Langshi (Chinese: 浪史; pinyin: Làng Shǐ),[a] translated into English as A History of Debauchery[6] and several other titles,[4][5] is a Chinese novel composed during the late Ming dynasty by an anonymous writer under a pseudonym. Believed to be one of the oldest erotic novels published in China, Langshi revolves around the scholar Langzi (浪子), who is described as adept in seducing others. The novel has been constantly banned or censored since its publication.
The beginning of chapter one of Langshi, where it quotes the poem Sui Gong by the poet Li ShangyinInside pages from volume one of Langshi
Divided into forty "episodes"[1] or chapters, the novel follows the adventures of a young scholar named Langzi (浪子; "The Rake") as he seduces his female and male lovers.[5] After "achieving ultimate sexual gratification", Langzi ascends to heaven and becomes a Taoist immortal.[7]
Publication historyedit
Langshi was written by an anonymous writer under the pseudonym "Youxuan zi of Wind and Moon Studio" (風月軒又玄子著) in the late Tianqi era.[5] One of the earliest mentions of the novel is in the preface of the novel Tianxu zhai pidian Bei Song san Sui pingyao zhuan (天許齋批點北宋三遂平妖傳), dated 1620.[8] The novel is also "presumably" mentioned in the preface of The Three Sui Quash the Demons' Revolt as expanded by Feng Menglong in the 1620s.[9] Alongside Jin Ping Mei (金瓶梅) and Xiuta yeshi (繡榻野史), both also written during the late Ming dynasty, Langshi is believed to be one of the oldest erotic novels published in China.[10]
Literary significance and receptionedit
Cuncun Wu and Mark Stevenson argue that Langshi "represents a complete abnegation of any form of moral standpoint"[11] and "lacks even the slightest hint of moral didacticism or contrition, and instead parodies moral conventions by upending them".[12] Furthermore, they claim that "in the history of the Chinese novel there are few works that can match Langshi in ... being devoid of any suggestion of a moral causality."[12]
Martin W. Huang writes that Langshi is an example of "erotic fiction as a transgressive genre (that) seems occasionally to have offered more latitude for viewing deviations, especially those committed by women, with more tolerance."[6] For instance, Mei Suxian makes the "feminist" gesture of allowing his wife Li Wenfei to have sex with his servant and bisexual lover Lu Shu, because she allowed her husband to keep a concubine.[6] The early Qing dynasty commentator Liu Tingji (劉廷璣) attacks the novel as "poison",[13] while Giovanni Vitiello criticises the book for being "rather poor in plot and repetitive in style".[14]
Notesedit
^Also published under the titles Langshi qiguan (浪史奇觀),[1][2]Qiaoyinyuan (巧姻缘),[1][2] and Meimengyuan (梅夢緣),[2][3] and translated into English as The Story of The Libertine,[4]Tales from a Life of Indulgence,[5] or A History of Debauchery.[6]
Huang, Martin W. (1998). "Sentiments of Desire: Thoughts on the Cult of Qing in Ming-Qing Literature". Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews. 20: 153–184. doi:10.2307/495268. JSTOR 495268.
Huang, Martin W. (2020). Desire and Fictional Narrative in Late Imperial China. Brill. ISBN9781684173570.
McMahon, Keith (1987). "Eroticism in Late Ming, Early Qing Fiction: The Beauteous Realm and the Sexual Battlefield". T'oung Pao. 73 (4/5). Brill: 217–264. doi:10.1163/156853287X00032. JSTOR 4528390. PMID 11618220.
Vitiello, Giovanni (1994). Exemplary Sodomites: Male Homosexuality in Late Ming Fiction. University of California Press.
Wong, Ka F. (2007). "The Anatomy of Eroticism: Reimagining Sex and Sexuality in the Late Ming Novel". Nan Nü. 9 (2): 284–329. doi:10.1163/138768007X244361.
Wu, Cuncun; Stevenson, Mark (2011). Editrice, Aracne (ed.). "Karmic Retribution and Moral Didacticism in Erotic Fiction from the Late Ming and Early Qing". Ming Qing Studies 2011: 471–490. hdl:1959.11/16123. ISBN9788854844636.
Zhou, Qiwen (1994). 中国艳书博览 [An Exposition of Chinese Erotica] (in Chinese). Jilin Wenshi Chubanshe (吉林文史出版社). ISBN9787805287829.
