Two Snaps of the Table in Amazement (Volumes 1 and 2) (Complete Embroidered Illustrations Edition)

Author: Ling Mengchu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Ancient Chinese vernacular short stories, originally intended as scripts for storytelling by performers, which had been widely circulated among the common folk for a long time. By the late Ming Dynasty, some scholars edited, refined, and imitated these scripts for novel writing, and through the extensive printing and distribution by book merchants, vernacular novels gained significant influence across all social strata, especially among the lower classes. Among these, the most notable are the two collections, "Three Words" and "Two Acts." The Case of the Striking Table was compiled by Ling Mengchu during the Ming Dynasty. It was initially published in 40 volumes and later expanded to another 40 volumes. There is also The Ancient and Modern Stories, which is recorded separately and is known as "Two Acts." Ling Mengchu (1580-1644), styled Xuanfang, was also known as Chu Cheng and the pseudonym Ji Kongguan Master. He was from Wucheng. At the age of 18, he was appointed as a stipendiary scholar, but he faced repeated failures in imperial examinations. At the age of 55, he was recommended as an outstanding and appointed as an assistant magistrate of Shanghai County. Later, he was promoted to the position of assistant magistrate of Xuzhou and concurrently served as the acting magistrate of Fangcun. In the 17th year of the Chongzhen era (1644), when Li Zicheng's forces approached Xuzhou, he died of sorrow and frustration. He wrote extensively throughout his life, but his most famous works are known as "Two Acts." The term "Two Acts" refers to the collection of miscellaneous stories from ancient and modern times that are entertaining and suitable for conversation. The content is largely drawn from works such as The Peaceful Reign of Great Peace, The Strange Stories of Yijian, The New Tales of the Scissors Lamp, and The Remaining Tales of the Scissors Lamp. The stories in The First Collection include nine from the Tang Dynasty, seven from the Song Dynasty, six from the Yuan Dynasty, thirteen from the Ming Dynasty, and five of unknown origin; the stories in The Second Collection include one from the Spring and Autumn period, fourteen from the Song Dynasty, three from the Yuan Dynasty, nineteen from the Ming Dynasty, and two of unknown origin, along with one miscellaneous piece, Song Gongming's Celebration of the Lantern Festival. Some works in Two Acts reflect the life and consciousness of the urban populace. For example, The Transported Merchant's Fortuitous Encounter with the Red Lotus of Dongting depicts the maritime trade of merchants, revealing the strong desire of Ming-era merchants to seek wealth. Works such as General Wu's Promise of a Meal and The Traveler's Miraculous Assistance emphasize commercial themes, which were uncommon in short stories of that time. Some works advocate for gender equality in love and marriage. For instance, The General's Mistaken Recognition of a Mouse portrays the loyal love between Liu Cuicui and Jin Dingzhong. Two Acts excels in plot organization, making most chapters engaging with vivid language. However, in terms of overall artistic charm, Two Acts promotes feudal morality in many of its stories, features repetitive plots, and lacks both ideological depth and artistic quality compared to Three Words. Two Acts has been published in various editions, such as the Ming Dynasty's Shangyou Tang and the Qing Dynasty's Jingye Tang. The compilation of this book is based on multiple versions, carefully selecting the best and learning from the excellent to create the current edition. The illustrations used in the book are mostly selected from the finest (embroidered illustrations) of past versions, and contemporary renowned painters have been commissioned to recreate styles from the Ming and Qing dynasties.