The big cheat (Da ma bian) : a late Qing novel by Huang Shizhong on Kang Youwei

Contrary to the usual sympathetic image of Kang Youwei found in historical studies, The Big Cheat offers a starkly negative portrayal of Kang. Its author, Huang Shizhong, a late Qing revolutionary and prolific author of over 20 novels, depicts Kang as a lifelong master fraud. His attack on Kang sheds light on the reform-revolution divide featured in every narrative about the rise of modern China. Huang's novel stands as a period testimony to the political and ideological struggles for China's future during the last years of the Qing dynasty before it fell in 1912. This is the first English language edition of the novel, translated by Luke S. K. Kwong, who offers an extensive introduction contextualizing Huang's novel in historical perspective. Contents Translator’s Preface Notes on the Translation Translator’s Introduction 1 The Protagonist 2 The Author 3 The Novel Preface by Suogong [Lu Xin], Master of My Humble Abode 1 Scoundrel Kang Makes a Fool of Himself at the Academy;Savant Miao Composes His New Work at His Bei 2 Crossing Paths with a Scoundrel Costs Miao Jiping His Manuscript; Failure to Become Academy 3 The Phony Sage Obsessed with Fame Receives His Provincial Degree; Failed Exam Candidates Propose 4 Censor Yu Adamantly Rejects Any Contact with the Unbridled Scholar; The Shrewd Mama-Maid Boards 5 Pedant Kang Rhapsodizes about His Flight from Debt in Dreadful Poem; Censor An Bases His Impeachme 6 In Pursuit of Scholarship, Zhu Yixin Calls Attention to Historical Origins; His Life Abruptly Cut 7 His Commitment Shifts When He Writes a Letter to the Revolutionaries; Pretense to Transmit Doctrin 8 Talk of Sagely Doctrines Is Distracted by Festive Moods and Sights; For Money, Homecoming Enables 9 Feud over Bureau Seal Ends in Provincial Degree-Holder Kang’s Beating; Sly Plot to Fool Master Wen 10 Weng Tonghe Is Tricked into Proposing Nominations of Talented Men; The Qing Empress-Dowager Is 11 Acting on Slander, the Emperor Dismisses All Board of Ceremony Ministers; The Sorcerer Conjures 12 Kang Changsu Holds a Grudge in Plotting against the Empress-Dowager; Tan Sitong Is Tricked by 13 An Impromptu Letter Is Written to Feign Commitment to Revolution; A Heartless Lie Is Told about 14 He Flees from Danger Alone after Getting Others in Trouble; An Honorable Man Goes to Beijing-Tian 15 His Actions Fuel Factional Strife and Implicate Others in a Capital Crime; Dinner Invitation 16 Harassing Maid-Servers at Minister’s Residence Is a Breach of Etiquette; Failure to Show Proof Appendix: Huang Shizhong’s Death Works Cited Glossary "Contrary to the usual sympathetic image of Kang Youwei found in historical studies, The Big Cheat offers a starkly negative portrayal of Kang. Its author, Huang Shizhong, a late Qing revolutionary and prolific author of over 20 novels, depicts Kang as a lifelong master fraud. His attack on Kang sheds light on the reform-revolution divide featured in every narrative about the rise of modern China. Huang's novel stands as a period testimony to the political and ideological struggles for China's future during the last years of the Qing dynasty before it fell in 1912. This is the first English language edition of the novel, translated by Luke S. K. Kwong, who offers an extensive introduction contextualizing this lessor-known historical perspective on the last years of imperial China"-- Provided by publisher This novel is a scathing portrayal of the reformer Kang Youwei by the revolutionary Huang Shizhong at a critical juncture in Beijing imperial rule and overseas Chinese politics