Witty Rivals. Eight Pieces of Brocade

Author: [Ming] West Lake Fisherman, [Ming] Waking the World Scholar
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-01-01
Features: Love Triangle: Also known as The Colorful Mirror and The Joyful, anonymous author. The entire book consists of 24 chapters, each telling a separate story, focusing on various twists and turns of tragic and comic marriages, vividly depicting the diverse human relationships and social realities of the Ming Dynasty. It expresses support for young men and women pursuing freedom of love, boldly exposes the hypocrisy of asceticism, and fully affirms the independent personality and intelligence of women. In terms of erotic descriptions, the novel reveals clear literary and urban tastes, tending to fall into clichés. It was banned multiple times during the Qing Dynasty.
Eight Pieces of Brocade: This is a collection of fictional stories, with "Eight Pieces" referring to eight chapters. The themes are mostly drawn from earlier vernacular novels, but with revisions and embellishments, often adding polish. These works primarily depict folk customs, social realities, or family and marital life, showcasing the urban life and spirit of the Ming Dynasty. At the same time, these stories are often full of intricate plots, vivid characters, and expressive language, making them highly readable. In some places, they reveal outdated ethical notions, superstitions, and sexual awareness prevalent in urban society at the time, requiring readers to pay attention. The book was banned in the Qing Dynasty as "lewd literature."