Yushi Mingyan (Upper and Lower)

Author: Feng Menglong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Ancient Chinese vernacular short stories, originally intended as scripts for storytelling by performers, which had been widely circulated among the common folk for a long time. By the late Ming Dynasty, some scholars edited, refined, and imitated these scripts for novel writing, and through the extensive printing and distribution by booksellers, vernacular novels had a significant impact on all social strata, especially the lower classes. Among these, the most notable are the two collections of scripts, "San Yan" and "Er Pai." "San Yan" consists of three collections of short stories edited and refined by Feng Menglong during the Ming Dynasty: "Yushi Mingyan," "Jingshi Tongyan," and "Xingshi Hengyan." Each collection contains 40 stories, totaling 120 stories. Because each title contains the character "yan," they are collectively referred to as "San Yan." Feng Menglong (1574-1646), styled Yulong, was also known as Long Ziyuyou, Mo Han Zhai Master, and Gu Qu San Ren, among other names. He was from Changzhou. He once served as the magistrate of Shejian Shouning and gained a reputation for his governance. During the Qing army's crossing of the Yangtze River, he participated in anti-Qing activities. He wrote extensively throughout his life, particularly in the field of popular literature, making significant contributions to the search, editing, organization, research, creation, and publication of vernacular literature. He adapted works such as "Ping Yao Chuan" and "Xin Lie Guo Zhi." He also wrote the anecdotal novel "Gujin Tan Gai," the romance "Shuang Xiong Ji," and revised numerous works by Tang Xianzu and others, collectively titled "Mo Han Zhai Ding Ben Chuanqi," all of which are recorded. The works collected in "San Yan," whether old pieces from the Song and Yuan dynasties or new creations and imitations by Feng Menglong, were all to varying degrees revised and refined by him. These works cover a wide range of themes and are complex in content. Some condemn the vices of feudal officials while praising the virtues of upright officials; others celebrate friendship and love while condemning treachery and unfaithfulness. What is particularly noteworthy is that many works depict the lives of ordinary people in the streets and markets. Examples include "Shi Runze Tanque Yu You," "Jiang Xingge Chonghui Zhenzhu Shan," "Du Shiniang Nu Chen Bai Bao Xiang," and "Mai Youlang Du Zhan Hua Kuai." These works emphasize the importance of respecting human emotions and values, and the moral standards and marriage principles they advocate are in conflict with feudal rituals and traditional concepts. They reflect the vibrant ideological consciousness of the urban populace. The outstanding works in "San Yan" not only prioritize complete storytelling, intricate plots, and rich details but also employ various artistic techniques to portray characters. Their publication promoted the development and flourishing of short stories, marking the formation of the national style and characteristics of Chinese vernacular short fiction. "Yushi Mingyan" contains forty stories, mostly old pieces from the Song and Yuan dynasties, with some imitations by Ming Dynasty authors. The themes are largely derived from folk traditions, though some are adapted from historical stories and previous novels. They reflect the contemporary urban life and the cruelty of the ruling class, though many also promote feudal teachings. The language is straightforward and fluent. "Yushi Mingyan" has been published in various versions, such as the Xu Zhai edition from the Tianqi period of the Ming Dynasty. The current edition has been compiled based on numerous versions, carefully selecting the best and learning from the virtuous to form the present edition. The illustrations used in this book are mostly selected from fine examples of embroidered illustrations from past generations, with contemporary Ming-style paintings imitating the styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties.