“Rhapsody of the Goddess Luo”: From Literature to Painting and History                              Dai Yan

   “Rhapsody of the Goddess Luo” written by Cao Zhi during the Three Kingdoms period, was a work originally inspired by the legend of Consort Fu, and following the example of “Rhapsody of the Goddess”. Since this rhapsody became a popular theme of painting and calligraphy after the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the interpretation of it also changed with the perspectives of the artists and audiences. Meanwhile, the death of Empress Zhen which had been drawing attention in the reign of Emperor Mingdi of Wei, was added to much imagination, and then combined with the “Painting of Rhapsody of the Goddess Luo”, thus brought more legendary sense to the rhapsody, which both endowed it the meaning of recalling Empress Zhen, and created a history of love.