Stories Old and New : A Ming Dynasty Collection

by Feng, Meng-Lung; Yang, Shuhui; Yang, Yunqin; Menglong, Feng; Yang, Yunqin

• ISBN13: 9780295978444
• ISBN10: 0295978449
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-03-01
• Publisher: Univ of Washington Pr

Summary

Stories Old and New is the first complete translation of Feng Menglong's Gujin xiaoshuo (also known as Yushi mingyan, Illustrious Words to Instruct the World), a collection of 40 short stories first published in 1620 in China. This is considered the best of Feng's three such collections and was a pivotal work in the development of vernacular fiction. The stories are valuable as examples of early fiction and for their detailed depiction of daily life among a broad range of social classes. The stories are populated by scholars and courtesans, spirits and ghosts, Buddhist monks and nuns, pirates and emperors, and officials both virtuous and corrupt. The streets and abodes of late-Ming China come alive in Shuhui Yang and Yunqin Yang's smooth and colorful translation of these entertaining tales. Stories Old and New has long been popular in China and has been published there in numerous editions. Although some of the stories have appeared in English translations in journals and anthologies, they have not previously been presented sequentially in thematic pairs as arranged by Feng Menglong. This unabridged translation, illustrated with a selection of woodcuts from the original Ming dynasty edition and including Feng's interlinear notes and marginal comments, as well as all of the verse woven throughout the text, allows the modern reader to experience the text as did its first audience nearly four centuries ago.

Author Biography

Feng Menglong (1574-1646), the most knowledgeable connoisseur of popular literature of his time, is best known for his three collections of vernacular short stories, often referred to collectively as the Sanyan. Shuhui Yang is associate professor of Chinese at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Introduction	xv
Translators' Note	xxvii
Chronology of Chinese Dynasties	xxix
STORIES OLD AND NEW
Title Page from the 1620 Edition	3	(2)
Preface to the 1620 Edition	5	(4)
Jiang Xingge Reencounters His Pearl Shirt	9	(39)
Censor Chen Ingeniously Solves the Case of the Gold Hairpins and Brooches	48	(28)
Han the Fifth Sells Her Charms in New Bridge Town	76	(18)
Ruan San Redeems His Debt in Leisurely Clouds Nunnery	94	(19)
Penniless Ma Zhou Meets His Opportunity through a Woman Selling Pancakes	113	(10)
Lord Ge Gives Away Pearl Maiden	123	(10)
Yang Jiao'ai Lays Down His Life for the Sake of Friendship	133	(10)
Wu Bao'an Abandons His Family to Ransom His Friend	143	(16)
Duke Pei of Jin Returns a Concubine to Her Rightful Husband	159	(13)
Magistrate Teng Settles the Case of Inheritance with Ghostly Cleverness	172	(22)
Zhao Bosheng Meets with Emperor Renzong in a Teahouse	194	(13)
The Courtesans Mourn Liu the Seventh in the Spring Breeze	207	(15)
Zhang Daoling Tests Zhao Sheng Seven Times	222	(18)
Chen Xiyi Rejects Four Appointments from the Imperial Court	240	(12)
The Dragon-and-Tiger Reunion of Shi Hongzhao the Minister and His Friend the King	252	(29)
The Chicken-and-Millet Dinner for Fan Juqing, Friend in Life and Death	281	(9)
Shan Fulang's Happy Marriage in Quanzhou	290	(12)
Yang Balao's Extraordinary Family Reunion in the Land of Yue	302	(16)
Yang Qianzhi Meets a Monk Knight-Errant on a Journey by Boat	318	(16)
Chen Congshan Loses His Wife on Mei Ridge	334	(15)
Qian Poliu Begins His Career in Lin'an	349	(34)
Zheng Huchen Seeks Revenge in Mumian Temple	383	(34)
Zhang Shunmei Finds a Fair Lady during the Lantern Festival	417	(13)
Yang Siwen Meets an Old Acquaintance in Yanshan	430	(20)
Yan Pingzhong Kills Three Men with Two Peaches	450	(11)
Shen Xiu Causes Seven Deaths with One Bird	461	(14)
Jin Yunu Beats the Heartless Man	475	(14)
Li Xiuqing Marries the Virgin Huang with Honor	489	(13)
Monk Moon Bright Redeems Willow Green	502	(15)
Abbot Mingwu Redeems Abbot Wujie	517	(20)
Sima Mao Disrupts Order in the Underworld and Sits in Judgment	537	(20)
Humu Di Intones Poems and Visits the Netherworld	557	(15)
Old Man Zhang Grows Melons and Marries Wennu	572	(19)
Mr. Li Saves a Snake and Wins Chenxin	591	(11)
The Monk with a Note Cleverly Tricks Huangfu's Wife	602	(15)
Song the Fourth Greatly Torments Tightwad Zhang	617	(26)
Emperor Wudi of the Liang Dynasty Goes to the Land of Extreme Bliss through Ceaseless Cultivation	643	(26)
Ren the Filial Son with a Fiery Disposition Becomes a God	669	(18)
Wang Xinzhi Dies to Save the Entire Family	687	(31)
Shen Xiaoxia Encounters the Expedition Memorials	718	(35)
Notes	753	(25)
Bibliography	778