Wang Liji recommends ancient vernacular fiction

Author: Wang Liji
Annotations
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Ancient Chinese vernacular fiction. General histories of Chinese fiction, cultural studies, and selected annotated editions have already been published in abundance. The author believes that flipping a pancake while it's hot and then flipping another is akin to putting a bed on top of a bed or a roof on top of a roof—quite pointless. This book has three unique features that have never been mentioned in previous histories of Chinese fiction, academic papers, or selected annotated editions. The book includes the newly selected Chinese vernacular novel "Benwei," which is the "Yi Yin Shuo" listed in the "Bibliography of the Han Dynasty" under the category of fiction. The second is the explanation that three Dunhuang manuscripts of vernacular poems are actually fiction. The third is the explanation that "Wenyuan Zhaji" is the earliest vernacular fiction anthology. These three points fill the gaps in the history of Chinese fiction. As for the annotations, there are also numerous corrections and explanations for errors and unexplained aspects in general selected editions.