Author
Menglong Feng
1574-1646
Menglong Feng (1574-1646) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
Subjects
Books by Menglong Feng
警世通言
"警世通言" by Menglong Feng is a collection of vernacular stories published in 1624. This second installment of the celebrated Ming dynasty "Sanyan" trilogy contains forty short novels spanning tales from Chinese history and Confucian classics. Once banned and nearly lost to history, the collection survived through a single copy discovered in 1930s Japan. These cautionary tales proved so compelling they inspired Chinese operas and were adapted into Japanese stories, cementing their place as masterworks of ancient Chinese vernacular literature.
喻世明言
"喻世明言" by Menglong Feng is a collection of short stories published in 1620 during the Ming dynasty. This groundbreaking work gathers forty tales written in vernacular Chinese, the everyday language of its time. Feng Menglong collected and adapted stories spanning the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, blending historical tales with his own creations. The collection explores themes of real emotion and daily life, making stories accessible and engaging for common readers. Its success sparked two companion volumes, forming an influential trilogy that shaped Chinese vernacular fiction.
東周列國志
"東周列國志" by Menglong Feng is a historical novel written in the late Ming dynasty. Spanning 108 chapters, it chronicles the Eastern Zhou period from the kingdom's fragmentation into smaller states through Qin Shi Huang's first unification of China. Drawing from classical texts like the Zuo Tradition and Records of the Grand Historian, it stands as one of the best-known historical novels about ancient China, depicting centuries of warfare, diplomacy, and political intrigue across competing kingdoms.
醒世恆言
"醒世恆言" by Menglong Feng is a collection of moralistic tales written during the late Ming dynasty. The stories typically explore themes of virtue, familial duty, and social justice, often reflecting on human relationships and societal norms. The narratives usually present characters caught in moral dilemmas, showcasing their choices and consequences. At the start of the work, the opening portion introduces a poignant tale of two counties competing to marry off a lonely girl. Set in a time of social distinctions and family loyalties, it begins with the tragic story of a man named Wang Feng and his niece Qiong Ying, whose marriage is manipulated by her uncle for selfish reasons. After a series of misfortunes resulting from their poor choices, including Wang Feng's decision to marry off his niece to an unsuitable man, the tale escalates into themes of redemption and moral values as it juxtaposes the fate of Qiong Ying with that of her cousin, showcasing the complexities of wealth, beauty, and virtue.