The Scholars
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
In terms of reading value, The Scholars employs a distinctive "linked novella" structure: each story stands largely on its own yet connects to the others, a technique highly innovative for its time. The language preserves the vivid plainness of Ming-Qing vernacular fiction while incorporating the author's deep insight into human affairs. Reading it today offers not only the charm of classical literature but also a chance to reflect on the complex relationship between knowledge, power, and human nature. It is more than a satirical novel—it is a mirror held up to traditional Chinese culture and the spirit of the literati.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in classical Chinese literature and Ming-Qing social culture
- History and literature enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the imperial examination system and its social impact
- Mature readers who appreciate satire and nuanced portrayals of human nature
- Students and scholars of Chinese novel history or literature
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light entertainment or fast-paced plotting
- Beginners unfamiliar with classical Chinese expression and historical-cultural background
Reading tips
- Begin with the preface or introduction to grasp the basic context of the Ming-Qing imperial examination system
- Pay attention to connections among characters and appreciate the "long in form, short in substance" structural style
- Use the annotations to savor the satire and humor and to sense the author's insight into human affairs
About the publisher
Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House is a publisher known for its literary titles, with a catalogue spanning foreign literature, world classics, classical Chinese literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, and mystery and detective fiction. Judging from the more than 1,100 books in the database, the press publishes foreign classics such as Crime and Punishment, Snow Country, The Complete Sherlock Holmes and Letter from an Unknown Woman, as well as Chinese classical and modern literary works including Lu Xun's Wandering and A Madman's Diary and Wu Jingzi's The Scholars. In terms of translators and authors, translations by Cao Guowei and Tan Jinghua appear in its foreign literature titles, and the authors involved include Dostoevsky, Kawabata Yasunari, Conan Doyle and Zweig. Its publishing character lies in introducing Chinese and foreign literary classics side by side, balancing popular and serious works and attending to both readability and literary value. Public information is limited; the above is a brief overview based solely on the books in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 目录
- 公版书总序
- 浊酒三杯沉醉去，水流花谢知何处——吴敬梓
- 身逐沧浪水，冷眼观世间——《儒林外史》
- 正文
- 第一回 说楔子敷陈大义 借名流隐括全文
- 第二回 王孝廉村学识同科 周蒙师暮年登上第
- 第三回 周学道校士拔真才 胡屠户行凶闹捷报
- 第四回 荐亡斋和尚吃官司 打秋风乡绅遭横事
- 第五回 王秀才议立偏房 严监生疾终正寝
- 第六回 乡绅发病闹船家 寡妇含冤控大伯
- 第七回 范学道视学报师恩 王员外立朝敦友谊
- 第八回 王观察穷途逢世好 娄公子故里遇贫交
- 第九回 娄公子捐金赎朋友 刘守备冒姓打船家
- 第十回 鲁翰林怜才择婿 蘧公孙富室招亲
- 第十一回 鲁小姐制义难新郎 杨司训相府荐贤士
- 第十二回 名士大宴莺脰湖 侠客虚设人头会
- 第十三回 蘧硏夫求贤问业 马纯上仗义疏财
- 第十四回 蘧公孙书坊送良友 马秀才山洞遇神仙
- 第十五回 葬神仙马秀才送丧 思父母匡童生尽孝
- 第十六回 大柳庄孝子事亲 乐清县贤宰爱士
- 第十七回 匡秀才重游旧地 赵医生高踞诗坛
- 第十八回 约诗会名士携匡二 访朋友书店会潘三
- 第十九回 匡超人幸得良朋 潘自业横遭祸事
- 第二十回 匡超人高兴长安道 牛布衣客死芜湖关
- 第二十一回 冒姓字小子求名 念亲戚老夫卧病
- 第二十二回 认祖孙玉圃联宗 爱交游雪斋留客
- 第二十三回 发阴私诗人被打 叹老景寡妇寻夫
- 第二十四回 牛浦郎牵连多讼事 鲍文卿整理旧生涯
- 第二十五回 鲍文卿南京遇旧 倪廷玺安庆招亲
- 第二十六回 向观察升官哭友 鲍廷玺丧父娶妻
- 第二十七回 王太太夫妻反目 倪廷珠兄弟相逢
- 第二十八回 季苇萧扬州入赘 萧金铉白下选书
- 第二十九回 诸葛佑僧寮遇友 杜慎卿江郡纳姬
- 第三十回 爱少俊访友神乐观 逞风流高会莫愁湖
- 第三十一回 天长县同访豪杰 赐书楼大醉高朋
- 第三十二回 杜少卿平居豪举 娄焕文临去遗言
- 第三十三回 杜少卿夫妇游山 迟衡山朋友议礼
- 第三十四回 议礼乐名流访友 备弓旌天子招贤
- 第三十五回 圣天子求贤问道 庄征君辞爵还家
- 第三十六回 常熟县真儒降生 泰伯祠名贤主祭
- 第三十七回 祭先圣南京修礼 送孝子西蜀寻亲
- 第三十八回 郭孝子深山遇虎 甘露僧狭路逢仇
- 第三十九回 萧云仙救难明月岭 平少保奏凯青枫城
- 第四十回 萧云仙广武山赏雪 沈琼枝利涉桥卖文
- 第四十一回 庄濯江话旧秦淮河 沈琼枝押解江都县
- 第四十二回 公子妓院说科场 家人苗疆报信息
- 第四十三回 野羊塘将军大战 歌舞地酋长劫营
- 第四十四回 汤总镇成功归故乡 余明经把酒问葬事
- 第四十五回 敦友谊代兄受过 讲堪舆回家葬亲
- 第四十六回 三山门贤人饯别 五河县势利熏心
- 第四十七回 虞秀才重修元武阁 方盐商大闹节孝祠
- 第四十八回 徽州府烈妇殉夫 泰伯祠遗贤感旧
- 第四十九回 翰林高谈龙虎榜 中书冒占凤凰池
- 第五十回 假官员当街出丑 真义气代友求名
- 第五十一回 少妇骗人折风月 壮士高兴试官刑
- 第五十二回 比武艺公子伤身 毁厅堂英雄讨债
- 第五十三回 国公府雪夜留宾 来宾楼灯花惊梦
- 第五十四回 病佳人青楼算命 呆名士妓馆献诗
- 第五十五回 添四客述往思来 弹一曲高山流水
- 第五十六回 神宗帝下诏旌贤 刘尚书奉旨承祭
- 如是我闻
- （一） 刺贪刺虐入木三分 ——中外经典讽刺小说
- （二） 文学作品中的经典吝啬鬼形象
- （三） 古代科举制度
- （四） 才子吴敬梓的嗟叹人生
- （五） 古代科举制作弊方法
- （六） 古代状元轶事
- （七） 古代著名的科考落榜生
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About the author
Wu Jingzi (1701–1754) was a Qing dynasty literatus and novelist, courtesy name Minxuan and style name Limin, a native of Quanjiao, Anhui. Born into an official family, he later experienced a family property dispute and repeated failures in the imperial examinations, moved to Nanjing, and made a living by writing. Over nearly twenty years he wrote the long satirical novel The Scholars (Rulin Waishi), which vividly portrays the world of scholars and officials with a cool, finely observed style and laid the foundation of classical Chinese satire. His works are commonly classified under social fiction and classical literature, and he also wrote the Wenmu Shantang Collection. The library holds 43 of his works, including multiple editions and volumes of The Scholars. Public information on the details of his life is limited, and scholarship tends to focus on the themes, satirical style, and literary influence of The Scholars.
