Things About the Novelists of the Ming Dynasty

This book uses humorous and popular writing to tell the story of the legendary lives of a group of "irrelevant" literati in the Ming Dynasty who failed in the imperial examinations and had unsuccessful official careers, and used their pen as a blade to create classic novels. Most of these novelists were unsuccessful students, resigned from office, and retired scholars. They were regarded as losers in official history, but they created immortal legends in the field of literature. The book focuses on key figures such as Shi Naian, Luo Guanzhong, Wu Chengen, Feng Menglong, and Ling Shuchu, and restores their life trajectories and creative thoughts: Shi Naian personally experienced troubled times and created "Water Margin" with his experience in rivers and lakes; Luo Guanzhong turned from "picture king" to "picture explanation" and relied on "picture explanation" "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" created the pinnacle of historical romance; Wu Cheng'en was frustrated in the imperial examinations and frustrated in the officialdom for half his life, and relied on "Journey to the West" to express his unruly character; Feng Menglong and Ling Shuchu delved into market literature after being frustrated in the imperial examinations, and worked together to create "Three Words and Two Patterns", laying the foundation for short stories in vernacular. At the same time, this book also reveals the mystery of the author of famous works such as "The Romance of the Gods" and shows the persistence and difficulties of Ming Dynasty novelists in the face of piracy, traffic anxiety, and secular prejudice. They melted the ups and downs of life and the various situations of the times into their pen and ink, and made three and a half of the Four Great Classics, "Three Words and Two Patterns" and other classics come out, shaping the cultural memory and spiritual genealogy of the Chinese people. The book uses gossip-style narration and vivid details to outline the portraits of novelists in the Ming Dynasty, showing the pride and talent of down-and-out literati. It also writes about the golden age of Chinese vernacular novels.