Jiandeng Xinhua Jujie
By Qu, You
A complete four part set in two volumes, with Japanese reading marks, of `Jiandeng Xinhua`, an early Ming dynasty collection of Chinese stories by novelist Qu You (1341_1427). Qu You`s courtesy name was Zongji, and he gave himself the nickname Cunzhai. The first edition of his `Jiandeng Xinhua` was published in China in 1378, and it was also the model for the first novel by a Korean author, `Geumo Sinhwa` (`Tales of Mount Geumo` or `New Stories of the Golden Turtle`). This particular book was re-carved in Japan for a Japanese audience, and has Japanese reading marks. Noted scholar of classical Chinese literature Kang-i Sun Chang describes `Jiandeng Xinhua` thus: `The collection became popular in Korea as early as the 15th century and was later widely circulated in Japan and Vietnam although in China it became increasingly obscure as time went by. Stories in the Jiandeng Xinhua are mainly set in the final years of the Yuan and realistically depict a country with a large population decimated by war. They are mostly about the lives of suffering literati, and a large number of tales use the theme of love between a talented man and a female ghost. Such topics resulted in a phenomenal reception of Jiandeng Xinhua in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, and apparently general readers there took great delight in the gstory h and gdiscourse h of Qu You`s narrative so that many writers in those countries were inspired to regard Jiandeng Xinhua as the supreme model for composing fiction. More importantly, Qu You`s stories became popular in East Asia at a time when all those countries were either undergoing disastrous civil wars or immediately after a period of similarly dark times. However, ironically, Jiandeng Xinhua was banned in China for a long time, mainly due to political reasons and partly due to its particular literary style that was against the trends of the times` ( gReconsideration on Qu You and His Jiandeng Xinhua h, Kang-i Sun Chang, 2008). Japanese five-hole bindings. Probably re-bound, but nevertheless wrappers from the 17th-18th century. Some light abrasion and wear to wrappers, title in brush and ink to lower text-block edge of each volume. Non-original title slips handwritten and pasted over `original` slips. Minor wormholing to text and wrappers. Loss (9 x 4 cm) to gutter and some text on the first five leaves of the preface in volume 1, repaired. Very occasional stains, marks, and underlining to text. Otherwise in very good condition. 2 v., complete. Volume 1: 8, 38, 41 leaves. Volume 2: 35, 44, 8 leaves. Text in Chinese, with Japanese reading marks.
Published by: Nizaemon Keian Gannen [1648], Kyoto, 1648
Vendor: Kagerou Bunko (ABAJ, ILAB)
By Qu, You
A complete four part set in two volumes, with Japanese reading marks, of `Jiandeng Xinhua`, an early Ming dynasty collection of Chinese stories by novelist Qu You (1341_1427). Qu You`s courtesy name was Zongji, and he gave himself the nickname Cunzhai. The first edition of his `Jiandeng Xinhua` was published in China in 1378, and it was also the model for the first novel by a Korean author, `Geumo Sinhwa` (`Tales of Mount Geumo` or `New Stories of the Golden Turtle`). This particular book was re-carved in Japan for a Japanese audience, and has Japanese reading marks. Noted scholar of classical Chinese literature Kang-i Sun Chang describes `Jiandeng Xinhua` thus: `The collection became popular in Korea as early as the 15th century and was later widely circulated in Japan and Vietnam although in China it became increasingly obscure as time went by. Stories in the Jiandeng Xinhua are mainly set in the final years of the Yuan and realistically depict a country with a large population decimated by war. They are mostly about the lives of suffering literati, and a large number of tales use the theme of love between a talented man and a female ghost. Such topics resulted in a phenomenal reception of Jiandeng Xinhua in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, and apparently general readers there took great delight in the gstory h and gdiscourse h of Qu You`s narrative so that many writers in those countries were inspired to regard Jiandeng Xinhua as the supreme model for composing fiction. More importantly, Qu You`s stories became popular in East Asia at a time when all those countries were either undergoing disastrous civil wars or immediately after a period of similarly dark times. However, ironically, Jiandeng Xinhua was banned in China for a long time, mainly due to political reasons and partly due to its particular literary style that was against the trends of the times` ( gReconsideration on Qu You and His Jiandeng Xinhua h, Kang-i Sun Chang, 2008). Japanese five-hole bindings. Probably re-bound, but nevertheless wrappers from the 17th-18th century. Some light abrasion and wear to wrappers, title in brush and ink to lower text-block edge of each volume. Non-original title slips handwritten and pasted over `original` slips. Minor wormholing to text and wrappers. Loss (9 x 4 cm) to gutter and some text on the first five leaves of the preface in volume 1, repaired. Very occasional stains, marks, and underlining to text. Otherwise in very good condition. 2 v., complete. Volume 1: 8, 38, 41 leaves. Volume 2: 35, 44, 8 leaves. Text in Chinese, with Japanese reading marks.
Published by: Nizaemon Keian Gannen [1648], Kyoto, 1648
Vendor: Kagerou Bunko (ABAJ, ILAB)
