The Three Words and Two Slaps, Retold in Plain English

The Three Words and Two Slaps is the collective name for two famous collections of vernacular short stories from the Ming dynasty, and one of the pinnacles of classical Chinese vernacular fiction. Reading them is like attending a modern-day folk storytelling session: lively, accessible, and full of flavor.

First, the “Three Words”: three books compiled and written by the late Ming writer Feng Menglong: Stories to Caution the World, Stories to Awaken the World, and Stories to Enlighten the World. Each volume contains forty short stories, for a total of 120. Most originated as folk stories, legends, and tales passed down through the years, while some were adapted by Feng Menglong from historical records and notes. Their central aims are to caution, awaken, and enlighten: they teach people, warn them to distinguish right from wrong, and encourage them to do good. They are grounded in everyday life while also serving an instructive purpose.

Next, the “Two Slaps”: two books by the late Ming writer Ling Mengchu, The First Collection of Stories to Strike the Table in Amazement and The Second Collection of Stories to Strike the Table in Amazement. Each contains forty stories, though a few in the second collection were added later. Unlike the Three Words, which focus on compiling folk tales, the Two Slaps consist mostly of Ling Mengchu’s original stories. Their subject matter is more imaginative, often involving strange cases and extraordinary encounters, and they are full of suspense.

Together, these five books are practically an encyclopedia of life in Ming society. There are no lofty emperors or ministers here. The protagonists are all ordinary people: scholars on the road, merchants and peddlers, soldiers guarding the city, street performers, young women seeking love, and shop assistants who stand by their word.