A Phoenix Seeks his Mate is one of China's best known romantic tales. Music attributed to Sima Xiangru (179-113 BC) who was a well-known but impoverished poet; Zhuo Wenjun was the widowed daughter of a wealthy man in the south of Chengdu. One day during a social event in the wealthy man's home Xiangru played the qin, by expressing himself through this love song, seduced Wen Jun, who was listening from the next room. So she eloped with him and they both went back to Chengdu. Later this was made into a qin melody.
鳳兮鳳兮歸故鄉，遨遊四海求其凰。
時未遇兮無所將，何悟今夕兮升斯堂。
有豔淑女在閨房，室邇人遐毒我腸。
何緣交頸為鴛鴦？胡頡頏兮共翱翔？
凰兮凰兮從我栖，得託孳尾永為妃。
交情通體心和諧，中夜相從知者誰？
雙翼俱起翻高飛，無感我思使余悲。
This male phoenix has returned to his old home,
from roaming the four seas searching for his mate.
Time was not yet ripe, there was no way to meet her;
then what a surprise: this evening I come up to this hall,
and there's a dazzling maiden in the women's quarters.
The room near but she far: this poisons my guts.
How can we entwine our necks like mandarin ducks?
How can we flutter about, and together soar?
Lady phoenix, lady phoenix: come with me and nest,
be supported, breed with me, forever be my wife.
Exchanging affection in a physical way will harmonize our hearts;
at midnight if you follow me who will know?
Our wings together will rise, fluttering as high we fly.
If your are unmoved by my feelings, it will cause me misery.
