Biographies of Swordsmen

Wang ShizhenJul 2024

3.5

Word count: 22K words
Chapters: 9

Summary

Swordswords are not found in the classical teachings. Their main sources are Zhuang Zhou, the Yuejue Shu, and the Annals of Wu and Yue; some regard them as merely masterful fables. As for Sima Qian's discussion of Jing Ke, he said: "What a pity! He did not study the art of swordsmanship." This suggests he believed such swordsmen truly existed.

Editor's review

The Swordswords' Tale, traditionally attributed to Wang Shizhen, is a compilation of ancient jottings on the theme of the swordsword. It collects anecdotes and legends about swordswords from successive ages, drawing largely on the Zhuangzi, the Yuejue Shu, the Annals of Wu and Yue, and historical biographies and miscellaneous accounts, and is steeped in fable and romance. In his short preface the compiler observes that swordsmanship is "not found in the classical teachings," and cites Sima Qian's remark that Jing Ke "did not study the art of swordsmanship," revealing a cautious attitude toward these half-true, half-fanciful tales. The pieces are short and the characters vividly drawn; there are both chivalrous heroes who wield their swords in the cause of justice and descriptions of uncanny, unfathomable swordplay. The book is an important source for understanding the origins of ancient Chinese swordsword culture. This edition is designed for general readers and may serve as supplementary material for the study of ancient fiction and chivalric culture, while also suiting readers who enjoy tales and jottings of the marvelous. Note that most of the stories have been shaped by literati and should not be taken as reliable history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in ancient Chinese chivalric culture and swordsword legends
Literature students studying the history of ancient fiction or classical Chinese jottings
Readers who enjoy short tales of the marvelous and can accept a classical Chinese style

Not a good fit for

Readers who want only modern full-length wuxia and lack patience for classical Chinese short pieces
Readers who require strict historical verification and do not accept anecdote or fable

Reading tips

Begin with the preface or short introduction to understand the documentary sources of the swordsword stories and the compiler's attitude, then proceed to the individual pieces.
Arrange your reading by the length of the pieces; several short ones can be read at a sitting, and consult the notes when you meet allusions.
If you are studying chivalric culture, read the stories alongside the "Biographies of Assassins" in the Records of the Grand Historian and the knight-errant pieces of Tang tales.

版权信息
剑侠传
小序
老人化猿
扶余国王
嘉兴绳技
僧侠
西京店老人
荆十三娘

FAQ

Is The Swordswords' Tale an original novel by Wang Shizhen?

It is not an original novel but a compilation traditionally attributed to Wang Shizhen, gathering anecdotes and legends about swordswords from successive ages, with material drawn largely from pre-Qin and Han texts and historical biographies and miscellaneous accounts.

Can the swordsword stories in the book be taken as real history?

They should not be taken as reliable history. Most are fable-like and romantic, shaped by literati, and the compiler himself was cautious about swordsmanship; they should be read as literary legend.

Is it suitable for fans of wuxia fiction?

It suits readers interested in the origins of wuxia culture. The pieces are mostly short and in classical Chinese, archaic in style and quite different from modern full-length wuxia, but they show the early forms of the swordsword figure.

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About the author

Wang Shizhen Author · China (Ming dynasty) · 1526–1590

Wang Shizhen (1526–1590), courtesy name Yuanmei and styled Fengzhou and Yanzhou Shanren, was a native of Taicang in Nan Zhili (present-day Taicang, Jiangsu). A Ming dynasty literary figure, historian and literary critic, he was a leading representative of the Later Seven Masters and dominated the literary scene for some twenty years, rising to the post of Minister of Justice at Nanjing. His writings span poetic and literary criticism, historical notes and biographies. Twenty-five of his works are included in this collection, among them Yiyuan Zhiyan, Yanshan Tang Bieji, Biographies of Chief Grand Secretaries since the Jiajing Reign, and several compilations of Ming anecdotes and records, as well as Jianxia Zhuan. Yiyuan Zhiyan sets out his literary views and exerted a lasting influence on the poetic and prose trends of the mid-to-late Ming. His historical and miscellaneous works preserve a wealth of information on Ming institutions and figures. His style is learned and disciplined, combining critical sharpness with narrative interest, and he is often mentioned in categories of classical literature and philosophical reading.