Roulin Wai Shi (Complete Two Volumes): Illustrated Text

Author: Wu Jingzi (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The Story of the Scholars is a satirical novel and a vivid portrayal of social reality. As Xing Yuan Tuishi said, it depicts the worldly wisdom and human nature as if casting a bronze tripod to represent objects, with all kinds of spirits and demons appearing in its pages. It also features several virtuous figures who stand firm against the tide and revitalize the moral teachings. When describing the noble, it is as if one sees their dignified demeanor and hears their profound maxims; when depicting the petty, it reveals their innermost thoughts and portrays their mannerisms, reaching depths that even paintings cannot capture. The Wo Xian Grass Hall edition comments: "Beware of reading The Story of the Scholars—after finishing it, one realizes that in all daily interactions, it is as if one is living in The Story of the Scholars." This shows that The Story of the Scholars uses vivid and lifelike brushwork to accurately reflect society. For this reason, scholars have once compared the characters in the book to real historical figures, deducing their artistic prototypes. Some even went to teahouses to experience the world depicted in the novel.