The Scholars (Volume 2)
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Summary
The Scholars (Volume 2) is a full-length novel centered on intellectuals and a quintessential work of satire. It portrays scholars deeply poisoned by the eight-legged essay examination system—figures like Zhou Jin and Fan Jin, who exhaust their lives striving to pass the provincial examination, still without even a xiucai degree by the time their beards turn white. Despite extreme poverty, they remain fixated on the examinations. Passing by an examination hall, Zhou Jin goes in to look, is overcome by a lifetime of bitterness and pain, and weeps aloud, nearly dying of grief. Later, with the help of some small merchants, he sits the examination, wins the examiner's sympathy, and his fortunes finally turn. When he passes, those who once mocked and ridiculed him come to flatter him and praise him as the most learned of men. Fan Jin, before passing, is so poor his family has no rice to cook, and he carries an old hen to the market to sell. On learning he has passed, he is overcome with wild joy and goes mad, and only a slap from his father-in-law, the butcher Hu, restores his senses. At this, the local gentry and people of standing regard him with new eyes, some giving houses, others property, and Fan Jin's life changes at once… and so on, reflecting the corrupt customs of the time. On the one hand, it truthfully reveals the process and causes of human nature's corrosion, offering profound criticism and mockery of the corruption of officialdom, the abuses of the examination system, and the hypocrisy of ritual propriety; on the other, it warmly celebrates the few who hold fast to themselves and thereby guard human nature, embodying the author's ideals.
Editor's review
The Scholars takes intellectuals as its main subject and is a representative work of classical Chinese satirical fiction. Through figures such as Zhou Jin and Fan Jin, the book profoundly exposes the damage done to scholars by the eight-legged essay examination system: Zhou Jin, past sixty and still without a xiucai degree, enters an examination hall, is stirred by the scene, and weeps aloud; Fan Jin, before passing, is so poor he must sell a chicken to get by, and on passing is overcome with wild joy. The book both truthfully presents the process and causes of human nature's corrosion, criticizing the corruption of officialdom, the abuses of the examination system, and the hypocrisy of ritual propriety, and warmly celebrates the few who hold fast to themselves and guard human nature, embodying the author's ideals. This edition makes it easy for readers to revisit this chapter novel of distinctive structure. It suits slow reading outside the classroom, savoring the compassion and criticism behind the satire; it can also serve as a literary reader for understanding the lives of Ming-Qing scholars and the customs of the time, and read alongside relevant historical materials it reveals all the more forcefully the novel's critique of reality.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- University students and general readers interested in classical satire who wish to read the classic systematically
- Middle-school Chinese teachers and history and literature enthusiasts seeking to understand the examination system and the lives of scholars
- Literary readers who enjoy observing social customs and changes in human nature through character-driven stories
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer tightly plotted novels with a clear central storyline
- Readers wholly unfamiliar with the imperial examination system and chapter-novel narrative who are unwilling to consult background materials
- Readers seeking quick historical conclusions rather than understanding society through literary characters
Reading tips
- Begin with classic passages such as those of Zhou Jin and Fan Jin to feel the satirical style, then return to read the book's structure as a whole.
- Jot down the main characters and events of each chapter as you read, to help grasp the loose structure of the chapter novel.
- Read alongside background materials on the examination system and the lives of Ming-Qing scholars to understand what the criticism targets.
- After finishing, write a short commentary on one or two characters, tracing their changes and the author's attitude.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 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 蓬公孙富室招亲
- 第十一回 鲁小姐制义难新郎 杨司训相府荐贤上
- 第十二回 名士大宴莺脰腹溯 侠客虚设人头会
- 第十三回 蘧駪夫求贤问业 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
FAQ
Is this book a complete, unabridged text or a selection?
According to the materials, this is The Scholars (Volume 2), one volume of the work; the exact contents should be checked against the physical book's table of contents. Before buying, consult the table of contents or edition notes to confirm which chapters are included, then decide whether to read it alongside the other volumes.
Can I read this without having read Volume 1?
The Scholars is made up of many relatively independent character stories linked together, and the chapters do not follow a strictly continuous main plot, so starting from any one volume usually does not hinder understanding. Still, to grasp the full arc of characters and themes, it is best to read the volumes in order or first familiarize yourself with an overview of the whole work.
What is the book mainly satirizing?
According to the materials, the novel mainly portrays scholars deeply poisoned by the eight-legged essay examination system, criticizing the corruption of officialdom, the abuses of the examination system, and the hypocrisy of ritual propriety, and reflecting the decay of social customs; at the same time it celebrates the few who hold fast to themselves and guard human nature, embodying the author's ideals.
Is it suitable for middle-school students?
Stories such as those of Zhou Jin and Fan Jin are often selected for Chinese language teaching and suit middle-school students with some grounding in classical Chinese. But the book has many characters and a loose structure, so it is best to read key chapters under a teacher's or parent's guidance, with background explanation, so that difficulties of language and structure do not discourage interest in reading.
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About the author
Wu Jingzi
Author · Chinese · 1701–1754
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.
