Libraly Journal

Libraly Journal ›› 2022, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 143-150.

Previous Articles    

Research on the Edition and Author of Tong Xia Yin Ran,a Newly-Discovered Novel in the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties

Zhang Yourui (Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Peking University)   

  • Online:2022-03-15 Published:2022-03-21
  • About author:Zhang Yourui (Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Peking University)

Abstract: Tong Xia Yin Ran is a collection of classical Chinese novels compiled by the Suzhou literati
“Ji Mei” in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. There are 22 volumes and 358 stories in the book.
Shanghai Library has a complete copy, and Beijing National Library has an incomplete copy with five
volumes. The main purpose of the collection is to alert people by recording their personal experience of
grotesque and retributive happenings. Since its starting point is similar to the supernatural stories in Six
Dynasties, the stories in this collection have more detailed records of the place and time. At the same
time, a large number of selections and quotations of this collection appeared in the early Ming and Qing
Dynasties. The complete preservation is Ji Yi Xin Chao, which collected 248 stories from Tong Xia Yin
Ran. With more references to Jian Hu Ji, Xu Tai Ping Guang Ji, Shi Xiao Lu, we have determined that
the Tong Xia Yin Ran that I have seen today is not a first-printed edition. Due to the literary inquisition in
Qing Dynasty, some texts have been deleted.