Official World Unmasked (Illustrated Edition) (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Li Baojia (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Li Baojia's The Real Story of the Chinese Official World is a long serial novel that was serialized in newspapers, directly addressed society, and achieved a sensation. It is also a representative work of satirical fiction, pioneering the trend of modern novels that criticized social reality. According to his friends, Li Baojia "was well-versed in the corrupt and despicable aspects of officials and the essence of their ignorance," and thus "dedicated himself wholeheartedly" to writing The Real Story of the Chinese Official World. The novel begins with the lower scholar Zhao Wen, who raises money to become an official, and Qian Dianshi, a minor government clerk, and weaves together the various officials of the Qing government, from prefects and magistrates to provincial governors, imperial commissioners, military affairs officials, and grand secretaries, exposing their efforts to curry favor and scheme for promotions. It can be said that the novel paints a historical picture of the corrupt and ugly official world of modern China. The Real Story of the Chinese Official World (Volumes 1 & 2) is an illustrated edition! The Real Story of the Chinese Official World (Volumes 1 & 2) is an illustrated edition. The Real Story of the Chinese Official World, written by Li Baojia (1867–1906), is one of the earliest and most representative works of the late Qing Dynasty's "satirical fiction." This novel vividly exposes the corruption within the ruling class during the collapse of feudal society. Lu Xun said, "The stories narrated all revolve around flattery, scheming, deception, greed, and infighting, as well as the passion of scholars for entering officialdom and the hidden affairs of officials' households. With intricate plots and a large cast of characters, the narrative often follows a single person from beginning to end, intermittent and discontinuous, similar to The Story of the Scholars." The officials depicted in the book are utterly ignorant and corrupt, reaching the extreme of oppressing and exploiting the people, as well as being cruel and tyrannical. However, the author did not provide a profound artistic summary of real life, and his writing style also had elements of catering to the times and seeking popularity. Lu Xun also pointed out, "However, there are many speculative statements, making it difficult to call it a true record. It lacks the depth of 'subtle implication and gradual brewing' mentioned in the preface, and it is far from the legacy of Mr. Wen Mu. Moreover, the material collected is merely 'gossip,' and linking these together forms a kind of encyclopedia. The tricks of the official world are small in variation but largely the same. Compiling them into a long narrative results in monotony. Only because of the demands of the times did The Real Story of the Chinese Official World gain such fame. And as a result, the term 'real story' was adopted to describe other fields, such as the business world, academia, and the female sphere, with similar works following in quick succession."