Essence of Chinese Classical Masterpieces, The Five Great Novels -- The Scholars

Author: Wu Jingzi (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-03-01
Features: The Story of the Scholars centers on depicting the "scholarly world," with side glances at the bureaucratic politics and social customs of the time. Its main content is to criticize the imperial examination system that selects officials through the Eight-legged essay, thereby revealing the severe crisis in spiritual morality and cultural education in the late feudal era. The Story of the Scholars is an outstanding realist satirical novel from the Qing Dynasty in China, primarily depicting the activities and spiritual appearances of intellectuals and officials in the late feudal society. Originally consisting of fifty-five chapters, the currently circulated edition has fifty-six chapters. The critical focus of The Story of the Scholars is mainly aimed at the imperial examination system that selects officials through the Eight-legged essay. The work portrays a group of scholars obsessed with the examinations, pursuing "fame and fortune," and satirizes the extreme hypocrisy and vicious social customs caused by this obsession. This held significant practical and educational meaning at the time. Its language is precise, vivid, and concise, with characters so vividly portrayed and the satirical techniques so masterful that it achieves a high level of artistic excellence. Mr. Lu Xun believed that the emergence of The Story of the Scholars marked the beginning of a work worthy of being called a true satire. The Story of the Scholars was written by Wu Jingzi, styled Min Gan, from Quanjiang, Anhui. He saw through the dark politics and corrupt social customs of his time and, through writing The Story of the Scholars, exposed and powerfully criticized the ugly reality, demonstrating a touch of democratic thought.