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Principal Characters:
Du Liniang (Beautiful Du)
Liu Mengmei (Willow Dream of Plum)
Spring Fragrance - Du Liniang's Maid
Du Bao -Prefect of Nan'an and father of Du Liniang
Madam Du -Du Liniang's mother Sister Stone -Taoist Nun
Chen Zuiliang -Tutor of Du Liniang Li Quan -
Bandit Dame Li - LiQuan's Wife
Camel Guo -Liu Mengmei's Gardener
Scabby Turtle -Sister Stone's nephew
Judge of Hell
Barbarian Prince
The story is set in the later Song Dynasty (960-1279).
A handsome and ambitious young scholar, Liu Mengmei, despite his talent, cannot find a position in the government. One day, he dreams he has entered agarden where a beautiful girl greets him and says, "Darling Liu, I will bring you love and success." He changes his name to "Dream-of-Plum" in hopes that it will also change his fate.
Chen Zuiliang, an ever poorer scholar, finally finds luck when Du Bao, Prefect of Nanšan, appoints him tutor to his sixteen-year-old daughter, Du Liniang.He will teach her classical poetry so that she can be a perfect wife for her future husband.
Du Liniang is bored with her lessons. Her maid, Spring Fragrance, reports to her that she has found a beautiful garden and at the first opportunity Du Liniang visits it secretly with Spring Fragrance. Awakened by the beauty of nature and her sexual desire, she has an erotic dream: a young handsome man suddenly appears and carries her into the Peony Pavilion. They make passionate love. The dream is interrupted by her mother, and Du Liniang is left feeling disconsolate.
