Western Di's Book Talk

Author: Zheng Zhenduo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-05-01
Features: Excerpt: While browsing in the rare book room of Hanfen Pavilion, I stumbled upon a rather uncommon romance, which brought me great joy. This romance is the "Tou Bi Ji" (Notes on Throwing the Pen) by Qiu Xuan. Qiu Xuan's works include "Xiangnang" (A Fragrant Bag, also known as Luo Nang), "Ju Ding" (Lifting a Tripod), "Wu Lun" (Five Relationships), and "Tou Bi" (Throwing the Pen). Whether the "Xiangnang Ji" is the same as the one among the sixty operas (traditionally attributed to Shao Jian), we can no longer know. The fate of "Ju Ding" and "Wu Lun" is also uncertain. The discovery of "Tou Bi Ji" is indeed a significant find for those studying Qiu Xuan, and it is also a noteworthy event in the early history of romance. More intriguingly, this "Tou Bi Ji" was annotated, edited, and published by Luo Maideng, a native of Ernan, who also annotated "Bai Yue Ting" (Moon Worshiping Pavilion). With the discovery of this "Tou Bi Ji," we can imagine that his annotations were not limited to "Bai Yue" and "Tou Bi." Perhaps in the future, we may have the opportunity to encounter more works annotated by him.
"Tou Bi Ji" is divided into four volumes and thirty-nine acts, narrating the story of Ban Chao throwing his pen to join the military. Naturally, it includes the "romance clichés" of heroes losing their way, righteous men giving gold, villains framing the innocent, and happy endings with honors. It seems that, apart from this style, Ming Dynasty romances struggled to gain the sympathy of readers and performers. The "clunky" structure of its plot resembles the novels "Ping Shan Leng Yan" (Cold Mountain and Cold River) and "Yu Jiao Li" (Beauty and Pear) from the "talented scholar" genre. Even Tang Lunquan (Tang Xianzu) could not escape this pattern, let alone other writers.
The "Tou Bi Ji" from Qiongshan is also a work trapped in this cliché, and it cannot be considered "superior to its peers and outstanding among the best." It is merely one of the many ordinary romances from the Ming Dynasty. In the "Yin Xi" (Prologue) at the end of the first act, he clearly summarizes the entire book in a song titled "Mi Yuan Chun":
In the later Han Dynasty, Ban Chao was a man of both literary and martial prowess. In his early years, he was poor and struggled to provide for his family, working as a bookbinder. He endured humiliation and shame, suppressing his heroic spirit. He threw his pen and returned, only to meet a fortune-teller who guided him. He carried his books and paid homage to the emperor. Accepting the imperial decree, he held the Han flag alone and traveled far to the Western Regions. Villains plotted against him, framing him for his achievements, and his elderly mother was unjustly imprisoned. Fortunately, his virtuous wife cut her thigh to save him, and many officials submitted memorial. When his wife arrived in the capital, she reunited with her family. She dressed modestly among foreigners, ruling over thirty-six kingdoms. His great achievements in the far West earned him a noble title and a return to his homeland. The entire family rejoiced, and he was honored with a memorial to encourage loyalty. There are also four lines: "Deng Erniang practiced filial piety, Xu Kezhen valued friendship. Cao Dajia wrote a memorial for her sister-in-law, and Ban Zhongsheng threw his pen to become a noble." His purpose was simply to state: "The world changes, with ups and downs. Like a great eagle, it takes but an instant to spread its wings across the heavens. Look at 'Tou Bi Ji' to see the true essence of a great man."
This is merely a very ordinary and popular view on fortune and misfortune. (Originally published in the 1929 issue of "Xiaoshuo Yuebao")