遊仙窟

by Zhuo Zhang

"遊仙窟" by Zhang Zhuo is a Chinese tale written between 681 and 684. A traveler passes through mountains, weary from his journey, and takes shelter in a fairy grotto. There he encounters two women—Cui Shi Niang and Wu Sao, a widow. Together they drink wine, compose poetry, and engage in flirtation and playful banter. Written in mixed styles with parallel prose and rhymes, this work became one of Tang dynasty's earliest romances and profoundly influenced later love stories across East Asia.