The Startled Moth Beneath the Sword

Name: The Startled Moth Beneath the Sword
ISBN: 9787503483745

Bai Yu (Gong Zhuxin)China Culture and History Press · ChinaOct 2024

3.7

Word count: 152K words
Chapters: 13
ISBN: 9787503483745

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Summary

A monumental work of sweeping vision, appreciated by readers high and low; a singular masterpiece returns to the world. Republican-era wuxia fiction is a dazzling presence in the history of Chinese literature and culture. Taking the promotion of traditional Chinese culture and the discovery and organization of Republican-era literary classics as its starting point, our press is launching, on a large scale, the Republican Wuxia Fiction Treasury by ten major wuxia novelists from north and south. Bai Yu was an important Republican-era wuxia writer whose works are imbued with a spirit of justice and embody the characteristics of social satire in wuxia, and are much loved by readers. The Republican Wuxia Fiction Treasury: Bai Yu Volume comprises 20 works by Bai Yu. This book is one of them.

Editor's review

Bai Yu is a representative of the social-irony school of Republican-era martial arts fiction. His works look beyond flashing blades to the ways of the world and the rules of the jianghu, a quality fully evident in Startled Moth Beneath the Sword. As one title in the Republic-era Martial Arts Fiction Collection: Bai Yu, this re-edited edition preserves the language rhythm and narrative flavor peculiar to Republican martial arts fiction while remaining accessible to contemporary readers. For readers new to the genre, it offers an entry point different from the Jin Yong and Gu Long lineages; for scholars of popular literature or Republican culture, it is a textual sample for observing chivalric ideals and urban life of the time. Readers would do well to notice how the author inserts satire and moral counsel into the plot, and to see that his "chivalric spirit" lies not in satisfying revenge but in probing human folly. It works well as a selected introduction to Bai Yu's craft and can be read alongside other works in the same volume to appreciate the diversity of Republican martial arts fiction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Republican-era martial arts fiction who want to broaden their reading
Scholars of popular literature or Republican culture seeking primary texts
Readers who enjoy traditional chapter-style narrative and can accept old vernacular diction
Literary enthusiasts curious about the social-irony school of martial arts fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast modern pacing and lack patience
Those unaccustomed to Republican-era vernacular and old-fashioned syntax
Readers seeking only fantasy settings or the thrills of an ultra-long serial

Reading tips

Read the preface or publication notes first to understand Baifa's creative background and this book's place in the collection
Slow down in the first few chapters to adapt to the feel and rhythm of Republican-era vernacular; there is no need to scrutinize every word
Note the satirical technique and descriptions of Jianghu rules, and jot brief annotations as you go
After finishing, read alongside other Baifa works in the same volume to compare characters and themes

About the publisher

China Culture and History Press China · Founded in 1980

China Culture and History Press has long devoted itself to modern and contemporary literature and culture-and-history reading matter, with publishing directions centered on classic works, social novels, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy, alongside culture-and-history periodicals such as Zongheng. Among the more than 1,500 titles in the collection, representative books include Zhang Henshui's Ti Xiao Yin Yuan, Lu Xun's Complete Classic Works (10 volumes) and Wild Grass, and Lao She's Four Generations Under One Roof series and the boxed set of Lao She's Classic Works (10 volumes), while its author resources are concentrated on figures such as Zhang Henshui, Lu Xun, Lao She and Sima Qian. Its publishing character lies in solid editorial work on culture-and-history source texts and in issuing famous authors' works in sets, balancing the readability of individual texts with the systematic presentation of complete collections for focused reading and collecting. Beyond these directions, public information on the press's contemporary original publishing is limited, so it is not elaborated here.

版权信息
我的生平
叙略
第一章诉叛徒侠女惊宴
第二章搜逆子群雄下山
第三章探巨宅人影闪烁
第四章访地道忽遇妖贼
第五章鬼画符乡妇求巫
第六章雄娘子邪术杀人
第七章三太保贪色被阉
第八章玉蜻蜓决斗遭擒
附录
整理后记

FAQ

Is this book suitable for beginners to wuxia?

It can be read, but it requires some patience. Baifa's language and narrative style carry obvious Republican-era vernacular features, different from the pacing of contemporary wuxia. Beginners who first understand the basic background of Republican-era wuxia before entering this book will find it smoother; those seeking only fast-paced plot may find the pacing slow.

What does Baifa's 'socially satirical school' mean?

This is a summary of Baifa's wuxia style, referring to how his works incorporate satire and admonition about human nature and social phenomena into wuxia stories; chivalry is not just fighting but also criticism of reality. While reading this book, note the worldly descriptions behind characters' words and actions to grasp this feature more directly.

Is this a complete novel or a selection?

This book is one title in the Baifa Volume of the Republican-Era Wuxia Fiction Collection and is one of the Baifa works included in that collection. For the specific structure, refer to the table of contents of the physical book; it is advisable to check the contents or a sample page before purchase to confirm whether the content meets expectations.

Do I need prior knowledge of Republican-era history to read this book?

Not systematically, but knowing the publishing background of Republican-era wuxia helps. The book involves old Jianghu rules, marketplace slang, and ethical concepts; if you encounter unfamiliar expressions, infer from context or consult relevant annotations and reference works—it will not affect overall reading.

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About the author

Bai Yu (Gong Zhuxin) Author · China · 1899–1966

Bai Yu (1899–1966), originally named Gong Wanxuan and later Gong Zhuxin, was a prominent Republican-era Chinese writer of martial arts fiction. His ancestral home was Dong'e, Shandong, and he was born in Machang, Tianjin. In his early years he received guidance from Lu Xun and Zhou Zuoren and engaged in new literature writing before turning to martial arts fiction; he rose to fame in 1938 with The Twelve Money Darts. His works combine martial arts fiction with social fiction, and his representative works also include Stealing Boxing, Records of Martial World Strife, The Joint Escort Chronicle, and Blood-Washed Cold Light Sword. He is counted among the "Five Masters of Northern School Martial Arts Fiction." Bai Yu's novels emphasize social observation and character portrayal and hold a place in Republican-era popular literature. In his later years he turned to the study of oracle bones and epigraphy. Public information on the details of his life is limited; the collection contains 77 works, mostly on martial arts, social, and folk themes.