Harmonious Echoes. Collection of Buried Worries

Author: Shen Qifeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Xie Diao (The Humorous Echoes) consists of 12 volumes, with a total of 122 stories. Xie Diao was written by Shen Qifeng, a mid-Qing Dynasty playwright. According to available records, Shen Qifeng was born in 1741, styled Tongwei, and was from Wuxian, Jiangsu. The stories in Xie Diao are concise and profound, with succinct yet vivid language, deeply embedded with philosophical insights. The author, deeply troubled by the darkness of society and the dangers of the human world, reveals a strong sense of realistic critique and caution in Xie Diao. Based on this principle, many of the stories in the book expose the unhealthy aspects of society. Each story in Xie Diao features either gods, ghosts, spirits, or strange beings, serving as warnings and satirical allegories. The stories are independent yet profound in meaning. The author skillfully uses these themes to dissect societal ills and expose human nature, blending seriousness with humor with remarkable expertise.
Mai You Ji (The Collection of Hidden Sorrows) is a 10-volume work by Zhu Yiqing of the Qing Dynasty. Zhu Yiqing, styled Meishu, was also known as the "Foreign Historian of Hongshan Village." He was born in 1795 and was from Guian. Mai You Ji is rich in content and diverse in thought, making it distinctive among note-taking fiction. First, its stories deviate from the common practice of note-taking fiction, which often focuses on supernatural tales, as it rarely features ghosts or monsters as protagonists. Instead, it reflects on social and political events with strong sensitivity.