Twelve Laughs

墨憨主人Jun 2024

3.5

Word count: 59K words
Chapters: 8

Summary

Twelve Laughs consists of twelve pieces; only an early Qing edition survives. The inner cover bears the inscriptions “Newly Compiled by the Master of Mohan Studio” and “Twelve Laughs,” along with a note: “Mohan Studio has published many works, pioneering vernacular fiction and serving as a master of new books; its fame spreads through Yexia and its pages are prized in Luoyang. This edition reveals especially rare treasures; those who understand will surely prize it alike. Its meaning is profound—do not dismiss it as mere laughter and talk.” Prefaced by a “Laughing Introduction” signed “Inscribed by the Master of Mohan,” it bears two seals, “Descendant of Ziyou” and “Dasheng.” Only volumes one, two, five, and six survive, held at the Peking University Library.

Editor's review

Twelve Laughs is a distinctive collection of comic tales from an early Qing edition, attributed to the Master of Mohan. Its “Laughing Introduction” and inner-cover note reveal a deliberate intent to continue the Mohan Studio literary tradition, carving out a mode that uses jest to convey worldly observation between vernacular fiction and comic anecdote. Only volumes one, two, five, and six survive, held at the Peking University Library; the incompleteness itself lets readers better appreciate the difficulties of transmitting early Qing popular publications and the rarity of the edition. This organized publication provides researchers with a reliable textual basis and opens a window for general readers onto Ming–Qing comic literature. The twelve stories are short and witty, suited to casual reading in spare moments, and serve as an accessible introduction to early Qing urban taste and literati playful writing. Readers might note the phrase “its meaning is profound” in the note: behind the laughter often lies gentle satire of human affairs; read alongside the edition’s incomplete state, one feels more keenly the weight of a “paper relic.”

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Ming–Qing joke books and note-form fiction, for casual browsing.
Scholars of classical literature and textual editions, for examining the early Qing printed edition.
Those who enjoy short witty stories and light reading in spare moments.
Readers interested in works attributed to “Mohan Studio” and the transmission of popular literature.

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting all twelve complete pieces and a continuous long narrative.
Beginners who need modern vernacular translation and are unused to classical Chinese short pieces.
Those interested solely in serious historical textual criticism and not in the joke genre.

Reading tips

Begin with the “Laughing Introduction” and inner-cover note to understand the author’s stated intent, then proceed to the main text.
Each piece stands alone; read in volume order or dip into one or two at random.
At humorous points, recall the note’s phrase “its meaning is profound” and savor the worldly observation behind the laughter.
After reading, consult the note on surviving editions to understand the incomplete four-volume state and its textual value.

版权信息
十二笑序
第一笑痴愚女遇痴愚汉
第二笑昧心人赚昧心朋
第三笑忧愁婿偏成快活
第四笑快活翁偏惹忧愁
第五笑溺爱子新丧邀串戏
第六笑赌钱奴翻局替烧汤

FAQ

Only four volumes of Twelve Laughs survive—will reading feel incomplete?

It is indeed incomplete: only volumes one, two, five, and six survive, held at the Peking University Library. But each story stands relatively independent, so the lacunae do not hinder reading individual pieces; rather, they illuminate the difficulties of transmitting early Qing popular publications—read the incompleteness itself as textual information.

What is the relationship between the “Master of Mohan” and “Mohan Studio”?

According to the inner-cover note, the book is inscribed “Newly Compiled by the Master of Mohan Studio,” the “Laughing Introduction” is signed “Inscribed by the Master of Mohan,” and it bears two seals, “Descendant of Ziyou” and “Dasheng.” The note states that Mohan Studio has published many works and that this is a further edition. Specific authorial identity is sparsely documented; readers should rely on the text itself and avoid over-inference.

Is this book suitable for casual browsing as a joke collection?

Yes, but it is more than jokes. The twelve pieces are short and witty, suited to casual laughter in spare moments; the note calls them “profound in meaning,” indicating that the humor carries gentle satire of human affairs. Enjoy it as entertainment if you like, but thoughtful reading reveals more layers.

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About the author

墨憨主人 Author

Mo Han Zhuren is a pseudonymous author whose real name and life remain unknown. Only one work by this author survives, Twelve Laughs (Shi'er Xiao), commonly classified as classical literature. Due to limited public information, nothing certain can be established about the author's native place, dates of birth and death, or the origin of the sobriquet; only the pen name and the work itself offer a glimpse of the author. Judging from its title, Twelve Laughs is likely a collection of short stories built around the theme of laughter, close in style to the humorous fiction of the Ming and Qing periods, using ridiculous people and absurd situations to convey moral instruction and social satire. This approach forms a distinct strand in classical vernacular fiction, treating human nature and social manners in a light tone so that readers may reflect on the warmth and coldness of the world amid laughter. The name Mo Han Zhuren resembles the "Mo Han Zhai" studio name of the late-Ming writer Feng Menglong and may reflect his influence, though this cannot be confirmed. Despite consisting of a single work, it still reveals the author's thematic interests and linguistic taste.