Hidden and Visible Realms Early Medieval Chinese Tales of the Supernatural and the Fantastic
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Zhenjun Zhang is associate professor of Asian studies and modern languages and literatures at St. Lawrence University. His books include Buddhism and Tales of the Supernatural in Early Medieval China: A Study of Liu Yiqing’s (403–444) Youming lu (2014).This book is an important contribution to the growing canon of translated primary source materials of medieval China.
Choice
The nearly three hundred miracle tales that survive of Liu Yiqing’s compilation offer fascinating insights into China’s society and imagination of the late third to early fifth centuries. This complete translation will be eagerly welcomed by all students and scholars of Chinese literature, religion, and thought, as it was precisely in this period that Buddhism had become part of Chinese life.
- Wilt L. Idema, Harvard University,
<i>Hidden and Visible Realms </i>is the most complete and critically annotated translation of the seminal collection of <i>zhiguai</i> (‘tales of anomalies’), Liu Yiqing’s <i>Youming lu,</i> in any language, one that will be enthusiastically welcomed by all who are interested in the history of Chinese fiction and religion.
- Victor H. Mair, University of Pennsylvania,
The fields of early Chinese studies will enthusiastically welcome this excellent work by Zhenjun Zhang that combines a skillfully rendered translation of Liu Yiqing’s <i>Youminglu </i>with an extensive treatise, providing the most comprehensive review of the long history of <i>zhiguai</i> studies we have to date.
- Kenneth J. DeWoskin, University of Michigan,
<i>Hidden and Visible Realms </i>makes a valuable contribution to the study of Chinese <i>zhiguai </i>“Records of the Strange” literature. For the first time, Zhang’s translation of the <i>Youming lu</i> gives English readers a sense of the marvelous richness of the text’s contents and its diverse themes.
- Keith Knapp, The Citadel,
This is a substantial study and translation that can serve as a model for future translations of <i>zhiguai</i> texts. Accurate and carefully annotated, <i>Hidden and Visible Realms</i> is in effect a new recension of the <i>Youming<b> </b>lu</i>. It is a valuable contribution to our growing understanding of early <i>xiaoshuo.</i>
- Daniel Hsieh, Purdue University,
This book is an appropriate work for Western students or non-native readers. For the beginner of zhiguai study, this work, and especially the “Introduction” is to be recommended.
Monumenta Serica
Hidden and Visible Realms, traditionally attributed to Liu Yiqing, is one of the most significant zhiguai collections, distinguished by its varied contents, elegant writing style, and fascinating stories. It is also among the earliest collections heavily influenced by Buddhist beliefs, values, and concerns. Beyond the traditional zhiguai narratives, it includes tales of karmic retribution, reincarnation, and Buddhist ghosts, hell, and magic. In this annotated first complete English translation, Zhenjun Zhang gives English-speaking readers a sense of the wealth and wonder of the zhiguai canon. Hidden and Visible Realms opens a window into the lives, customs, and religious beliefs and practices of early medieval China and the cultural history of Chinese Buddhism. In the introduction, Zhang explains the key themes and textual history of the work.
Abbreviations
Terms Regarding Weights and Measures
Chronology
Introduction
1. The Wonder of Love
2. A Garden of Marvels
3. The Spectacle of Monsters
4. The Realm of Ghosts
5. The Netherworld and This World
6. Animals and Men
7. Anecdotes of Notable Figures
8. Local Legends
Appendix
Tales Appearing in Other Renditions
Works Cited
Index