Tales of the Present Age

王晫Jul 2024

4.1

Word count: 47K words
Chapters: 9

Summary

Liang Cangyan's family rules for instructing his children were thorough and strict: in every step, turn, advance, and retreat they had to conform to propriety. Apart from works on Neo-Confucian learning and statecraft, they were not allowed to browse romances and unofficial histories. Yet he made sure they read poetry, saying: "This is how to arouse their feelings, observe their complaints, and make them understand that the ancients' beauties and fragrant herbs all carried something entrusted within them." [Liang, named Qingbiao, courtesy name Yuli, was a native of Zhending in Beizhi. A jinshi of the guiwei year, he rose to the office of Minister.]

Editor's review

The Present Generation's Tales follows the notebook style of A New Account of Tales of the World, recording with concise, pithy strokes the words and conduct, family rules, and household manners of early Qing literati. The passage here on Liang Cangyan's method of teaching his son is especially deft: he lays a foundation of rules with works on Neo-Confucian principle and statecraft, yet does not forbid the recitation of poetry, using the saying "to arouse, to observe, to express grievance" to point out literature's power to stir the heart—in a few words sketching the early Qing scholar-officials' educational ideal, which balances edification with natural disposition. The entries are short and forceful, like silhouettes of people; one can glimpse the ethos of a generation of literati, and the book also serves as a model of notebook vignettes to be savored. This new edition is convenient for browsing at will, suited to steeping oneself in the prose in fragments of time, and also to reading alongside A New Account of Tales of the World, to feel how the same genre changed across eras.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who love notebook vignettes such as A New Account of Tales of the World and wish to know the ethos of early Qing literati
Parents interested in traditional family instruction and educational ideas, hoping to draw on the ancients' experience in teaching children
Lovers of literature and history who need material on the words and deeds of early Qing figures for writing or research
Readers accustomed to short pieces who enjoy savoring classical Chinese epigrams

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a comprehensive Qing dynasty history or full biographical treatment
Beginners with weak Classical Chinese who need vernacular annotations

Reading tips

Read three or five entries a day and jot down the words and deeds that move you; over time you will grasp the literati's bearing.
Read alongside A New Account of Tales of the World, comparing the two books' character appraisal and narrative manner.
When you come to entries on family rules and edification, excerpt them onto cards and annotate them in light of contemporary educational situations.

版权信息
今世说卷一
今世说卷二
今世说卷三
今世说卷四
今世说卷五
今世说卷六
今世说卷七
今世说卷八

FAQ

How is this book related to *A New Account of Tales of the World*?

*Jinshi Shuo* imitates the classification and note-form style of *A New Account of Tales of the World*, recording the words and deeds of early Qing scholars. It belongs to the same tradition of sequel and imitation. Reading it reveals both a similar short-essay technique and the different ethos of its era.

Can I read it without any grounding in Classical Chinese?

Most entries are short and spare in wording; basic Classical Chinese reading ability is enough to attempt it. Start with the more narrative entries, look up allusions in reference works as needed, and do not get bogged down in every character—the point is to capture the spirit of the figures.

Is the content suitable for teaching children?

The entries on family discipline and education do have reference value, such as Liang Cangyan's approach of balancing rules with the expressive power of poetry. But some content bears the marks of its time; parents should read first and select, weighing it against modern educational views rather than copying it wholesale.

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About the author

王晫 Author

Wang Zhuo was a Qing-dynasty man of letters known chiefly for his biji fiction and anecdotal writings. His life is now difficult to trace: his nationality and dates of birth and death are unrecorded, and publicly available sources are limited, so his general profile can only be inferred from his surviving works. Eleven of his works are held in the collection, with representative titles including Jinshi Shuo and its individual volumes and collected edition, as well as the Compendium of Qing-Dynasty Biji Fiction. Jinshi Shuo imitates the format of A New Account of Tales of the World, recording the words and deeds and anecdotes of his contemporaries in arranged volumes, and possesses both historical and literary value. The Compendium of Qing-Dynasty Biji Fiction gathers works of this kind, showing that he devoted considerable effort to compiling and editing such writings. His works are commonly classified under classics, philosophical readings, and classical literature; their subjects lean toward character appraisal, records of worldly affairs, and the customs of the literati, written in a concise and evocative style that continues the tradition of classical-language biji. Owing to limited sources, details of his life and acquaintances cannot be supplied, and readers should appreciate his aims and the documentary significance of his writings through the works themselves.