Classics of Chinese Literature (First Series) - Strange Books Library (Full 12 Volumes)

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features: A Depiction of Corrupt Officials in the Official World – The Official World Unveiled by Li Baojia. The first of China's "Four Major Indictment Novels," it represents the highest achievement of late Qing Dynasty fiction. It comprehensively and from multiple perspectives reveals the vices of the official world: drinking, gambling, whoring, selling and buying official positions, bribery and corruption, embezzlement and perjury, profiteering, exploiting the people, and showing callous disregard for human life. Witness to the decline of feudal society – The Strange Currents of the Last Twenty Years by Wu Woyao. A novel with strong autobiographical elements, exposing the entire social body as torn apart and incurable. As the author stated, "In the twenty years I came into the world, I only saw three kinds of things: the first are snakes, rats, insects, and ants; the second are jackals, tigers, and leopards; the third are demons and monsters." Sexual Deviation and a "Guide to Whoring" – The Beauty Appreciation Manual by Chen Sen. A precursor to "narrow evil records," it depicts the customs of favoring entertainers and homosexuality. Hu Shi called this book: "It can be read for leisure; there is no need to be too serious about it." Continuation of The Gold Vase – Flowers Behind the Curtain by Master Four Bridges. "The flames before the emperor cannot be preserved; the flames before the hall can substitute for the soul," as the saying goes. Due to the prohibition of the continuation of The Gold Vase, it was inconvenient to circulate, so someone changed its name to Flowers Behind the Curtain and published it. Here, Simen Qing becomes the last glimpse of the Southern Palace State. The Travel Diary of Lao Can by Liu E. Lao Can, a traveling doctor who shakes a bell, reveals the vices of "honest officials" through his travels, observations, thoughts, and feelings. He successfully portrays two "honest and upright" tyrants – Yu Xian and Gang Bi. His sharp pen strikes the core of feudal society. The Homeland of Myths – The Classic of Mountains and Seas. The oldest existing ancient Chinese classic with the most extensive record of mythological materials, the author is unknown, likely not a single person from a single time. After its completion, it spread to India, serving as an ancient encyclopedia that is primarily mythological but also encompasses everything, the influence of which on later generations cannot be overestimated. A Book Half Truth and Half Fiction – Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Gan Bao. A representative work of the highest achievement of pre-Tang dynasty strange tale fiction. It is a milestone, intending to "prove that the tales of gods and ghosts are not false." The great Ming Dynasty litterateur Pu Songling once said of himself: "I am no match for Gan Bao, but I have a deep love for collecting strange tales." The Hero of the Margins – The Diagram of Heaven and Tiger by Anonymous. In the seventh year of the Tongzhi era, it was banned because it violated the laws by advocating rebellion. It depicts heroes and chivalry, suppressing the wicked and upholding justice, while also including honest officials and immortals. The influence of this book in the history of Chinese literature can be compared to Water Margin, with the heroes it portrays even more fierce than in Water Margin. The Chronicle of Scholars – The Story of the Scholars by Wu Jingzi. Due to unsatisfactory results in the imperial examinations, the author deeply felt the fickleness of the world, on one hand despising the various people in the, on the other hand admiring the Confucian ritual system and hoping to change reality with Confucian and Mencian ideals. Though the wish was good, it was ultimately impossible to save the collapsing building with a single piece of wood. No matter what kind of magical elixir is used, a rotting society cannot be resurrected. The Story of the Scholars was created in such a cynical mood. It became a masterpiece known to all and immortal for all generations.