Wang Cuiqiao (王翠翘) was a Gējì during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, and a native of Zibo, Shandong.[1] Her story appears in the literature of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Life
Wang Cuiqiao was from Linzi, Shandong, and her family was poor. She was sold to Ma's family, a Geji family. Wang Cuiqiao changed her surname to Ma and named her Ma Qiao'er (马翘儿). She learned the skills of singing, playing the flute and playing the pipa, and became a Gējì when she grew up. Her adoptive mother brought her to Jiangnan to perform, and she was very good at singing Wushe songs. She sings with clear enunciation, has a crisp voice, and plays musical instruments, attracting many audiences. Wang Cuiqiao has a calm personality and is not interested in prostitution. She doesn't approach rich people who are wealthy but uneducated.[2][3] Her adoptive mother often scolded and beat her for this. Unbearable, she resolutely used her personal savings to regain her free status. Later, she changed her name from Ma Qiaoer to Wang Cuiqiao and went to Suzhou and Hangzhou to perform from time to time. Wang Cuiqiao and the chivalrous Anhui rich man Luo Longwen liked each other and married Luo Longwen.[4] After being invaded by Japanese pirates, Luo Longwen successfully escaped, but Wang Cuiqiao was captured. She was presented to the pirate leader Xu Hai and remarried to the pirate Xu Hai as his wife. Wang Cuiqiao and Xu Hai were wandering on the sea, she listened to Hu Zongxian and persuaded Xu Hai to surrender to Hu Zongxian. Xu Hai was forced by Chen Dong and committed suicide by diving into the water.[5] Wang Cuiqiao was escorted back by officers.In order to reward Peng Yinan for his efforts in quelling the Japanese pirates, and to save his face after losing his temper after drinking, Hu Zongxian rewarded Wang Cuiqiao to Peng Yinan. Wang Cuiqiao missed her old kindness and was so distraught that she jumped into the Qiantang River and committed suicide.[6]
Record
The story of Wang Cuiqiao appears in many literary works of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the characters' experiences may be recorded differently."Wang Cuiqiao", the sixth of Mao Kun's "Ten Rap Songs and Drum Songs by the Great Sima Hu Gong", record Wang Cuiqiao. From the end of Jiajing to the beginning of Wanli, Ming Dynasty historian Xu Xuemo wrote the first "Biography of Wang Qiao'er" for Wang Cuiqiao. Wang Shizhen wrote "The Continuation of Yan's Different Edition Wang Qiao'er". Wang Cuiqiao is also mentioned in Mei Dingzuo's "Green Ni Lotus". "Wang Cuiqiao" was written in Feng Menglong's "Zhitan". Dai Shilin's "Li Cuiqiao". Yu Huai's "The Biography of Wang Cuiqiao". Zhou Qingyuan's "Hu Shaobao's Victory in Pinging the Japanese". Lu Renlong "President Hu made clever use of Hua Diqing, and Wang Cuiqiao's death was reported to Xu Mingshan". "The Biography of Jin Yunqiao" written by Qing Xincairen in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties adapted Wang Cuiqiao's story into a novel.[7] But the adaptation of "The Legend of Jin Yunqiao" adapted Wang Cuiqiao into a prostitute who was forced to engage in prostitution in a brothel.[8]