Chinese LegendsFamous Heroes

Lady Meng Jiang

A woman's devotion and grief collapse the Great Wall to reclaim her husband's remains.

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Illustration for Lady Meng Jiang - a famous heroes Chinese Legends story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

Discover the tragic Chinese legend of Lady Meng Jiang, whose grief and devotion caused the Great Wall to crumble after her husband's death in this classic tale.

During the Qin Dynasty, a beautiful woman named Meng Jiang fell deeply in love with Fan Qiliang. Just days after their wedding, soldiers arrived to take Fan away to labor on the Great Wall of China. As winter approached, Meng Jiang grew worried about her husband’s warmth. She spent weeks sewing thick winter clothes and traveled thousands of miles on foot to deliver them. When she finally reached the wall, she was met with devastating news: her husband had died from exhaustion and was buried within the massive stone structure. Overwhelmed by grief, she sat at the foot of the wall and wept for three days and three nights. Her cries were so heart-wrenching and her sorrow so pure that a great section of the wall suddenly collapsed, revealing Fan’s remains. Meng Jiang finally gave her husband a proper burial, and her legend remains a testament to the power of love against tyranny.

The Moral

True love and devotion possess a power that can overcome even the most formidable physical and political barriers.

“My tears have no power to bring you back, but they have the strength to break the stone that holds you.”

Fun Fact

The Temple of Lady Meng Jiang at Shanhaiguan features a famous couplet that uses wordplay with Chinese characters to describe the rising and falling of the tide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of Lady Meng Jiang?

The story emphasizes that love and human emotion are more powerful than stone and tyranny. It serves as a reminder that the bonds of the heart can expose and break through even the harshest injustices.

Did Lady Meng Jiang really break the Great Wall?

While it is a legend, the story symbolizes the heavy human cost of building the Great Wall. The collapse represents the people's collective grief and the eventual fragility of oppressive regimes.

Who was Lady Meng Jiang's husband?

Her husband was Fan Qiliang, a scholar who was forced into conscripted labor. He died due to the brutal conditions and exhaustion while working on the Emperor's massive wall project.

Is Lady Meng Jiang a real historical figure?

The story is likely a folk legend rather than a historical account, though it is rooted in the very real suffering of laborers during the Qin Dynasty. She has become a cultural icon of loyalty.

What happened to Lady Meng Jiang at the end?

In most versions, after finding her husband's body, she provides him a proper burial. Some versions say she jumped into the sea to escape the Emperor's advances, becoming a symbol of purity and resistance.

Where can I see a tribute to Lady Meng Jiang?

The Meng Jiangnu Temple is located at Shanhaiguan in Hebei Province. It is a popular cultural site where the Great Wall meets the sea, dedicated to her unwavering devotion.