) 西廂記曲譜 Xixjiangji qupu (1921) (Qing) 殷溎深 Yin Yinshen; (Rep) 張餘蓀 Zhang Yusun (rev.) 繪圖精選昆曲大全 Huitu jingxuan Kunqu daquan (1925) (Rep) 張餘蓀 Zhang Yusun (comp.) 集成曲譜 Jicheng qupu (1931) (Rep) 王季烈 Wang Jilie, 劉富梁 Liu Fuliang; 延竹南 Yan Zhunan (rev.) 昆曲研究會曲譜 Kunqu yanjiuhui qupu (1940) (Rep) 北京國劇學會昆曲研究會 Beijing Guoju Xuehui Kunju Yanjiuhui (comp.) 與衆曲譜 Yuzhong qupu (1940) (Rep) 王季烈 Wang Jilie (comp.); 王守熾 Wang Shouchi, 王義吉 Wang Yigu (rev.); 高步雲 Gao Buyun (rev.) ; 延竹南 Yan Zhunan (rev.) 昆曲集淨 Kunqujijing (1943) (Rep) 褚民誼 Chu Minyi, 陸炳卿 Lu Bingqing, 沈傳錕 Shen Chuankun (comp.); 溥侗 Pu Tong (rev.); 高見思 Gao Jianxi (rev.); 沈留聲 Shen Liusheng (rev.) 《西廂》曲譜輯錄 Collected Tunes of the Western Chamber 曲譜大成 Qupu dacheng (Qing) NN 新編南詞定律 Xinbian nanci dinglü (1720) (Qing) 呂士雄 Lü Shixiong et al. (comp.) 新定九宮大成南北詞宮譜 Xinding jiugong dacheng nanbei cigong pu (1746) (Qing) 周祥鈺 Zhou Xiangyu; 鄒金生 Zou Jinsheng (comp.) Source: Hargett, James M. (1986). "Hsi-hsiang chi 西廂記", in William H. Nienhauser, ed. The Indiana Companion to Traditional Chinese Literature (Bloomington/Indianapolis: Indiana University Press), 407-409.

translation: 第三本，第五折：崔鶯鶯夜聽琴 〔末上云〕紅娘之言，深有意趣。天色晚也，月兒，你早些出來麼！〔焚香了〕呀，卻早發擂也；呀,卻早 撞鍾也。 〔做理琴科〕琴呵，小生與足下湖海相随數年，今夜這一場大功，都在你這神品、金徽、玉軫、 蛇腹、斷紋、嶧陽、焦尾、冰弦之上。天哪！卻怎生借得一陣順風，將生這琴聲吹入俺那小姐玉琢成、 粉捏就、知音的耳朵裡去者！ 〔旦引紅上，紅云〕小姐，燒香去來，好明月也呵！〔旦云〕事已無成，燒香何濟！月兒，你團圓呵，咱卻怎生？ 【越调】【斗鹌鹑】雲斂晴空，冰輪乍涌；風掃殘紅，香堦亂擁；離恨千端，閑愁萬種。夫人哪，「靡不有 初，鮮克有終。」他做了箇影兒裏的情郎，我做了箇畫兒中的愛寵。 【紫花儿序】則落得心兒裏念想，口兒裏閑提，則索向夢兒裏相逢。俺娘昨日箇大開東閣，我則道怎生般 炮鳳烹龍？艨朧，可教我「翠袖殷勤捧玉鍾」，卻不道「主人情重」？則為那兄妹排連，因此上魚水難 同。 〔紅云〕姐姐，你看月闌，明日敢有風也？〔旦云〕風月天邊有，人間好事無。 【小桃紅】人間看波，玉容深鎖繡幃中，怕有人搬弄。想嫦娥，西没东生誰與共？怨天公，裴航不作游仙 夢。這雲似我羅幃數重，只恐怕嫦娥心動，因此上圍住廣寒宫。 〔红做咳嗽科〕〔末云〕來了。〔做理琴科〕〔旦云〕這甚麼響？〔紅發科〕〔旦唱〕 【天淨沙】莫不是步搖得寶髻玲瓏？莫不是裙拖得環珮玎[玉+冬]？莫不是鐵馬兒簷前驟風？莫不是 金鉤雙控,吉玎當敲響簾櫳？ 【調笑令】莫不是梵王宫，夜撞鍾？莫不是疏竹瀟瀟曲襤中？莫不是牙尺剪刀聲相送？莫不是漏聲長滴響壺 銅？潛身再廳在牆角東，原來是近西厢理連結絲桐。 【秃厮兒】其聲壯，似鐵騎刀槍冗冗；其聲幽，似落花流水溶溶；其聲高，似風清月朗鶴唳空；其聲低， 似聽兒女語，小窗中，喁喁。 【聖藥王】他那裏思不窮，我這裏意已通，叫鸞雛鳳失雌雄；他曲未終，我意轉濃，爭奈伯勞飛燕各西東 ：盡在不言中。 我近書窗聽咱。〔紅云〕姐姐，你這裡聽，我瞧夫人一會便來。〔末云〕窗外有人，已定是小姐，我將弦改 過，彈一曲，就歌一篇，名曰《鳳求凰》。昔日司馬相如得此曲成事，我雖不及相如，愿小姐有文君之 意。〔歌曰〕『有美人兮，見之不忘。一日不見兮，思之如狂。鳳飛翩翩兮，四海求凰。無奈佳人兮，不在 東牆。張弦代語兮，欲訴衷腸。何時見許兮，慰我彷徨？願言配德兮，擕手相將！不得于飛兮，使我淪 亡。』〔旦云〕是彈得好也呵！其詞哀，其意切，凄凄如鶴唳天；故使妾聞之，不覺淚下。 【麻郎兒】這的是令他人耳聰，訴自己情衷。知音者芳心自懂，感懷者斷腸悲痛。 【幺篇】這一篇與本宫、始終、不同。又不是清夜聞鍾，又不是黄鶴醉翁，又不是泣麟悲鳳。 【絡絲娘】一字字更長漏永，一聲聲衣寬帶鬆。别恨離愁，變成一弄。張生呵，越教人知重。 〔末云〕夫人且做忘恩，小姐，你也說謊也呵！〔旦云〕你羞怨了我。 【東原樂】這的是俺娘的機變，非干是妾身脱空；若由得我呵，乞求得效鸞鳳。俺娘無夜無明併女工；我 若得些兒閑空，張生呵，怎教你無人處把妾身做誦。 【錦搭絮】疏簾風細，幽室燈清，都則是一層兒紅紙，幾榥兒疏櫺，兀的不是隔著雲山幾萬 重，怎得箇人來信息通？便做道十二巫峰，他也曾賦高唐來夢中。 〔紅云〕夫人尋小姐哩，咱家去來。〔旦唱〕 【拙魯速】則見他走來氣沖沖，怎不教人恨匆匆。唬得人來怕恐。早是不曾轉動，女孩兒家直恁響喉嚨！ 緊摩弄，索將他攔縱，則恐夫人行把我來厮葬送。 〔紅云〕姐姐則管聽琴怎麼？張生著我對姐姐說，他回去也。〔旦云〕好姐姐呵，是必再著他住一程儿！〔紅 云〕再說甚麼？〔旦云〕你去呵， 【尾】則說道夫人時下有人唧噥，好共歹不著你落空。不問俺口不應的狠毒娘，怎肯著别離了志誠種？ 〔並下〕 【絡絲娘煞尾】不爭惹恨牽情鬥引，少不得廢寢忘餐病症。 Part II, Act IV: Love and the Lute [corr.: Zither] Mr. ZHANG enters, and says: Miss Hong Niang told me to wait in the garden to-night, while her Young Mistress is burning incense, and to play on the zither a tune expressing the sentiments of my heart in order to test her feelings and see what she will say. Careful relection on this suggestion show it to be most reasonable. This night is dark. Oh, Moon, can you not, for my sake, come out a little earlier! Oh, I have juest heard the beat of the drum! Oh, I have just heard the ringing of the bell! He tunes the zither, and says: Oh, my zither, my companion by lake and sea! On you I entirely depend for the great success of this matter. Oh, Heaven, will you not, for my sake, lend a gentle breeze to waft the sound of my zither to the ears of my Young Lady, ears as if carved from jade and as if moulded of white powder, which can apppreciate the music and are beautiful to behold! (Yingying, accompanied by Hong Niang, enters.) HONG NIANG says: My Young Mistress let us go to burn incense. How very bright the moon is! YINGYING says: Hong Niang, how can I have the heart to go to burn incense? Oh, Moon, why have you