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Amazing Tales: Second Series (English Edition) – 19 Ming Dynasty Stories of Lovers, Merchants & Clever Schemes

Amazing Tales: Second Series (English Edition) – 19 Ming Dynasty Stories of Lovers, Merchants & Clever Schemes

From “Money Box Serves as the Match Maker” and “Young Woman Marries One She Loves” to “A Gallant Burglar Plays His Game with Adroitness” — 19 Short Tales of Love, Fortune and Comeuppance
This book collects 19 short stories from Ming dynasty China—the sequel to Amazing Tales, and part of the famous “Two Collections” that Chinese readers have enjoyed for centuries. You meet a money box that brings two people together, a young woman who refuses to marry the man her family chose, a gallant thief who outsmarts everyone, a husband and wife reunited after death, and a scholar who supports his teacher into old age. The stories come from court records, old tales, and street gossip, polished by Ling Mengchu into fast-moving narratives that take aim at social injustice and celebrate people who dare to choose their own way. If you want to read the kind of stories ordinary Chinese people were telling four hundred years ago—rather than study an academic history of Ming fiction—this is it.
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Detail

Amazing Tales: Second Series is the celebrated companion volume to Ling Mengchu's First Series, together forming the iconic collection known as "Er Pai" -8-10. This English edition, part of the "Chinese Classics" series from China Intercontinental Press, makes these classic stories accessible to a global audience -7-10.

Why You'll Love This Book:

  • A Window into Ming Dynasty China: These stories are more than just tales; they are a sharp social commentary, attacking the social ills and customs of the time. They provide a fascinating, first-hand account of the lives of townspeople, merchants, and scholars during the Ming Dynasty -8.

  • Engaging and Varied Stories: The collection is packed with diverse narratives that range from tales of romance and matchmaking to stories of vengeance, burglary, and moral dilemmas -4. You'll find stories that advocate for gender equality in love and marriage, as well as positive depictions of commercial activities and the pursuit of wealth -8.

  • Simple and Lively Language: The language of these stories is simple, natural, and narrated in a lively, moving style, making them a pleasure to read for both newcomers to Chinese literature and seasoned enthusiasts

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