External linksedit
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 浪史奇觀
April 12, 2024
langshi, chinese, 浪史, pinyin, làng, shǐ, translated, into, english, history, debauchery, several, other, titles, chinese, novel, composed, during, late, ming, dynasty, anonymous, writer, under, pseudonym, believed, oldest, erotic, novels, published, china, rev. Langshi Chinese 浪史 pinyin Lang Shǐ a translated into English as A History of Debauchery 6 and several other titles 4 5 is a Chinese novel composed during the late Ming dynasty by an anonymous writer under a pseudonym Believed to be one of the oldest erotic novels published in China Langshi revolves around the scholar Langzi 浪子 who is described as adept in seducing others The novel has been constantly banned or censored since its publication The beginning of chapter one of Langshi where it quotes the poem Sui Gong by the poet Li ShangyinInside pages from volume one of Langshi Contents 1 Plot 2 Publication history 3 Literary significance and reception 4 Notes 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksPlot editDivided into forty episodes 1 or chapters the novel follows the adventures of a young scholar named Langzi 浪子 The Rake as he seduces his female and male lovers 5 After achieving ultimate sexual gratification Langzi ascends to heaven and becomes a Taoist immortal 7 Publication history editLangshi was written by an anonymous writer under the pseudonym Youxuan zi of Wind and Moon Studio 風月軒又玄子著 in the late Tianqi era 5 One of the earliest mentions of the novel is in the preface of the novel Tianxu zhai pidian Bei Song san Sui pingyao zhuan 天許齋批點北宋三遂平妖傳 dated 1620 8 The novel is also presumably mentioned in the preface of The Three Sui Quash the Demons Revolt as expanded by Feng Menglong in the 1620s 9 Alongside Jin Ping Mei 金瓶梅 and Xiuta yeshi 繡榻野史 both also written during the late Ming dynasty Langshi is believed to be one of the oldest erotic novels published in China 10 Literary significance and reception editCuncun Wu and Mark Stevenson argue that Langshi represents a complete abnegation of any form of moral standpoint 11 and lacks even the slightest hint of moral didacticism or contrition and instead parodies moral conventions by upending them 12 Furthermore they claim that in the history of the Chinese novel there are few works that can match Langshi in being devoid of any suggestion of a moral causality 12 Martin W Huang writes that Langshi is an example of erotic fiction as a transgressive genre that seems occasionally to have offered more latitude for viewing deviations especially those committed by women with more tolerance 6 For instance Mei Suxian makes the feminist gesture of allowing his wife Li Wenfei to have sex with his servant and bisexual lover Lu Shu because she allowed her husband to keep a concubine 6 The early Qing dynasty commentator Liu Tingji 劉廷璣 attacks the novel as poison 13 while Giovanni Vitiello criticises the book for being rather poor in plot and repetitive in style 14 Notes edit Also published under the titles Langshi qiguan 浪史奇觀 1 2 Qiaoyinyuan 巧姻缘 1 2 and Meimengyuan 梅夢緣 2 3 and translated into English as The Story of The Libertine 4 Tales from a Life of Indulgence 5 or A History of Debauchery 6 References editCitations edit a b c Zhou 1994 p 198 a b c Wong 2007 p 294 Forbidden Memories Scrutiny amp Objects of Evidence Stanford University Retrieved 1 June 2021 a b Vitiello 1994 p 1994 a b c d Wu amp Stevenson 2011 p 477 a b c d Huang 2020 p 130 Huang 1998 p 177 Huang 1998 p 176 McMahon 1987 p 225 Wong 2007 p 293 Wu amp Stevenson 2011 p 479 a b Wu amp Stevenson 2011 p 480 Wong 2007 p 285 Vitiello 1994 p 32 Bibliography edit Huang Martin W 1998 Sentiments of Desire Thoughts on the Cult of Qing in Ming Qing Literature Chinese Literature Essays Articles Reviews 20 153 184 doi 10 2307 495268 JSTOR 495268 Huang Martin W 2020 Desire and Fictional Narrative in Late Imperial China Brill ISBN 9781684173570 McMahon Keith 1987 Eroticism in Late Ming Early Qing Fiction The Beauteous Realm and the Sexual Battlefield T oung Pao 73 4 5 Brill 217 264 doi 10 1163 156853287X00032 JSTOR 4528390 PMID 11618220 Vitiello Giovanni 1994 Exemplary Sodomites Male Homosexuality in Late Ming Fiction University of California Press Wong Ka F 2007 The Anatomy of Eroticism Reimagining Sex and Sexuality in the Late Ming Novel Nan Nu 9 2 284 329 doi 10 1163 138768007X244361 Wu Cuncun Stevenson Mark 2011 Editrice Aracne ed Karmic Retribution and Moral Didacticism in Erotic Fiction from the Late Ming and Early Qing Ming Qing Studies 2011 471 490 hdl 1959 11 16123 ISBN 9788854844636 Zhou Qiwen 1994 中国艳书博览 An Exposition of Chinese Erotica in Chinese Jilin Wenshi Chubanshe 吉林文史出版社 ISBN 9787805287829 External links edit nbsp Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article 浪史奇觀 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Langshi amp oldid 1186996094, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