come forth? She sings: 'The moon has suddenly come forth in a couldless sky; The wind-swept blossoms of the red flowers are scattered on the steps, making them fragrant; My separation has filled me with endless regrets, and my indescribable sorrows are without number! Oh, my mother, it seldom happens that a good beginning makes a good end. He has been to me a lover as unreal as a mirage, While I have been to him as a mere picture of one beloved! I am only allowed to cherish him in vain in my heart, To speak of him with my lips, And to meet him in my dreams! Yesterday the Eastern Pavilion was opened, And my thoughts were all upon how the grand marriage would be arranged, While, in a state of confused excitement, my moterh told me to raise my green sleeves and to offer him cordially a jade cup of wine, Which might have been regarded as a sign of her great affection for him, But simply meant the ranking of me as his sister, And making impossible our marriage.' HONG NIANG says: Look, my Young Mistress, there is a halo round the moon. To-morrow, probably, it will be windy. YINGYING says: Yes, there is a halo round the moon. She sings: 'When a mortal beauty is securely esconced within the embroidered curtains, It is feared that she may be profaned by the touch of man. When I reflect that the Goddess of the Moon, rising in the east and disappearing in the west, is unattended and alone, I feel displeased with the Lord of Heaven, Who also allows not the lover to accompany his loved one to fairyland, And has taken the precaution to surround with a dense curtain the Palace of the Moon, For the heart of the Goddess might be moved to love.' (Hong Niang coughs slightly.) Mr. ZHANG says: That is Miss Hong Niang coughing. The Young Lady has arrived. (He plays on his zither.) YINGYING says: Hong Niang, what is that sound? HONG NIANG says: Guess, my Young Mistress. YINGYING sings: 'Is it the tinkling sound of the head-ornaments as their wearer walks? Or is it the ringing sound of the ornaments of the skirt as it sweeps along? Is it the creaking of the iron hinges as gusts of wind blow under the eaves? Or is it the ding-dong sound of the gilt hooks knocking against the curtain frame? Is it the evening bell that is being sounded in the Buddhist monastery? Or is it the rustling sound of the few bamboos in the winding balustrade? Is it the sound of the ivory foot-measure and the scossors that is wafted here? Or is it the incessant dripping sound of the water-clock as the water falls into the copper receptacle? Concealing myself, I listen again At the eastern corner of the wall, And find that it is indeed the sound of the strings of the zither coming from the Western Chamber. The sound is powerful, like the sabres and spears of the mailed horsemen; The sound is gentle, like flowers falling into running water; The sound is high, like the cry of the crane at moonlight in the pure breeze; The sound is low, like the wisper of lovers at the casement. He is at his wits' end, but his sorrow is endless Because he is separated from the young person he loves. Before the tune is ended, already I realize its meaning, Which distinctly expresses the separation of two lovebirds. It is entirely music without words!' HONGNIANG says: My Young Mistress, stay here to listen. I am going to see my Mistress and will return directly. (She pretends to leave.) YINGYING sings: 'It is not because I have a good ear like any other person That I know the feelings of your heart; But because of the love we have for each other, Which is affecting us with such pain and sorrow!' Mr. ZHANG says:There is a slight sound outside the window. It must be the Young Lady. I will now try a tune. YINGYING says: I must go nearer the window. Mr. ZHANG sighs and says: Oh, my Zither! Formerly Sima Xiangru [a famous Han period poet], in wooing