In the latter stages of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), China suffered considerable social turbulence. Darkness and corruption pervaded the country. A shocking proliferation of bribery, fraudulence and other such underhand behavior abounded in both official and military circles. Moreover, a cruel combination of natural disasters and human folly resulted in severe famine in many regions. Consequently, while bureaucratic rulers indulged in wanton hedonism and debauchery, the lower strata struggled to survive in dire poverty. Under such circumstances, Li Zicheng (a Chinese rebel leader who overthrew the Ming Dynasty and ruled over China briefly as the emperor of the short-lived Shun Dynasty) perceived these acute social disparities, and with popular support, mobilized a peasant uprising with overwhelming force. In due course, the rebel army approached the capital and the Ming Dynasty was on the verge of collapse.
Amongst the whirlpool of popular peasant’s rebellions, the city of Nanjing was by contrast a relatively undisturbed and peaceful place. At the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang first established the capital in Nanjing (the Southern Capital), but later relocated it to Beijing (the Northern Capital). Since it was an old capital, the court institutions in Nanjing still enjoyed special status, which in turn encouraged its economic and cultural development.
In those days, the city was renowned for its pleasant climate and picturesque scenery. Bustling businesses, dense pavilions, crowded restaurants and brothels abounded along the prosperous Qinhuai River. The literati often gathered in their associations and societies to discuss affairs of the past and present, while chanting their poetry and painting pictures. In this special place, both the bureaucrats and literati alike reveled in politics and sensual indulgence. However, as history has proven, the brutal political struggles are often entwined with affairs of the heart.
It was with this backdrop the story of the Peach Blossom Fan unfolded.
