Personal Library -- A Treasury of Laughter

Author: (Qing) Game Master
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Those familiar with Chinese culture know that Laughing Forest Broad Records is a time-honored and widely influential collection of popular jokes, containing over a thousand jokes and ranking as a timeless treasure in China's joke treasury. Upon its inception, it became immensely popular both domestically and among people from all walks of life, from high-ranking officials and nobles to laboring commoners. In the 18th century, the brilliant Japanese writer Kaze no Yama San translated it into Japanese and introduced it to Japan, where it became beloved by the Japanese people as a "pet." It is said that the only remaining original copy of this book today is still preserved in the National Diet Library in Japan.
Laughing Forest Broad Records not only reflects the attitudes and perspectives of the working class toward life, records their life experiences, and expresses their yearning for a better life, but it is also particularly valuable for its satire of the world's evil customs and practices, its hatred of feudal oppressive forces, its advice to rulers, and its embodiment of the wisdom of the working class. These witty and humorous jokes not only bring laughter and joy but also serve important social functions, helping us gain a clear understanding and recognition of feudal society. The entire book satirizes the vast world and the myriad aspects of human life, such as lust, stinginess, hypocrisy, ignorance, slip-ups, and wifely submissiveness. On the whole, it closely mirrors social trends and presents folk customs, reflecting the realities of the world, awakening the senses, and being worth pondering. Although the book occasionally touches on lewd jokes, they are all light-hearted and merely intended to amuse. Beyond that, it offers sharp satire on social manners and human nature, full of wit and humor, making readers unable to help but laugh. In today's fast-paced and stressful society, reading more funny jokes can open our minds to laughter, allowing many worries to fade away unnoticed in the laughter, and making life's path seem brighter and clearer.