李昌祺

Li Changqi was a Ming-dynasty author of classical-language fiction and poetry. Public information about him is limited, and his dates, native place, and official career are not clearly recorded. Five of his works are held in this collection, the best known being Jiandeng Yuhua (More Tales of the Lamplighter). Written in the tradition of Jiandeng Xinhua, it consists of short classical-language tales of love and separation between humans and ghosts and of strange events in worldly life. The plots are delicately wrought and the prose ornate, with occasional moral admonition. It is an important work of Ming chuanqi fiction and circulated widely in later times. Another work, Yunpi Mangao, is a collection of poetry and prose, showing his versatility in various genres. His works here are usually classed under classical literature, philosophical reading, and culture, suggesting that beyond fiction his writing also touches on literati essays and reflections. Overall, Li Changqi is best known for Jiandeng Yuhua, which continues the narrative tradition of Ming classical-language fiction and is of value for studying the fiction and literati mentality of the period.