A New Account of the Tales of the World: Difference between revisions

A New Account of the Tales of the World
A New Account of the Tales of the World
Traditional Chinese	世說新語
Simplified Chinese	世说新语
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	shìshuō xīnyǔ
Wade–Giles	Shih-shuo Hsin-yu
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	Sai3syut3 San1jyu5

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A New Account of the Tales of the World, also known as Shishuo Xinyu (Chinese: 世說新語), was compiled and edited by Liu Yiqing (Liu I-ching; 劉義慶; 403–444) during the Liu Song dynasty (420–479) of the Northern and Southern dynasties (420–589). It is a historical compilation of anecdotes about Chinese scholars, musicians, and artists during the 2nd-4th centuries.^[1]

Content[edit]

The book contains around 1,130 historical anecdotes and character sketches of around 600 literati, musicians and painters who lived in the Han and Wei–Jin periods (2nd-4th centuries). Chapter 19, for instance, has 32 stories about outstanding women. It is thus both a biographical source and a record of colloquial language. The original text of the book was divided into eight volumes of juan (卷 "scroll"), though current editions generally span ten volumes.^[1]^[2]

Reception[edit]

While most of the anecdotes and personalities are attested in other sources, traditional Chinese bibliographers did not classify Shishuo Xinyu as history but as a novel / "minor tales" (小说 xiao shuo), a term that was later used to refer to fiction. Some attribute this to its use of colloquial language as well as how it did not follow the historical conventions of the Twenty-Four Histories. The mixture of literary and vernacular styles set the scene for the later tradition of informal Chinese literature. The 20th-century Chinese novelist Lu Xun spoke highly of the book's aesthetic merits.^[3]^[4]

Translations[edit]

The text was fully translated into English in 2002, with the Liang dynasty (502–557) commentary by Liu Xiaobiao (劉孝標), by sinologist Richard B. Mather, in the book titled Shih-shuo Hsin-yü: A New Account of Tales of the World.^[3]

Extant versions[edit]

Manuscript:

Hand-written fragments from the Tang dynasty (618–907) (唐寫本殘卷)

Woodblock prints:

Dong Fen edition, 1138 (8th year of the Shaoxing reign of the Southern Song); original kept in Japan (南宋紹興八年董弅刊本，原本存於日本)
Edition by Lu You, 1188 (15th year of the Chunxi reign of the Southern Song; 南宋淳熙十五年陸游刻本)
Edition from Hunan, 1189 (16th year of Chunxi) (淳熙十六年湘中刻本)^[5]

References and notes[edit]

