The Complete Story of the Plum's Second Bloom

惜阴堂主人北京汇聚文源文化发展有限公司 · ChinaJun 2024

3.4

Word count: 127K words
Chapters: 41

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early forms of thought have distinctive features; religious theology, classical texts of traditional Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and local gazetteers are all broad and profound. This "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture Original Texts" series preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

The Complete Story of the Second Plum Blossom (Erdu Mei Quanzhuan) is a traditional scholar-and-beauty novel by the Master of Xiyin Hall. Built around the struggle between loyalists and traitors and the joys and sorrows of separation and reunion, its plot is full of twists and its emotions intense, and it holds its own place in the lineage of Ming and Qing popular fiction. This edition preserves the original appearance of the text and belongs to a popular-reader series of traditional cultural classics; it suits readers who wish to enter the world of classical narrative through fiction. What most deserves attention are the characters' perseverance and turning points in adversity, and the emphasis on integrity, affection, and family ethics behind the scholar-and-beauty formula—the reading offers both story interest and a glimpse of the ethical views and narrative tastes of an older society. The editor has not modernized the original text, so readers can experience the original flavor of old-fiction language, but should be prepared for a mix of classical and vernacular expression. As an introductory reading in classical fiction, it is advisable first to grasp the main plot, then return to savor the dialogue and detailed exposition to better appreciate the author's narrative craftsmanship.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Ordinary readers who enjoy the scholar-and-beauty theme and want to understand Ming-Qing popular fiction
Readers interested in traditional ethics of loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness and in family stories
Teachers and students who need a classical novel text as teaching or reading material
Literature lovers willing to accept a mix of classical and vernacular language and to read slowly and carefully

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer modern vernacular and fast-paced reading
Researchers seeking rigorous academic collation and textual criticism
Readers sensitive to traditional moralizing plots

Reading tips

First read through the main plot and clarify the relationships among characters, then revisit the dialogue and details at key turning points.
Look up rare characters and words as needed; do not try to memorize them—prioritize continuity of reading.
After finishing, compare it with common conventions of Ming-Qing scholar-and-beauty novels to appreciate both its inheritance and its variations.
If used for a reading group, discussion can center on the characters' choices in adversity.

About the publisher

北京汇聚文源文化发展有限公司 China

Beijing Huiju Wenyuan Cultural Development Co., Ltd. is a cultural institution focused on publishing traditional Chinese classics. Public information about the company is limited, and its publishing profile is mainly reflected in the 83 books in the database. Judging from its representative titles, the company attends to classics across the traditional Four Categories of Chinese literature. The Lotus Sutra relates to Buddhist literature; Comprehensive Institutions, A Record of Reading in the Prefectural Studio, and The Meaning of Textual Criticism are works of history and bibliography; New Songs from the Jade Terrace is a literary anthology; Agricultural Administration in Its Entirety concerns agricultural policy and practice; and Annotations to the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals and Discourse on the Song Dynasty reflect the directions of classical scholarship and historical commentary. Its authors include Du You, Chao Gongwu, Xu Ling, Xu Guangqi, He Xiu, Zhang Xuecheng, and Wang Fuzhi, as well as anonymous works. Its common categories center on classic works, social sciences, Eastern philosophy, literary appreciation, and philosophical reading, indicating a publishing orientation characterized by the organization of traditional scholarly primary texts and the promotion of traditional cultural reading.

