Late Qing Dynasty: A Series of Blunders (Images and Text)

Author: Xue Bing (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Regarding the title, the author has something to say: "" refers to the worldly aspects related to foreigners; "" is used as a noun, similar to the segments in legends and traditional operas; and "" is merely a rough number. This book selects news from Dian Shi Zhai Huabao related to the lives of foreigners, featuring illustrations and text, with meticulous writing. It aims to provide background material on historical events of the time and explain certain specific figures, objects, or terms, while also offering slight critiques when the artist's perspective is flawed. 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-era illustrated newspapers have long been surpassed by later works; however, the emerging practice of reporting current events and disseminating new knowledge through illustrations and text, pioneered by them, remains vibrant to this day. The current published series includes four volumes: Strange Cases of the Late Qing Era, Foreigners in the Late Qing Era, Official Life in the Late Qing Era, and Folk Customs of the Late Qing Era. All volumes adopt illustrations from Dian Shi Zhai Huabao, record the text, and add brief comments for readers to appreciate side by side. These "leisure books," with their juxtaposition of illustrations and text, mix the old and new, and blend formal and colloquial styles, offering both interest and humor. Those who are attentive can immerse themselves in contemplation, reading the "sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy" of history. This book is one volume in the series.