^ ^a ^b Endymion Wilkinson. Chinese History: A New Manual. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Center, Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series New Edition; Second, Revised printing March 2013, ISBN 9780674067158), p. 732.
^ NJ Museum Archived October 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b Yiqing Liu, Jun Liu and Richard B. Mather. A New Account of Tales of the World (Shih-Shuo Hsin-Yü). (Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan, Michigan Monographs in Chinese Studies, 2002). ISBN 089264155X.
^ Shitong, see Liu Zhiji
^ 中国哲学书电子化计划 (Chinese Philosophy Digitalization Project)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|5th century historical compilation by Liu Yiqing}}
 {{italic title}}
 [[File:Sesetsu Shingo TNM 2.jpg|thumb|400px|Part of the oldest extant transcription of ''A New Account of the Tales of the World'', 7th-8th century, now located in the [[Tokyo National Museum]].]]
+{{Infobox Chinese
-'''''A New Account of the Tales of the World''''', also known as '''''Shishuo Xinyu''''' or '''''Shih-shuo Hsin-yu''''' ({{zh|t=世說新語}}), was compiled and edited by [[Liu Yiqing]] (Liu I-ching; 劉義慶; 403–444) during the [[Liu Song dynasty]] (420–479) of the [[Southern and Northern Dynasties]] (420–589). The book contains some 1,130 historical anecdotes and character sketches of some 600 literati, musicians, and painters who lived in the [[Han dynasty|Han]] and [[Wei-Jin period|Wei–Jin]] periods, that is, the second through fourth centuries. Chapter 19, for instance, has 32 stories about outstanding women. It is thus both a biographical source and a record of colloquial language. The original text of the book was divided into eight volumes of ''juan'' ("fascicles"), though current editions generally span ten volumes.<ref>Endymion Wilkinson. ''Chinese History: A New Manual.'' (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Center, Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series New Edition; Second, Revised printing March 2013, ISBN 9780674067158), p. 732.</ref><ref>[http://www.njmuseum.com/zh/book/zzbj/shisuoxinyu/shishu.html NJ Museum] {{wayback|url=http://www.njmuseum.com/zh/book/zzbj/shisuoxinyu/shishu.html |date=20141009033743 }}</ref>
+| t = 世說新語
+| s = 世说新语
+| p = shìshuō xīnyǔ
+| w = Shih-shuo Hsin-yu
+| j = Sai3syut3 San1jyu5
+}}
+'''''A New Account of the Tales of the World''''', also known as '''''Shishuo Xinyu'''''  ({{zh|t=世說新語}}), was compiled and edited by [[Liu Yiqing]] (Liu I-ching; 劉義慶; 403–444) during the [[Liu Song dynasty]] (420–479) of the [[Northern and Southern dynasties]] (420–589). It is a historical compilation of anecdotes about Chinese scholars, musicians, and artists during the 2nd-4th centuries.<ref name=":0" />
+== Content ==
-Although most of the anecdotes and personalities are attested in other sources, traditional Chinese bibliographers did not classify ''Shishuo Xinyu'' as history but as "minor talk" (''xiao shuo''), a term that was later used to refer to [[Chinese literature#Classical fiction and drama|fiction]]. Literary historian [[Victor Mair]] comments that the "bias against ''Tales of the World'' as legitimate work of history undoubtedly stemmed from its failure to subscribe to the sanctioned conventions of history enshrined in the [[24 histories|dynastic histories]] and its use of lively and sometimes colloquial language."<ref>Victor H. Mair. ''The Columbia Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature.'' (New York: Columbia University Press, Translation from the Asian Classics,  1994. ISBN 023107428X), p. 768.</ref>  The mixture of literary and vernacular styles set the scene for the later tradition of informal Chinese literature.<ref>Victor H. Mair (ed.), ''The Columbia History of Chinese Literature.'' (New York: Columbia University Press,  2001. ISBN 9780231109840), pp. 580, 688, 888.</ref> The 20th-century Chinese novelist [[Lu Xun]] also spoke highly of the book's aesthetic merits.
+The book contains around 1,130 historical anecdotes and character sketches of around 600 literati, musicians and painters who lived in the [[Han dynasty|Han]] and [[Cao Wei|Wei]]–[[Jin dynasty (265–420)|Jin]] periods (2nd-4th centuries). Chapter 19, for instance, has 32 stories about outstanding women. It is thus both a biographical source and a record of colloquial language. The original text of the book was divided into eight volumes of ''juan'' (卷 "scroll"), though current editions generally span ten volumes.<ref name=":0">Endymion Wilkinson. ''Chinese History: A New Manual''. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Center, Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series New Edition; Second, Revised printing March 2013, {{ISBN|9780674067158}}), p. 732.</ref><ref>[http://www.njmuseum.com/zh/book/zzbj/shisuoxinyu/shishu.html NJ Museum] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009033743/http://www.njmuseum.com/zh/book/zzbj/shisuoxinyu/shishu.html |date=October 9, 2014 }}</ref>
+== Reception ==
-The text has been translated in full into English, with the [[Liang dynasty]] (502–557) commentary by [[Liu Xiaobiao]] (劉孝標), in [[Richard B. Mather]], ''Shih-shuo Hsin-yü: A New Account of Tales of the World''.<ref>Yiqing Liu, Jun Liu and Richard B. Mather. ''A New Account of Tales of the World  (Shih-Shuo Hsin-Yü).'' (Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan, Michigan Monographs in Chinese Studies, 2002).   ISBN 089264155X.</ref>
