Liu Mengmei

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Liu Mengmei (柳梦梅/柳夢梅) is the main fictionalized character within Tang Xianzu's play The Peony Pavilion, "Liu" meaning 'willow' and "Mengmei" 'dream of plum'. Mengmei was a descendant to the reputed poet Liu Zongyuan, Prefect of Liuzhou during the Tang dynasty period, and would be born into a family branch present within the District of Longnan. His father respectively held the title of Doctor-at-Large; his mother: Lady of the County. Having been orphaned at an early age and taken into the care of a gardener by the name of Camelback Guo, Mengmei rose from his place of residence by mid-adulthood, resolved to reach the capital prefecture of Guangzhou and complete the secondary examinations for political office. Two weeks prior to this resolution he experienced a dream in which had been present a woman of beautiful appearance standing beneath a flowering plum; this woman informed him that it is a credential for her to reach his side in love if his political aspirations are to be guaranteed with ultimate success. Subsequently, Mengmei chose to head to the Terrace of Prince Zhao Tao to see his friend Han Zicai, descendant of Han Yu, for the sake of discussing the course of his pilgrimage.^[1]

After having confronted his old friend Han Zicai, Mengmei learned that a man by the name of Secretary Miao, Imperial Commissioner for the Examination of Gems, was sympathetic in nature and a recipient of high rank, thus making him a more suitable patron than his initial caretaker Guo. Knowing that Miao would first assess gems in the Temple of the Many-jewelled in Guangzhou's Vale of Incense Mountains, and his tour of duty would meet its conclusion by the end of autumn, Mengmei accordingly reassured his friend that he would head to such a region with immediate pace.^[2] Upon returning to his estate he pondered for a time about the course that should be taken in retrospect to the dream he considered prophetical and the paramount suggestion presented by his old friend Han Zicai. After having confronted Camel Guo with the resolution to set out on his journey, Guo consented and packed whatever clothing that he deemed would be a necessity for Mengmei upon reaching the examination halls of Guangzhou, promising in return that he will watch for his "return in brocaded gown".^[3]