THREE SINNERS
( Synopsis )
Natural disasters ravage China more than 800 years ago in the Sung dynasty. The calamities are compounded by corrupted government officials. Thus, the people of famine areas stampeded to richer places for survival.
From a west Shantung town, an old man, Yen Lao-shih, and his wife and daughter join the stampede. They get to Yuncheng where the man develops serious diseases and is dead. They are too poor even to have a coffin for burial.
His wife and daughter therefore kneel down at the city square, offering the daughter for money to buy the coffin. A throng forms as the daughter, Yen Hsi Chiao, is very beautiful.
City official Sung Chiang is drinking with a friend when he hear the girl' sad songs. He immediately offers the money, without even asking the women's names.
Sung returns home and is surprised to find Hsi Chiao waiting for him. He tells her that the money is for charity and he does not want her. Hsi Chiao insists that she be his. She threatens to commit suicide to save her face. Sung thus agrees to keep the girl. He buys a house for the mother and daughter.
Sung’s student comes for a visit and is attracted by Hsi Chiao‘s beauty. But his advances are rebuffed by the girl. Sung, nevertheless, has been sent to a faraway place for important business by the magistrate.
One day, the student, Chang Wen-yuan, comes and proposes to Hsi Chiao. He is slapped. But she does not expose him to anyone.
Tombsweeping time comes. Mrs. Yen, knowing nothing about Chang's designs, asks him to accompany Hsi Chiao to her father’s graveyard. They run into a thunderstorm and have to seek refuge in a dilapidated temple. There, Chang forces his will on the girl. While he pretends to swear before the images that he will love Hsi Chiao always, the girl runs away.
Sung Chiang comes home. He hears gossips and makes investigations. One day, he goes home and discovers the presence of his student. In a rage, he leaves behind his fan. Hsi Chiao faints when she sees that Sung is never coming back.
For three months, Sung stays away. Mrs. Yen pities her daughter and drags Sung back home. En route, Sung meets the emissary of a rebel chief whom he once saved.
Sung confronts Hsi Chiao and demands an answer. Hsi Chiao confirms the gossip and Sung leaves, saying he will never come back. But he forgets to take away the letter from the rebel chief.
Chang sneaks in and finds the letter. Hsi Chiao tricks him into surrendering the letter. The girl burns it. Sung comes back for the letter. Chang escapes. Sung is told that the letter is burned but will not believe the girl. To prove her good faith, Hsi Chiao runs into Sung's threatening dagger and is killed.
Sung is arrested but the magistrate takes pity in him. He is sentenced to exile.
Chang Wen-yuan, however, is haunted by his own conscience. He goes back to the temple one night and hangs himself.
— the end —