Wonderful Views of Ancient and Modern Times

Author: Li Xuefeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The Marvels of Ancient and Modern Times is a collection of vernacular short stories, primarily selected from Feng Menglong's Three Words and Ling Mengchu's Two Snaps. The editor, Xiao Hua, highly praises Three Words and Two Snaps in the preface and explains the purpose of editing The Marvels of Ancient and Modern Times: "When Three Words and Two Snaps are combined, they total two hundred stories, with vast volumes, making it difficult to read through entirely. Moreover, as the selection is extensive, how can everything be extraordinary? For example, even in an era of public selection, there must be a few mediocre officials. I planned to select the best hundred stories and reprint them to create a great collection. However, the old man who carried the jar chose according to my heart and published forty volumes, naming them The Marvels of Ancient and Modern Times."
The works in this book, from various perspectives and to varying degrees, directly or indirectly, extensively and deeply reflect the life and thoughts of the urban class at that time (some works may not be directly related to the urban class, but they are understood from their perspective, reflecting their thoughts to some extent). Even after centuries, when we read them today, we still find them (chǐqiè yǒuwèi - warm and engaging) and captivating, drawn by the authors' enchanting artistic touch.
The book selects a total of forty stories. Among them, eight are from Feng Menglong's Clarifying the World and Illuminating the Ages (Ancient and Modern Stories Volume One), namely: Teng Dayin's Ghostly Judgment of Family Property, Pei Jin Gong's Rightful Return of a Wife, Wu Bao'an Gives Up Home to Rescue a Friend, Yang Jiao'ai Sacrifices His Life for Friendship, Shen Xiaoxia's Meeting with the Outgoing General's Memorial, Jiang Xingge's Reunion with the Pearl Shirt, Chen Yushi's Clever Investigation of the Gold Hairpin and Jade Hairnet, and Jin Yunnu Beats the Unfeeling Lover. Ten are from Admonishing the World and Passing on the Truth: Du Shiniang's Anger in Drowning the Hundred-Jeweled Box, Li Tiesheng's Drunken Draft of the Barbarian's Demands, Song Jinguang's Reunion and Breaking of the Felt Hat, and Yu Boya's Breaking His Lute to Thank His Friend.