Late Qing Embarrassments - (Image and Text)

Author: Xue Bing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Regarding the title, the author has something to say: "" refers to the worldly scene related to foreigners; "" is used as a noun, similar to the segments in legends and operas; "" is just a rough number. This book selects news about foreigners' lives from Dian Shi Zhai Huabao, featuring illustrations and text, with meticulous writing, aiming to provide background material for historical events of that time. It also explains certain specific figures, objects, or terms, and offers slight critiques when the artist's perspective is inappropriate. The book is rich in content, combining knowledge, history, and entertainment, opening a window for readers to understand that era and society. Represented by Dian Shi Zhai Huabao, late Qing period illustrated newspapers have long been surpassed by later works; however, the emerging business of reporting current events and spreading new knowledge through illustrations and text, pioneered by them, remains vibrant to this day. The current published series includes four volumes: Late Qing Strange Cases in a Hundred Forms, Late Qing Foreigners in a Hundred Scenarios, Late Qing Officialdom in a Hundred States, and Late Qing Folk Customs in a Hundred Practices. All volumes adopt illustrations from Dian Shi Zhai Huabao, record the text, add brief comments, and allow readers to appreciate them side by side. This kind of "leisure book" with illustrations and text juxtaposed, mixed old and new, and alternating between formal and colloquial styles, is both entertaining and humorous. Those who are attentive can immerse themselves in contemplation and read the "sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy" of history. This book is one volume in the series.