Full Description
This collection of short stories, anecdotes, and poems was likely compiled during the 13th century. Tales of romantic love—including courtship, marriage, and illicit affairs—unify the collection and make it an essential primary source for literary and social history, since official Chinese history sources did not usually discuss family conflict or sexual matters.
This volume, the first complete translation of The Drunken Man's Talk (Xinbian zuiweng tanlu) in any language, includes an introduction that explores the literary significance of the work as well as annotations explaining the symbolism and allusions found in the stories.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Translator's Introduction
1. An Account of the Plowmen of the Tongue
2. A Legal Case Involving Illicit Love
3. Romantic Union
4. Women's Verse
5. Humorous Tales from a Precious Window
6. Veritable Records from the Red-light District
7. Records from the Red-light District
8. Humorous Quips
9. The Characteristics of Ladies
10. Poems About Ladies
11. Romantic Union
12. Extraordinary Encounters with Immortals
13. Virtuous Women of the Inner Quarters
14. Legal Cases Involving Witty Verdicts
15. Felicitous Trysts with Immortals
16. Broken Promises
17. Romantic Betrayal
18. Extraordinary and Predestined Meetings
19. Old Stories of Reunion 1
20. Old Stories of Reunion 2
Appendix
Notes
Glossary of Chinese Characters
Bibliography
