Gao He Tang Criticizes the First "Jin Ping Mei"

Author: Wang Ru
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1994-10-01
Features: A great realistic novel of China / An encyclopedia of the Ming Dynasty. A milestone in the history of ancient Chinese fiction, marking a new phase in the development of Chinese fiction. The Golden Lotus emerged during the Jiajing and Wanli eras of the Ming Dynasty and is collectively known with Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, and Journey to the West as the "Four Great Classical Novels." The novel uses the story of Wu Song killing his wife in Water Margin as a prelude to unfold its plot. On the surface, it is set in the Song Dynasty, but in reality, it depicts the life of the Ming Dynasty. The Golden Lotus explores new themes, expands the realm of aesthetics, and creates typical characters such as Ximen Qing, Pan Jinlian, Li Ping'er, Chunmei, Ying Baoji, and Chen Jingji. The novel primarily features urban figures as its main characters, allowing for multi-dimensional and multi-layered portrayals, vividly exposing the darkness and corruption of the feudal society in the Ming Dynasty. The Golden Lotus is a pioneer in artistic innovation by Cao Xueqin, paving the way for the creation of Dream of the Red Chamber. Lu Xun therefore remarked, "Among contemporary novels, none surpass it." The sexual descriptions in The Golden Lotus touch upon a wide range of life, expressing in an extreme way the impact of human natural instincts on the constraints of 'Heavenly Reason.' With more reality than fiction, its pure sensory representation also reflects the tastes of feudal literati. The annotated edition of Gaohe Tang's Critical Review of the Extraordinary Book, The Golden Lotus, is based on the Zhubupo edition of Zhang Zhupo from the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, with meticulous collation. The punctuation has been standardized, and difficult terms are annotated. This annotated edition will help readers understand and appreciate the book, as well as compare the differences between major versions. This annotated edition is collated and annotated by Professor Wang Rumei, Director of the The Golden Lotus Research Center at the Institute of Chinese Culture, Jilin University. The publication of this annotated edition is expected to contribute to advancing the study of 'Golden Studies' to a higher level.