Illustrated Modern and Ancient Wonders

Author: (Ming) Baongong Laoren (compiler), Liao Dong (proofreader)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-09-01
Features: Strange Stories from Ancient and Modern Times, consisting of forty volumes, was compiled by Baongong Laoren in the late Ming Dynasty. This selected collection, drawn from the San Yanyu and Er Pa, features forty outstanding works that essentially reflect the core spirit of the San Yanyu and Er Pa. It summarizes the artistic achievements of Ming Dynasty story-telling and its parodies, presenting an excellent anthology of ancient vernacular short stories. Most of the works in Strange Stories from Ancient and Modern Times possess profound ideological content and strong artistic impact. Some praise the pure and sincere love between young men and women; others commend the unwavering friendship between friends; some expose the corrupt and decadent behavior of feudal officials; some scourge the licentious and shameless deeds of landlords and local tyrants; and others satirize the fawning hangers-on in the marketplace. The selection emphasizes the "strange" aspect, hence the chosen works often feature extraordinary people and events from society and the common folk. The writing is vivid and the descriptions meticulous, faithfully depicting the spiritual outlook and social life of the urban middle class at the time. As for some works with lower artistic standards, they reflect the historical limitations of Feng and Ling (the authors of the San Yanyu and Er Pa), and modern readers are fully capable of discerning this. The existing editions of Strange Stories from Ancient and Modern Times include the late Ming printings. Throughout the Qing Dynasty, revised printings were produced, but there are no significant differences in the text.