Green Peony and the Rise of the Chinese Martial Arts Novel

Margaret B. Wan

Description

Martial arts fiction has been synonymous with popular fiction in China from the Qing dynasty on. This book, the first to trace the early development of the martial arts novel in China, demonstrates that the genre took shape nearly a century earlier than generally recognized. Green Peony (1800), one of the earliest martial arts novels, lies at the center of a web of literary relations connecting many of the significant genres of fiction in its day. Adapted from a drum ballad, Green Peony parodies both previous popular fiction and the great Ming novels, generating humorous reflection on their values. By focusing on popular fiction and popular culture, Margaret B. Wan argues for the relevance of genre to literary criticism, the convergence of "popular" and "elite" fiction in the nineteenth century, and a general turn from didacticism to entertainment. Literary scholars, historians, and anyone who wishes to know more about Chinese popular culture in the Qing dynasty will benefit from reading this book.

List of Illustrations
Acknowledgmetns

1. Green Peony and the Martial Romance

2. Formation of a Formula

3. Parody and Roles in Green Peony

4. Metafiction in Green Peony

5. Placing the “Popular” Novel in the Qing

Appendix
Notes
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
Index

Sujets

• Asia
• China

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 05 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791477052
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 9 Mo

Extrait

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Green Peonyand the Rise of the Chinese Martial Arts Novel

SUNY series in Cinese Pilosopy and Cultures

Roger T. Ames, editor

Green Peonyand the Rise of the Chinese Martial Arts Novel

Margaret B. Wan

S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W Y O R K P R E S S

Publised by STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS ALBANY

© 2009 State University of New York

All rigts reserved

Printed in te United States of America

No part of tis book may be used or reproduced in any manner watsoever witout written permission. No part of tis book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mecanical, potocopying, recording, or oterwise witout te prior permission in writing of te publiser.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu

Production by Ryan Morris Marketing by Micael Campociaro

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wan, Margaret B.  Green peony and te rise of te Cinese martial arts novel / Margaret B. Wan.  p. cm. — (Suny series in cinese pilosopy and culture)  Includes bibliograpical references and index.  ISBN 978-0-7914-7701-4 (alk. paper)  1. Martial arts fiction, Cinese—History and criticism. 2. Cinese fiction—Qing dynasty, 1644–1912—History and criticism I. Title.  PL2419.M37W34 2009  895.1'3087—dc22 2008021309

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To my family

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List of Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Contents

1. Introduction:Green Peonyand te Martial Romance

2. Formation of a Formula

3. Parody and Roles inGreen Peony

4. Metafiction inGreen Peony

5. Placing te “Popular” Novel in te Qing

Appendix Notes Glossary Selected Bibliograpy Index

vii

ix xi

1

21

57

101

131

155 159 203 213 225

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