Frivolous Slander
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers interested in the history and literature of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties
- Students studying A New Account of the Tales of the World who wish to read it by category
- Literature lovers who enjoy ancient character appraisal and verbal wit
- Scholars of classical literature who need material on Wei-Jin figures' speech
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking modern vernacular stories and light entertainment
- Beginners without grounding in classical Chinese who are unwilling to consult annotations
- Readers expecting systematic philosophical argument or complete historical narrative
Reading tips
- First read the background introduction to A New Account of the Tales of the World, then read entry by entry to avoid taking things out of context.
- Make brief notes on personal and official names first, clarify relationships among figures, then savor the mockery.
- Read alongside chapters such as "Pin Zao" and "Pai Diao" to compare differences in verbal style.
- After every few entries, try restating the wit in your own words to check whether you have truly understood it.
About the publisher
Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 正文一
- 正文二
- 正文三
- 正文四
- 正文五
FAQ
What kind of chapter is "Qing Di" within A New Account of the Tales of the World?
Can I read this chapter directly without having read the whole book?
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About the author
Liu Yiqing, courtesy name Jibo, was a member of the Southern Song imperial clan and a man of letters from Pengcheng (present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu). He inherited the title Prince of Linchuan and served in posts such as governor of Jingzhou. Of simple temperament and few desires, he liked to gather literary talents around him and presided over the compilation of A New Account of the Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu); he also wrote the Youming Lu and other works. As public information on details of his life, including his birth and death years, is limited, his image emerges mainly through his writings. Shishuo Xinyu records in note form the words and deeds of scholars from the late Han to the Eastern Jin, with concise and memorable language that captures character in a few phrases; it has had a lasting influence on later note-style fiction and literati aesthetics. Dozens of related works are held in the collection, commonly classified under classical literature, literary appreciation, and Eastern philosophy, showing the continued circulation of his writings in later reading and research.