+While most of the anecdotes and personalities are attested in other sources, traditional Chinese bibliographers did not classify ''Shishuo Xinyu'' as history but as a novel / "minor tales" (小说 ''xiao shuo''), a term that was later used to refer to [[Chinese literature#Classical fiction and drama|fiction]]. Some attribute this to its use of colloquial language as well as how it did not follow the historical conventions of the [[Twenty-Four Histories]]. The mixture of literary and vernacular styles set the scene for the later tradition of informal Chinese literature. The 20th-century Chinese novelist [[Lu Xun]] spoke highly of the book's aesthetic merits.<ref name=":1" /><ref>''[[Shitong]],'' see [[Liu Zhiji]]</ref>
+== Translations ==
+The text was fully translated into English in 2002, with the [[Liang dynasty]] (502–557) commentary by [[Liu Xiaobiao]] (劉孝標), by sinologist [[Richard B. Mather]], in the book titled ''Shih-shuo Hsin-yü: A New Account of Tales of the World''.<ref name=":1">Yiqing Liu, Jun Liu and Richard B. Mather. ''A New Account of Tales of the World  (Shih-Shuo Hsin-Yü).'' (Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan, Michigan Monographs in Chinese Studies, 2002).   {{ISBN|089264155X}}.</ref>
 == Extant versions ==
 Manuscript:
-*Hand-written fragments from the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907) (唐写本残卷)
+*Hand-written fragments from the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907) (唐寫本殘卷)
 [[Woodblock printing|Woodblock prints]]:
-*Dong Fen edition, 1138 (8th year of the Shaoxing [[Chinese era name|reign]] of the [[Southern Song]]); original kept in [[Japan]] (南宋绍兴八年董弅刊本，原本存于日本)
+*Dong Fen edition, 1138 (8th year of the Shaoxing [[Chinese era name|reign]] of the [[Southern Song]]); original kept in [[Japan]] (南宋紹興八年董弅刊本，原本存於日本)
-*Edition by [[Lu You]], 1188 (15th year of the Chunxi reign of the Southern Song) (南宋淳熙十五年陆游刻本)
+*Edition by [[Lu You]], 1188 (15th year of the Chunxi reign of the Southern Song; 南宋淳熙十五年陸游刻本)
-*Edition from [[Hunan]], 1189 (16th year of Chunxi) (淳熙十六年湘中刻本)<ref>[http://ctext.org/shi-shuo-xin-yu/zhs more]</ref>
+*Edition from [[Hunan]], 1189 (16th year of Chunxi) (淳熙十六年湘中刻本)<ref>[http://ctext.org/shi-shuo-xin-yu/zhs 中国哲学书电子化计划] (Chinese Philosophy Digitalization Project)</ref>
 == Categories ==
-# Morality 德行第一
+# Virtuous Conduct 德行第一
-# Speech 言語第二
+# Speech and Conversation 言語第二
-# Politics 政事第三
+# Affairs of State 政事第三
-# Integrity 文學第四
+# Letters and Scholarship 文學第四
-# Generosity 方正第五
+# The Square and the Proper 方正第五
-# Appreciation 雅量第六
+# Cultivated Tolerance 雅量第六
-# Identification 識鑑第七
+# Insight and Judgment 識鑑第七
-# Appreciation 賞譽第八
+# Appreciation and Praise 賞譽第八
-# Evaluation 品藻第九
+# Grading Excellence 品藻第九
-# Advice 規箴第十
+# Admonitions and Warnings 規箴第十
-# Comprehension 捷悟第十一
+# Quick Perception 捷悟第十一
-# Altklug 夙惠第十二
+# Precocious Intelligence 夙惠第十二
-# Frankness and Straightforwardness 豪爽第十三
+# Virility and Boldness 豪爽第十三
-# Appearance and manner 容止第十四
+# Appearance and Manner 容止第十四
-# Amender 自新第十五
+# Self-renewal 自新第十五
-# Admiration 企羨第十六
+# Admiration and Emulation 企羨第十六
-# Lamentation 傷逝第十七
+# Grieving for the Departed 傷逝第十七
-# Hermit and freedom 栖逸第十八
+# Reclusion and Disengagement 栖逸第十八
-# Virtuous beauties 賢媛第十九
+# Worthy Beauties 賢媛第十九
-# Skills 術解第二十
+# Technical Understanding 術解第二十
-# Exquisite craft 巧藝第二十一
+# Skill and Art 巧藝第二十一
-# Rank honour 寵禮第二十二
+# Favor and Veneration  寵禮第二十二
-# Willfulness and indulgence 任誕第二十三
+# The Free and Unrestrained 任誕第二十三
-# Arrogance 簡傲第二十四
+# Rudeness and Arrogance 簡傲第二十四
-# Tease and mock 排調第二十五
+# Taunting and Teasing 排調第二十五
-# Agreement and disagreement 輕詆第二十六
+# Contempt and Insults 輕詆第二十六
-# Deceitfulness 假譎第二十七
+# Guile and Chicanery 假譎第二十七
-# Dismissal 黜免第二十八
+# Dismissal from Office 黜免第二十八
-# Stinginess 儉嗇第二十九
+# Stinginess and Meanness 儉嗇第二十九
-# Sybaritism 汰侈第三十
+# Extravagance and Ostentation 汰侈第三十
-# Resentment and irritability 忿狷第三十一
+# Anger and Irascibility 忿狷第三十一
-# Jesuitry 讒險第三十二
+# Slander and Treachery  讒險第三十二
-# Fault and regret 尤悔第三十三
+# Blameworthiness and Remorse 尤悔第三十三
-# Careless mistakes 紕漏第三十四
+# Crudities and Slips of the Tongue 紕漏第三十四
-# Indulgence 惑溺第三十五
+# Delusion and Infatuation 惑溺第三十五
-# Feud 仇隙第三十六
+# Hostility and Alienation 仇隙第三十六
 == References and notes ==
@@ Line 57: / Line 70: @@
 == Further reading ==
-* Nanxiu Qian. ''Spirit and Self in Medieval China : The Shih-Shuo Hsin-Yü and Its Legacy.'' (Honolulu: University of Hawai*i Press,  2001).   ISBN  0824823095.
+* Nanxiu Qian. ''Spirit and Self in Medieval China : The Shih-Shuo Hsin-Yü and Its Legacy.'' (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press,  2001).   {{ISBN|0824823095}}.
+*Jack W. Chen. ''Anecdote, Network, Gossip, Performance : Essays on the Shishuo xinyu'' (Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center, 2021).   {{ISBN|0674251172}}.
 {{wikisourcelang|zh|世說新語|世說新語}}
+[[Category:Chinese anthologies]]
+[[Category:Northern and Southern dynasties literature]]
+[[Category:History books about the Northern and Southern dynasties]]
 [[Category:5th-century books]]
+[[Category:Chinese history texts]]
 [[Category:Chinese short story collections]]
+[[Category:Books by Liu Yiqing]]