Drawing Mirror Flora Up and Down

Author: Li Ruzhen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: The image of the Female King Star descending from the North Star; Wangmu's banquet in the Western Pool: As the famous "Nüjie" (The Woman's Way) by Cao Zha by the name of Cao Wenji said, "Women have four virtues: one is virtue as a wife, two is skill in speech, three is proper appearance, and four is ability in household management." These four are the great principles of women and cannot be lacking. Why does this volume use Cao Wenji's "Nüjie" as its introduction? The book records may seem like trivial matters of the inner chambers or idle pastimes, yet the four virtues mentioned by the great scholar are vividly embodied in its characters. Not only are they precious as gold and jade in their essence, but also pure as ice and snow in their hearts. Without daily adherence to "Nüjie" and reverence for good maxims, how could they reach this state? Can we let them be extinguished simply because some events are obscure and some people are beautiful or unattractive? Therefore, at the light of the lamp or under the moonlight, during the long summer days and the remainder of winter, I have dipped my brush and played with ink, compiling it into a collection. The virtuous are highlighted, the unworthy are scorned; women are women, and wives are wives; the ordinary remain ordinary, and the extraordinary are extraordinary. Though the narrative may seem trivial, its conclusion must return to righteousness, and no lewd or obscene language is included. The fantastical and enchanting stories all begin with the flowers being exiled, setting the stage. Just look at the first volume to understand the general outline. The content of this book: After the Female King Star, four more immortals appeared, each with an unusual appearance: The first one had a green face with fangs, hair covering their head, wearing a golden hairpin, and dressed in a sage green robe; the second had a red face with fangs, hair covering their head, wearing a golden hairpin, and dressed in a bright red Taoist robe; the third had a black face with fangs, hair covering their head, wearing a golden hairpin, and dressed in a black Taoist robe; the fourth had a yellow face with fangs, hair covering their head, wearing a golden hairpin, and dressed in a apricot yellow Taoist robe. Each held rare treasures and headed towards Kunlun.