Idle Remarks of the Taowu

Li QingJul 2024

4.2

Word count: 339K words
Chapters: 52

Summary

Traditional Chinese culture and thought have a long history and are highly original, inventive and literary. Early thought forms are distinctive, and subjects such as religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and local gazetteers are profound and extensive.

This series, "Essence of Classic Chinese Learning: Original Texts," preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Taowu Xianping is an ancient novel attributed to Li Qing, included in the "Essence of Classic Chinese Learning: Original Texts" series and preserving the original book's appearance. In the title, taowu is a fierce beast of ancient legend, often used to refer to a treacherous and evil person, which shows that the work has a clear inclination to judge characters and criticize the ways of the world. As an original classical novel, its reading value lies mainly in giving readers direct contact with the language style, structural methods and character portrayal techniques of traditional narrative texts, and in experiencing a storytelling rhythm different from that of modern fiction. This book is suitable for readers interested in ancient novels who are willing to patiently enter classical or semi-classical narrative, and can serve as a supplementary original-text reader outside the classroom. When reading, it is advisable first to understand the general background and character relationships before entering the main text; unfamiliar titles can be temporarily skipped, with the emphasis on experiencing the overall narrative. Readers expecting light, fast-paced modern stories may find it difficult.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in original classical novels who are willing to read the original text patiently
Literature enthusiasts who want to understand traditional narrative language and the technique of judging characters
Students using it for extracurricular original-text reading alongside ancient literature courses

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer light, fast-paced modern fiction
Readers who lack patience for classical or semi-classical narrative and give up easily

Reading tips

Read the preface or related background introduction first, clarify the main character relationships, and then enter the main text.
Read in sections; after each section, review the characters' words and deeds and appreciate the author's technique of praise and blame.
Mark unfamiliar titles or allusions first, and look them up together after finishing the whole passage.

版权信息
梼杌闲评
第一回朱工部筑堤焚蛇穴碧霞君显圣降灵签
第二回魏丑驴迎春逞百技侯一娘永夜引情郎
第三回陈老店小魏偷情飞盖园妖蛇托孕
第四回赖风月牛三使势断吉凶跛老灼龟
第五回魏丑驴露财招祸侯一娘盗马逃生
第六回客印月初会明珠石林庄三孽聚义
第七回侯一娘入京访旧王夫人念故周贫
第八回程中书湖广清矿税冯参政汉水溺群奸
第九回魏云卿金牌认叔侄倪文焕税监拜门生
第十回洪济闸显圣斥奸峄山村射妖获偶
第十一回魏进忠旅次成亲田尔耕窝赌受辱
第十二回傅如玉义激劝夫魏进忠他乡遇妹
第十三回客印月怜旧分珠侯秋鸿传春窃玉
第十四回魏进忠义释摩天手侯七官智赚铎头瘟
第十五回侯少野窥破蝶蜂情周逢春摔死鸳鸯叩
第十六回周公子钱神救命何道人炉火贻灾
第十七回涿州城大奸染疠泰山庙小道怜贫
第十八回河柳畔遇难成阉山石边逢僧脱难
第十九回入灵崖魏进忠采药决富贵白太始谈星
第二十回达观师兵解释厄魏进忠应选入宫
第二十一回郭侍郎经筵叱陈保魏监门独立撼张差
第二十二回御花园嫔妃拾翠漪兰殿保姆怀春
第二十三回谏移宫杨涟捧日诛刘保魏监侵权
第二十四回田尔耕献金认父乜淑英赴会遭罗
第二十五回跛头陀幻术惑愚民田知县贪财激大变
第二十六回刘鸿儒劫狱陷三县萧游击战败叩禅庵
第二十七回傅应星奉书求救空空儿破法除妖
第二十八回魏忠贤忍心杀卜喜李永贞毒计害王安
第二十九回劝御驾龙池讲武僭乘舆泰岳行香
第三十回侯秋鸿忠言劝主崔呈秀避祸为儿
第三十一回杨副都劾奸解组万工部忤恶亡身
第三十二回定天罡尽驱善类拷文言陷害诸贤
第三十三回许指挥断狱媚奸冯翰林献珠拜相
第三十四回倪文焕巧献投名状李织造逼上害贤书
第三十五回击缇骑五人仗义代输赃两县怀恩
第三十六回周蓼洲慷慨成仁熊芝冈从容就义
第三十七回魏忠贤屈杀刘知府傅应星忿击张金吾
第三十八回孟婆师飞剑褫奸魄魏忠贤开例玷儒绅
第三十九回广搜括扬民受毒攘功名贼子分茅
第四十回据灾异远逐直臣假缉捕枉害良善
第四十一回枭奴卖主列冠裳恶宦媚权毒桑梓
第四十二回建生祠众机户作俑配宫墙林祭酒拂衣
第四十三回无端造隙驱皇戚没影叨封拜上公
第四十四回进谄谀祠内生芝征祥瑞河南出玺
第四十五回觅佳丽边帅献姬庆生辰干儿争宠
第四十六回陈元朗幻化点奸雄魏忠贤行边杀猎户
第四十七回封三侯怒逐本兵谋九锡妄图居摄
第四十八回转司马少华纳赂贬凤阳巨恶投环
第四十九回旧婢仗义赎尸孽子褫官伏罪
第五十回明怀宗旌忠诛众恶碧霞君说劫解沉冤

FAQ

What does "taowu" in the book title mean?

Taowu is a fierce beast in ancient legend, later often used to refer to a fierce and treacherous person. Its use in the title suggests that the work carries a sense of judging characters and condemning evil. Understanding this helps grasp the author's attitude toward the characters while reading.

Is this book in vernacular or classical Chinese, and is it difficult to read?

This book preserves the original appearance, and its language belongs to the classical or semi-classical style of ancient novels, with a distance from modern vernacular Chinese. Readers with experience in classical Chinese will find it smooth, while beginners may find it more difficult; reading with annotations or introductory materials is recommended.

What background knowledge should I have before reading this book?

It is advisable first to understand the historical background and main character relationships on which the work is based, and to have a general knowledge of common narrative conventions in ancient novels. With this preparation, it will be easier to follow the plot and the author's praise and blame when entering the main text, reducing the chance of giving up due to unfamiliarity.

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About the author

Li Qing Author · Chinese · 1602–1683

Li Qing (1602–1683), courtesy name Xinshui and styled Bishui Weng, later known as Tianyi Jushi, was a native of Xinghua in present-day Jiangsu and a historian, legal scholar and man of letters of the late Ming and early Qing. A jinshi of 1631, he served as a prefectural judge and as supervising censor in the ministries of Justice, Personnel and Works, and under the Hongguang court of the Southern Ming was promoted to deputy minister of the Court of Judicial Review. After the Ming fell he withdrew to his native place, where he spent thirty-eight years in seclusion writing and repeatedly declined summons to office. His numerous works span history and law, including the Sanyuan biji and Zheyu xinyu; his Taowu xianping, also known as Mingzhu yuan, a historical novel set against eunuch factional strife in the Ming, is among his more influential writings. Ten of his works are held here, with public information on his life remaining limited.