Tang and Song Legendary Collection - (Full Two Volumes)

Author: Lu Xun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: The Legends of the Tang and Song Dynasties (8 volumes), compiled and annotated by Lu Xun, featuring 48 representative legends and tales written by Tang and Song dynasty authors. The first edition was published in two volumes by Shanghai Beishu Book Company in December 1927 and February 1928, respectively. In May 1934, it was republished as a single volume and published by Shanghai Lianhua Book Company. The Tang Dynasty was a peak period in the development of Chinese classical prose fiction, producing many renowned and beloved legends, such as The Tale of the Long Love Song, The Tale of Liu Yi, The Tale of Li Wa, and The Tale of Yingying. These works not only provided an inexhaustible source of inspiration for later operas and novels but also stand as shining gems in the treasure trove of Chinese literature, holding an irreplaceable historical position. The Song dynasty authors, inheriting the legacy of the Tang, created legends that, though slightly inferior to those of the Tang, include some historically themed works like The Tale of Yang Tai Zhen and The Tale of Zhao Fei Yan, which are highly readable and widely circulated. Lu Xun's selection is well-organized, with carefully curated titles and meticulous annotations, and is widely recognized as one of the most distinctive and representative anthologies of its kind in decades. At the end of the book, there is an additional volume titled Short Notes at the Edge of the Mound, written by Lu Xun himself, which provides detailed research and elaboration on the authors' biographies and the origins of the stories. The colloquial translation by Professor Cai Yijiang and Ms. Cai Wanru, which emphasizes accuracy, fluency, and elegance, greatly aids modern readers in understanding and appreciating the original works. This translation is published alongside the original work for this purpose.