Zhuo Wenjun, played a tune which was called the 'Phoenix Seeking his Mate'. How could I presume to call myself a second Xiangru? But you, my Young Lady, how could Wenjun compare in any way with you? I will now play this tune, following the original score. The tune says: 'There was once a fair lady, whom to see was never to forget. Not to see her for a single day was to drive one to distraction. The phoenix flies up and down, seeking everywhere his mate. Alas! The fair lady is not by the eastern wall! I play my zither to express my love; When will you consent to my suit and relieve me from my anxiety? My whish is to be united to one so perfect and, joined hand in hand, to be together for ever. I cannot fly with you as my companion, may I perish!' YINGYING says: How beautifully he plays! The song is so sad and the tune so sorrowful that my eyes are filled with tears without knowing it! She sings: 'From beginning to end, there is a great variety of notes; His song is neither like the sound of a bell in the silent night, Nor like that of the weeping of Confucius at the sight of the unicorn, Nor of the song about the unfortunate phoenix. Word after word ripples as gently as the water from the water-clock that marks the night watches. And sound after sound as sad as though uttered by one who is wasting away and finds his robe wide and his girdle loose. The sorrow of estrangement and the grief of separation Reveal themselves in this song, And make me admire him more and more!' Mr. ZHANG, putting down the zither, says: Though your mother may me ungrateful and unjust, you, my Young Lady, should not prove to be a deveiver! (Hong Niang enters secretly.) YINGYING says: Your plaint is unjustified! She sings: 'That was a stratagem of my mother. How can you say that I have deceived you? She would not allow me to seek for a lover as a female phoenix seeks a male phoenix; Night and day I have been forced to do nothing but needlework And had no leisure whatever. What cares she now others may implicate me? Outside the window [where I am] is a curtain in the gentle breeze. Inside, there is a lonely chamber [where he is] with a lamp alight. Between us is only that window, on which is pasted a single sheet of red paper, Which covers the openings of the lattice-work. Theough there are no cloudy mountains rising peak after peak [to divide us], Still it is impossible to find an intermediary to convey my sentiments. Formerly, even the Wu Mountain, with its twelve peaks, Was celebrated as the land where the lover met the Goddess in his dream.' HONG NIANG suddenly appears, and says: My Young Mistress, in what dream? If my Mistress gets to know this, what will happen? YINGYING sings: 'She appears so hurriedly, Regardless of my sorrow, And has startled me and made me afraid. I have never moved an inch. Why does a mere chit like you speak in such a loud voice? I must pat her and keep her here In case she goes to my mother and thus makes an and of me.' HONG NIANG says: I have just heard that Mr. Zhang is going away. My Young Mistress, what is to be done? YINGYING says: Hong Niang, you go and tell him to remain two or three days longer. She sings: 'You just say that my mother has now womething to tell him, And, good or bad, he will not go empty away. Very cruel is my mother, who does not adhere to her words, And is determined to separate me from my true and faithful lover.' HONG NIANG says: My Young Mistress, it is unnecessary to give me orders; I know how to act. I will go to-morrow to see him. Exeunt Yingying and Hong Niang. Mr. ZHANG says: The Young Lady has gone. Miss Hong Niang, why did you not remain for a little longer, so that you might tell me to-night the response [of your Young Mistress to my music]? But things being as they are, all I can do is to go to sleep. Exit. Translated by S.I. Hsiung.