版权信息
第一回老忠良衙斋自叹圣天子钦召梅公
第二回闻王命忠臣训子为升迁诰命劝夫
第三回众黎民哭留青天贤县主慰劳赤子
第四回梅公路途遇头接见奢华规戒来人
第五回谒东阁险遭不测拜都院误触良朋
第六回天子命朝臣庆寿卢杞着黄嵩陪宾
第七回奸臣暗中施巧计忠良反受行刑罪
第八回传假旨捉拿全家透真情放脱母子
第九回假钦差吓诈财宝陈知府受惊嘱托
第十回梅公子仪征投亲侯知县罪加假婿
第十一回哭穷途公子捐生救颠危禅僧仗义
第十二回扮书童暂时避难识年伯暗里悲伤
第十三回赏梅花陡思同年降风雨忽想云游
第十四回拜求神圣因留父上天垂象念孤儿
第十五回梅开二度乃千古佳话花园联诗实万载奇逢
第十六回眼识英贤怜友念故交心结丝梦惜旧遭奸变
第十七回选民女百姓惊惶认兄妹家庭痛哭
第十八回赶路途民夫忿恨到重台兄妹沾襟
第十九回雁门关夫妻哭别苏武庙主仆叹忠
第二十回落雁崖烈女殉节众鞑靼剑吓佳人
第二十一回真容投落飞崖下假扮贵人和番邦
第二十二回昭君显圣送贞节云英降香逢杏元
第二十三回撞巡更梅生改姓遇门生冯公荐友
第二十四回路无人春生投水渔有缘玉姐联烟
第二十五回江公子爱色抢玉姐众渔人发怒骂江魁
第二十六回陈春生当街喊状邱军门勘问如雄
第二十七回渔婆被吓透消息军门怜才收东床
第二十八回梅夫人后堂观审陈公子异地逢亲
第二十九回梅夫人有心为月老邱老娘无意得螟蛉
第三十回失金钗梅公子得病睹旧物陈小姐思夫
第三十一回重台赠钗忽睹得病无奈只得吐露衷肠
第三十二回巧丫环吟诗探心病老夫人设席庆奇逢
第三十三回昭君送杏元联姻邹公回府知根由
第三十四回穆朵会试游泮水春生赴考上长安
第三十五回骂礼部邱魁却婚陷榜眼黄嵩设计
第三十六回众举子午门殴打圣天子金殿问供
第三十七回三法司奉旨审奸两奸贼法场受刑
第三十八回雪沉冤封官赐爵代巡狩削佞除奸
第三十九回显亲扬名巡按谒墓升官立后状元报恩
第四十回赐完婚洞房花烛大家封恩赐团圆

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no foundation in classical fiction?

It is readable, but requires some patience. This book preserves the original language, with a mix of classical and vernacular expression, so it may not read smoothly at first. It is advisable first to grasp the main plot and not to worry about every word; once you read smoothly, you will gradually enter the mood. If you have previously read popular editions of old novels such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it will be easier to adapt.

What aspects should I focus on while reading?

You can follow three threads: first, the characters' choices amid loyalist-traitor conflict and family misfortune; second, the way the scholar-and-beauty narrative mode unfolds; third, the language and dialogue style of old fiction. After grasping the main line, return to read key scenes closely; this makes it easier to appreciate the narrative interest than word-by-word scrutiny.

Does preserving the original appearance mean there are no annotations?

According to the publisher's note, this series focuses on conserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture and preserves the original appearance of the texts. If readers encounter rare characters, words, or allusions, it is advisable to have reference books at hand or use electronic search to aid understanding, prioritizing continuity in reading and not stopping over isolated difficulties.

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About the author

惜阴堂主人 Author

Xiyintang Zhuren is an authorial name taken from a studio hall (tanghao) in the field of Ming and Qing vernacular fiction; the writer's real name, native place, and dates of birth and death are not clearly recorded, and publicly available information is limited. Judging from the ten works held in the collection, the author's output centers on the compilation of classical literature and the writing of vernacular fiction. Representative works include Er Du Mei (The Second Plum Blossom) together with its full-length sequel and various divided and Qing-dynasty vernacular editions, as well as a forty-volume collection of classical literary works. These titles are generally classified under classical literature, classic works, and social fiction, with tags also touching on Eastern philosophy and time-travel alternate history, suggesting a diverse range of subjects. Er Du Mei, which traces the joys and sorrows of a talented scholar and a beautiful maiden, features a twisting plot and plain, accessible language; it was one of the more widely circulated Qing vernacular novels, and it is through this work that the name Xiyintang Zhuren is known to later readers.