Yushi Mingyan - Classical Masterpieces

Author: (Ming) Feng Menglong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: Yushi Mingyan (also known as Gujin Xiaoshuo), originally published during the Ming Dynasty, is a collection of short vernacular stories. Together with Yushi Tongyan and Xingshi Hengyan, it forms the "Three Canons," a compilation of tales from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties by Feng Menglong. It has long been celebrated as a treasure trove of classical Chinese short fiction. Yushi Mingyan contains 40 works, divided into three parts: first, tales from the Song and Yuan dynasty storytellers; second, tales from the Ming dynasty and imitations thereof; and third, Feng Menglong's own works. The first two categories were also edited and revised by Feng Menglong. According to expert research, Yang Sixun Encountering an Old Friend in Yanshan, Wang Xinyi Saving His Family with One Death, The Monk Who Tricked the Empress's Wife with a Letter, and Song Si Gong's Mischief at the Forbidden Spirit Platform may be tales from the Song dynasty; Jiang Xingge Reuniting with the Pearl Shirt, Yang Bao's Extraordinary Adventure in the State of Yue, Zheng Huichen Seeking Vengeance at the Mulberry Grove, Jin Yuni's Rod Striking the Unfeeling Lover, and Shen Xiaoxia's Meeting with the Preface to the Memorial may be works from the Ming dynasty (including Feng Menglong's own creations). The era of the other tales is difficult to determine.