A History of Love
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Summary
Editor's review
From the perspective of literary history, Qingshi serves as a bridge: it inherits the narrative tradition of Tang and Song chuanqi tales and also provided material and inspiration for works such as Qing dynasty's Liaozhai Zhiyi (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio). The book contains both odes to unyielding love and complex portrayals of human desire, displaying the emotional diversity of urban society in the mid-to-late Ming dynasty. In his commentaries, Feng Menglong proposed the idea of "teaching through love," advocating transforming people through love and using love to support ritual propriety, which reflects a reexamination of human emotion under the influence of late Ming Neo-Confucianism of the mind.
The value of reading Qingshi lies in the following: first, it offers a glimpse into the evolution of love narratives in ancient China; second, through comparing stories across dynasties, one can understand the interaction between social ethics and emotional expression in different periods; third, Feng Menglong's annotations are often brief but incisive, providing a literati perspective grounded in historical context for interpreting the texts. It should be noted that some stories bear the stamp of feudal ethics, and contemporary readers should view them with a critical eye.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Researchers interested in the narrative tradition of classical Chinese tales
- Readers of literature and history who wish to understand the relationship between Ming-dynasty social attitudes toward emotion and literary expression
- Writers seeking source material for classical love-themed creative work
- Deep readers who enjoy observing the complexities of human nature within a historical context
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting continuous long-form narrative or modern vernacular Chinese
- Readers unprepared to think critically about gender attitudes in the feudal era
Reading tips
- Begin with Volume One, "Chastity in Love," and Volume Seven, "Infatuation in Love," to grasp the core statements of Feng Menglong's doctrine of qingjiao (the teaching of emotion)
- Pay attention to the commentary at the end of each tale and observe the compiler's intent in arranging stories on the same theme from different eras
- Consult the relevant stories in the Sanyan for comparison, and compare Feng Menglong's narrative handling across different genres
About the publisher
Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.
Contents
- 第一章
- 第二章
- 第三章
- 第四章
- 第五章
- 第六章
- 第七章
- 第八章
- 第九章
- 第十章
- 第十一章
- 第十二章
- 第十三章
- 第十四章
- 第十五章
- 第十六章
- 第十七章
- 第十八章
- 第十九章
- 第二十章
- 第二十一章
- 第二十二章
- 第二十三章
- 第二十四章
- 第二十五章
- 第二十六章
- 第二十七章
- 第二十八章
- 第二十九章
- 第三十章
- 第三十一章
- 第三十二章
- 第三十三章
- 第三十四章
- 第三十五章
- 第三十六章
FAQ
What is the relationship between Qingshi and the Sanyan?
Are all the stories in the book original works by Feng Menglong?
How should modern readers understand plot elements that conflict with contemporary values?
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About the author
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.
