Top Ten Ancient Chinese Hand-Copied Manuscripts (Complete Ten Volumes)

Author: None
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Publish Date: 2002-03-01
Features: Handwritten manuscript literature is a unique historical and cultural phenomenon in the history of ancient Chinese culture; it has been cherished by generations of literary figures, scholars, and book collectors. Due to its reliance solely on manual copying and limited circulation within small circles, its original manuscripts are rarer than other types of fine books. Furthermore, factors such as social turmoil, natural disasters, wars, and cultural catastrophes have destroyed many copies, making the existing genuine ones as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Book collectors often regard them as more precious than jade and jewelry, comparable to ancient calligraphy and paintings in terms of, and consider them "cultural specimens." The writing and copying of handwritten novel manuscripts were a free and relaxed intellectual pastime for talented scholars beyond their "orthodox" pursuits such as poetry, calligraphy, music, chess, and painting. Whenever famous scholars and gentlemen gathered, they would pass around the new copies, recite them, and exchange inscriptions and gifts, creating memorable tales. Many wealthy merchants, noble families, and even secluded ladies would eagerly spend fortunes to have their servants copy and preserve these manuscripts to display their elegance. This book is custom-made in small batches, offering a unique historical and cultural interest and collection value. The covers are crafted by professional technicians in Beijing specializing in ancient book binding, using traditional thread binding. Their authentic traditional techniques, praised by peers both in China and abroad as "skillful in preserving the covers, elegant in style, appropriately thick, and exquisite and square," are unparalleled in Chinese ancient book binding art. The text is printed on special handmade paper from the ancient "mulberry bark paper," with its distinctive texture, characters carved with elegance and refinement, faint ink scent, and subtle, deep paper color. Unfolding it is like witnessing something extraordinary. The book is meticulously printed using stone lithography in the style of Song Dynasty printing, with "characters modeled after Song Dynasty style, even and unbroken, no omissions, dark silk lines arranged neatly yet dynamically, truly refined and complete." The prefaces, postfaces, illustrations, and portraits are masterfully carved with elegance, never stiff or monotonous, truly the work of an expert. All the illustrations in the book are original hand-drawn. Many renowned painters from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as Tang Bohu, Qiu Ying, and Xu Wei, generously spent time on elaborate illustrations for handwritten novel manuscripts, making them exceptionally rare and precious, adding even more charm to these works. A book is not for the discerning, and life is not youthful without passion; a book cannot fully reveal its wonders without copying, and sandalwood does not reveal its fragrance without burning. Ancient Chinese handwritten manuscripts are a group of uncopyrighted tales and novels that circulated among the people only in manuscript form. They originated from the storytelling of the Song and Yuan dynasties and flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Their creators, copyists, and collectors were mostly scholars, refined individuals, book lovers, and wealthy families. Their content includes private affairs of high-born women, secrets of noble families, and even peculiar or narrow interests favored by certain individuals, meant only for private enjoyment between scholars, ladies, and in private libraries. The Ten Great Ancient Chinese Handwritten Manuscripts are the ten most renowned, representative, and cherished classics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, admired by literary figures and beloved by book collectors. The book vividly depicts the most private and real aspects of ancient Chinese life—scandals in palace chambers, the realities of brothels, the obsession with foot-binding, and the passionate affairs of nuns—unfurling them as if in a family album. It lifts the veil on the most authentic, most intimate "underside" of ancient Chinese life, revealing it in all its clarity and intensity!