The First Strange Stories from the Table; The Second Strange Stories from the Table

Author: Ling Mengchu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: The famous Ming Dynasty writer Ling Mengchu's Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Pai An Jing Qi) and More Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Er Pai An Jing Qi), are commonly referred to together as The Two Pai An Jing. These two highly acclaimed works consist of seventy-eight short stories and one zaju (Chinese traditional opera). Written in the popular "imitated narrative" style favored by the masses, they depict numerous captivating tales, such as merchants rising from misfortune to wealth, scholars achieving fame from poverty; upright officials delivering just rulings like gods, corrupt officials acting like tigers in the law; villains engaging in adultery and dragging lawsuits, scammers deceiving each other; how young people pursue loyal and unwavering love, and how feudal etiquette creates tragic marriages. The language is simple and concise; the plots are full of twists and turns, mysterious and perplexing yet logical; the characters' inner lives are portrayed with meticulous detail, and the artistic images are vivid and lifelike. It is truly worth reading.