In 2003, the legend of Liang Zhu was declared by UNESCO as the representative of human oral and intangible heritage. In 2006, it was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.
According to legend, in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Jia Zhu in Shangyu, Zhejiang Province had a daughter, Zhu Yingtai, who disguised herself as a man and went to Hangzhou to study. On the way, she met Liang Shanbo, a classmate of Huiji, and they walked hand in hand.
Classmates for three years, deep feelings, but Liang Shanbo still doesn't know that Zhu Yingtai is a daughter. Later, Zhu Yingtai interrupted his studies and returned to his hometown. When Liang Shanbo visited Zhu Yingtai in Shangyu, he realized that his best friend for three years was actually a girl in red makeup, and he wanted to propose to Jia Zhu. At this time, Zhu Yingtai has been betrothed to Ma Wencai.
Later, when Liang Shanbo was in Yindang County, he died of excessive depression, and his family buried him in the west edge of Kansai Road in Maxiang County. Zhu Yingtai passed the cemetery of Liang Shanbo when she got married, and suddenly a strong wind hindered the convoy. Zhu Yingtai went to worship Liang Shanbo's grave, which collapsed and cracked. Zhu Yingtai jumped into the grave, and then a pair of butterflies appeared in the grave. Both butterflies flew away.
In the early Tang Dynasty, Liang Zaiyan wrote "Ten Ways and Four Stories": "The adopted daughter wishes Yingtai to be buried with Liang Shanbo." This is the earliest record of this story.
Zhang read Records: "Yingtai, the daughter of Zhu in Shangyu, pretended to be a man to study abroad, and studied in Huiji. Shan Bo, a benevolent character. Wish you come back first. Two years later, when Shan Bo visited him, he realized that he was a woman and he felt very lost. Tell his parents to apply for a job. I wish I had the word horse. After Shan Bo, Yin Ling died of illness and was buried in the west of the city. I wish Sima, the ship passed the ancient tomb, and the wind and waves could not get in. Ask Shanbo's tomb, I would like to climb the tomb, the ground suddenly cracks, and I would like to be buried. Xie An, the prime minister of Jin Dynasty, wished for his tomb and wrote "Yi Fu's Tomb".
Liang Zhu's story is recorded in Yinxian Zhi, Ningbo Fu Zhi and Yixing Jingxi Xin Zhi.