Tong Tianle (a Collection of Short Stories About World Affairs in Vernacular)
by (qing Dynasty) Stone Turns Into Gold
About This Novel
"Tongtianle" is a collection of short stories about world affairs in vernacular written by Shi Chengjin in the Qing Dynasty. Most of the materials come from the lives of citizens in Yangzhou and surrounding areas. There are various characters in the book, including an official who retired to make a happy life for himself, a small businessman who wants to make a fortune, a righteous man who fights against the strong and helps the weak, and a ruffian who commits many evil deeds. Through them, the people's sentiments and the author's moral outlook in the Jiangnan region in the early Qing Dynasty are shown. While realistically depicting the rush of businessmen, the labor of tenant farmers, and the tragic fate of slaves, it also depicts scenes of tenant farmers resisting oppression and expresses sympathy for the people at the bottom. In order to promote karma and retribution, the author sets up absurd plots in some chapters, such as the scholar who took a concubine and died in "The Ghost Seeker". There are similar short prefaces and comments before and after each article. The form is novel and aims to persuade people to follow nature, be content and happy, punish evil and promote good.
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