Personal Library -- The Story of the Stone (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Wu Jingzi (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features:▼Complete Content▼Sandalwood Aroma▼Compact and Portable▼Original Illustrations▼Easy to Carry
The author of The Story of the Scholars is Wu Jingzi, a prominent figure during the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns. Wu Jingzi (1701–1754), styled Minxuan and also known as Lìmín, styled Wénmù Lǎorén, was from Quanjiang, Anhui. Born into a family of distinguished officials across generations, he passed the county-level examination at the age of eighteen. In 1735 (the first year of the Qianlong reign), the Anhui Provincial Governor recommended him for the prestigious imperial examination for scholars, but he declined on health grounds. In addition to The Story of the Scholars, he also wrote The Collected Works of Wénmù Shānfáng.
The Story of the Scholars reflects Wu Jingzi's personal experiences and observations, embodying his high moral values—valuing literary integrity and despising worldly ambitions and wealth. As the pioneering work of satirical fiction, it achieved unparalleled artistic excellence, instantly becoming a classic of satirical literature and revered by later generations as the "forefather of Chinese satirical novels." The Story of the Scholars distills Wu Jingzi's lifelong observations and reflections, focusing on the spiritual disposition, life paths, and historical destinies of intellectuals, thereby touching upon contemporary governance, education, and even the imperial examination system. Its intellectual and artistic achievements made it highly influential in its time. As Xingyuan Tuishi remarked, it vividly portrays the world's cunning and human nature, as if casting bronze ding vessels to depict all creatures—demons and spirits alike—within its pages. It also features several virtuous figures as pillars of society, reviving moral education. When depicting gentlemen, it is as if one beholds their noble demeanor and hears profound maxims; when portraying villains, it exposes their innermost thoughts and captures their mannerisms, where paintings fall short, the brush excels.
The Wo Nao Cao Tang edition of The Story of the Scholars is quoted as saying: "Beware of reading The Story of the Scholars—once you finish, you will realize that every aspect of daily life is filled with its themes." This demonstrates how The Story of the Scholars, with its vivid and lifelike brushwork, accurately reflects society. Consequently, scholars once compared the characters in the book to real historical figures, deducing their artistic prototypes. Some even went to teahouses to experience reality, calling it "revisiting The Story of the Scholars." All this illustrates the success and greatness of The Story of the Scholars.
Due to Wu Jingzi's profound literary cultivation and rich social experience, he was able to delve deeply into the essence of his time. He refined folk language into simple, humorous, and authentic prose, skillfully portraying the corruption and darkness of the imperial examination system, the vulgarity and absurdity of pedantic scholars and fake literati, and the cruelty and despicable nature of corrupt officials—all with precision. His satire is neither harsh nor vulgar, avoiding the moral decay often found in such works.
In terms of artistic structure, The Story of the Scholars lacks a central protagonist but unfolds in stages, as Lu Xun aptly described: "Like collecting scattered brocade pieces into a patchwork album. Though not grand in scale, it occasionally reveals rare gems." This structure greatly influenced late Qing Dynasty fiction, such as The Story of the Scholars in Shanghai and The Vices of Officialdom, both of which imitated The Story of the Scholars.