A Compendium of Anecdotes Old and New (Volume 5)

Feng MenglongMay 2024

4.1

Word count: 59K words
Chapters: 8

Summary

This book is a collection of jokes and humorous sketches from ancient China. Feng Menglong gathered a wealth of amusing and intriguing stories from official histories and unofficial notes across the dynasties, exposing social evils and various grotesque and pathological phenomena. It serves both as entertainment and as a source of insight and self-reflection, making it a highly instructive read. Most of the content draws on historical anecdotes, such as the famous "the magistrate sets the fire."

Editor's review

Gujin Tan Gai is a collection of jokes and humorous sketches that Feng Menglong compiled from official histories and unofficial notebooks of successive dynasties. This fifth volume follows the format of the whole book, presenting worldly ways and human nature through short stories. Its value lies not in amusement but in using jokes as a mirror: tales like the prefect who sets fires to forbid others lighting lamps seem absurd yet point to the pathology of officialdom, human hypocrisy, and institutional absurdity. Feng Menglong had an eye for material and narrated concisely, often revealing his wit in a few words—light to read yet with lingering flavor. For general readers, it is a pastime for spare moments; for those interested in ancient society, official culture, and the satirical tradition, it offers vivid slices beyond official histories. Read it as social-historical material: after laughing, consider whether the targets of satire still cast shadows today, and the gain will be deeper.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who enjoy ancient notebooks and jokes and want light reading
Literature and history enthusiasts interested in Ming-Qing social customs and official culture
Writers and teachers who need short pieces to browse at any time

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting complete long stories or coherent plots
Readers who prefer serious scholarly verification and require detailed annotation systems

Reading tips

Read piece by piece as you please, three to five at a time, without rushing to finish.
When you come across a story satirizing officialdom or human nature, jot down similar phenomena in real life.
Start with familiar allusions from the table of contents, then go back to read unfamiliar pieces.

版权信息
微词部第三十
口碑部第三十一
灵迹部第三十二
荒唐部第三十三
妖异部第三十四
非族部第三十五
杂志部第三十六

FAQ

Is this book a complete long story?

No. It is compiled from a great many short jokes and humorous sketches, each not long and independent of the others, suitable for fragmented reading; there is no need to read from beginning to end in order.

Can I read the fifth volume directly without having read the first four?

Yes. The individual stories are relatively independent, and the fifth volume does not depend on the plots of earlier volumes; browsing it directly does not hinder understanding. If you want to grasp the book's overall selection thread, you can read the earlier volumes afterward.

How can I read a joke collection in a fresh way?

It is suggested to read the jokes as social-historical material, noting whether the satire targets officialdom, the imperial examinations, or worldly human nature, and after laughing, compare with reality and think—more rewarding than mere amusement.

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About the author

Feng Menglong Author · Chinese · 1574–1646

Feng Menglong (1574–1646), courtesy name Youlong and style name Mohan Zhai Zhuren, was a native of Changzhou in Suzhou Prefecture (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu). A Ming dynasty writer and dramatist, he devoted his life to collecting and editing popular literature. He compiled Yushi Mingyan, Jingshi Tongyan, and Xingshi Hengyan, known collectively as the "Three Words," which became representative anthologies of vernacular short stories. He also compiled Qingshi and Gujin Tangui, revised Xin Lieguo Zhi and Pingyao Zhuan, and served as magistrate of Shouning County in Fujian. His works draw on urban life and folk legends, employ lively vernacular language, and focus on human nature and social manners, exerting a lasting influence on later vernacular fiction and drama. The library holds 200 of his works, spanning classical literature and social fiction.