The Peach Blossom Fan (New York Review Books Classics)

A tale of battling armies, political intrigue, star-crossed romance, and historical cataclysm, The Peach Blossom Fan is one of the masterpieces of Chinese literature, a vast dramatic composition that combines the range and depth of a great novel with the swift intensity of film. In the mid-1640s, famine sweeps through China. The Ming dynasty, almost 300 years old, lurches to a bloody end. Peking falls to the Manchus, the emperor hangs himself, and Ming loyalists take refuge in the southern capital of Nanking. Two valiant generals seek to defend the city, but nothing can overcome the corruption, decadence, and factionalism of the court in exile. The newly installed emperor cares for nothing but theater, leaving practical matters to the insidious Ma Shih-ying. Ma’s crony Juan Ta-ch’eng is as unscrupulous an operator as he is sophisticated a poet. He diverts resources from the starving troops in order to stage a spectacular production of his latest play. History, however, has little time for make-believe, though the earnest members of the Revival Club, centered on the handsome young scholar Hou Fang-yü and his lover Fragrant Princess, struggle to discover a happy ending.Written in 1699 and based on the recollections of survivors, The Peach Blossom Fan is a grand historical play about the last days of the Ming dynasty as it fell to the invading Manchus. With compelling vividness, K’ung re-creates confrontations between loyalists and those who sell out to the newest master; nostalgic scenes of dalliance in riverside pavilions; desperate stands on battlements; and rituals of commemoration for the lost empire. Here are gallant generals and sycophantic ministers, court musicians and singing girls, and the love of a talented scholar and a beautiful courtesan.Immensely popular in its own time, The Peach Blossom Fan continues to be performed and has been adapted into films, operas, and modern theater pieces. This lively translation has been out of print for almost 4 decades. Contents New Introduction Preface Introduction: The Peach Blossom Fan as Southern Drama Principal Characters Prologue Part I The Storyteller The Singing-Master The Disrupted Ceremonies The Play Observed A Visit to the Beauty The Fragrant Couch The Rejected Trousseau A Riverside Occasion The Troops Mollified The Letter A Visit to Headquarters The Lovers Parted Lament for the Emperor The Traitor Blocked The Coronation The New Regime The Matchmakers Resisted The Rivals Struggle The Pacification Attempt The Defence Assignment Interlude: A Quiet Chat Part II Prologue to Scene 21 The Invented Match The Rejected Suit The Message on the Fan The Revellers Upbraided The Cast Selected The General Tricked A Meeting of Boats The Painting Inscribed The Club Suppressed The Return to the Hills The Impeachment Drafted The Imperial Mourning Reunion in Jail The River Fortress Call to Battle Right from Disaster Theft of the Jewel Lost in the River Temples of Refuge Entering the Way Epilogue Written In 1699 And Based On The Recollections Of Survivors, The Peach Blossom Fan Is A Grand Historical Play About The Last Days Of The Ming Dynasty As It Fell To The Invading Manchus. With Compelling Vividness, K'ung Re-creates Confrontations Between Loyalists And Those Who Sell Out To The Newest Master; Nostalgic Scenes Of Dalliance In Riverside Pavilions; Desperate Stands On Battlements; And Rituals Of Commemoration For The Lost Empire. Here Are Gallant Generals And Sycophantic Ministers, Court Musicians And Singing Girls, And The Love Of A Talented Scholar And A Beautiful Courtesan. Immensely Popular In Its Own Time, The Peach Blossom Fan Continues To Be Performed And Has Been Adapted Into Films, Operas, And Modern Theater Pieces. This Lively Translation Has Been Out Of Print For Almost Four Decades-- K'ung Shang-jen ; Translated By Chen Shih-hsiang And Harold Acton, With Cyril Birch ; Introduction By Judith T. Zeitlan. "Written in 1699 and based on the recollections of survivors, The Peach Blossom Fan is a grand historical play about the last days of the Ming dynasty as it fell to the invading Manchus. With compelling vividness, K'ung re-creates confrontations between loyalists and those who sell out to the newest master; nostalgic scenes of dalliance in riverside pavilions; desperate stands on battlements; and rituals of commemoration for the lost empire. Here are gallant generals and sycophantic ministers, court musicians and singing girls, and the love of a talented scholar and a beautiful courtesan. Immensely popular in its own time, The Peach Blossom Fan continues to be performed and has been adapted into films, operas, and modern theater pieces. This lively translation has been out of print for almost four decades"-- Provided by publisher