The Carnal Prayer Mat

The Carnal Prayer Mat.pdf......Page 0
TRANSLATED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES, BY PATRICK HANAN......Page 2
Introduction Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapt......Page 3
Let me give two obvious examples, both of them discoveries r......Page 5
His passion for invention carried over from literature to li......Page 6
“Storyteller, since you want people to suppress their lecher......Page 7
It is in the nature of erotic fiction to seek out forbidden......Page 8
But although the libertine adventure may be headed for disas......Page 9
The retribution plot fascinated the Chinese novelist, and on......Page 10
At the same time Prayer Mat gives a far more prominent place......Page 11
His prime values of novelty and structural ingenuity are eve......Page 12
However, Prayer Mat’s greatest difference from other erotic......Page 13
Over the next three centuries Prayer Mat was banned many tim......Page 14
Like some other Chinese novels published at the time, Prayer......Page 15
Again in Chapter Six, when Vesperus needles the Knave by sug......Page 16
The novel shares the familiar features of the traditional Ch......Page 17
There is no good text of the novel; all of the reasonably we......Page 18
THE CARNAL PRAYER MAT......Page 19
Raven hair so quickly gray, Ruddy cheeks soon past. Man’s......Page 21
In the parlance of our Confucian sticklers for morality, a w......Page 22
It would thus appear that the activity we call sex is not ha......Page 23
But there is one further point to consider. The properties o......Page 24
Genuine variety refers to the dazzling looks and glamour tha......Page 25
The author of this novel has been motivated solely by compas......Page 26
A far better solution is to captivate your readers with erot......Page 27
If you doubt me, look at how Mencius in Warring States times......Page 28
Mencius, however, did not reply like that. Instead he used t......Page 29
Naturally from this point on, King Xuan was perfectly willin......Page 30
How enticing this novel sounds! I am sure that when it is fi......Page 31
Our story tells how in the Peaceful Government era of the Yu......Page 33
He differed from other priests in abstaining not only from w......Page 34
When people inquired as to why he didn’t ask for alms, he wo......Page 35
“Once you start living in some scenic place, the spirits of......Page 36
By virtue of these three abstentions, he became famous despi......Page 37
An expression like autumn water, A form like a spring cloud......Page 38
Crevices fine as delicate jade, Pupils frozen-crystal clear......Page 39
On this occasion the student came in and bowed four times be......Page 40
Gentle reader, you should understand that the intellectuals......Page 41
By this time the vegetables in the priest’s earthenware pot......Page 42
“Ever since I set my heart on the salvation of mankind,” he......Page 43
“May I inquire what your two desires are?” asked the priest.......Page 44
“What I seek are rewards I can achieve through my own effort......Page 45
“How could my master know what I have in my mind?”......Page 46
“By rights,” said Vesperus, “I ought not to discuss matters......Page 47
The priest said nothing at first, but then gave a sardonic c......Page 48
“‘Those who do good go to Heaven; those who do evil go to He......Page 50
“You’ve given a very thorough exposition, master. The troubl......Page 51
“Am I to understand from what you say,” said the priest, “th......Page 52
“Layman,” he remarked, “your debating skills are so sharp th......Page 54
He then folded the paper several times and gave it to Vesper......Page 55
Vesperus is the male lead of a play in which Lone Peak is a......Page 56
The remarks at the end of the chapter also clarify the plot,......Page 57
Let us tell how Vesperus, after parting from Lone Peak, spen......Page 59
“Any manly, self-respecting husband who becomes an official......Page 60
“It looks as if no one will meet your standards,” remarked o......Page 61
“He has no son, just a daughter who is as fair as jade and a......Page 62
“But on one occasion the old man caught sight of me from his......Page 63
“Absolutely impossible!” said the matchmaker. “If you don’t......Page 64
“Thy disciple wishes to ask about Master Iron Door’s daughte......Page 65
—Poem Number Two......Page 66
The matchmaker went gleefully off to Master Iron Door’s hous......Page 67
What was the bride’s beauty like? Here is a new lyric testif......Page 68
Tight shut her eyes, for she’s too shy to look; Two crimson......Page 69
Vesperus happened to be particularly fond of daytime sex, be......Page 70
If he did manage, much against her will, to hoist her legs o......Page 71
But when she turned to the third page and saw a man and a wo......Page 72
“If this were a frivolous thing,” said Vesperus, “the artist......Page 73
“Well, my parents are husband and wife, too. Why don’t they......Page 74
“It’s ten times more enjoyable in the daytime, and the wonde......Page 75
“Our enjoyment depends on your loving me and my loving you,......Page 76
She’s beginning to show a little interest, thought Vesperus.......Page 77
Picture Number One. The Releasing the Butterfly in Search of......Page 78
Picture Number Three. The Lost Bird Returns to the Wood posi......Page 79
Picture Number Five. The Two Dragons Who Fight Till They Dro......Page 80
“Dear heart,” said Vesperus, “there’s no need to use the bed......Page 81
Why did he not start at the top and work his way down instea......Page 82
After undressing her, he took off every stitch of his own cl......Page 83
To get on even terms, Vesperus stretched his arms out and pu......Page 84
She nodded.......Page 85
“Men have male essence and women female essence, and when th......Page 86
Jade Scent was overjoyed.......Page 87
The lute and the zither are inadequate symbols for the harmo......Page 88
With one exception Vesperus could be described as having rea......Page 89
However, as the proverb says, “Mountains and rivers are easi......Page 90
I must think this through carefully. I can’t stop him and I......Page 91
“In the six months you’ve been living here as my son-in-law,......Page 92
In his daughter’s presence he urged Vesperus to travel for t......Page 93
To Vesperus he replied, “You’re the only one who has any use......Page 94
When the author is exhorting his audience with talk of moral......Page 95
For Vesperus, however, writing and the social life that went......Page 97
“You’re all on your own, sir,” said the visitor, “and I dare......Page 98
“As an educated man, sir, you have a sobriquet,” said the ot......Page 99
“In that case there’s no harm in telling you. I’m a professi......Page 100
“If people have suffered some blow such as an illness, a dea......Page 101
“In the case of a rich man who has never been robbed despite......Page 102
“Those are my Five Abstentions from Theft. All my life I’ve......Page 103
The Knave guessed his thoughts. “You may say you agree, but......Page 104
Vesperus had been so preoccupied with drinking and talking t......Page 105
“You’re quite wrong there, brother. Good women never let the......Page 106
“Well, then, can you get a more accurate view of the beautif......Page 107
At this point Vesperus, who had been lying inside the bedclo......Page 108
Now that the Knave was touching on such fascinating subject......Page 109
“Of the two kinds, it is the former that is the easier to di......Page 110
“When they start, the women aren’t feeling any pleasure and......Page 112
At this point Vesperus heard in his imagination the most wan......Page 113
“I’ve seen many women since I left home,” said Vesperus at t......Page 114
“Now you really have failed to give a gallant man his due! I......Page 115
Jubilant, Vesperus told his servants to look for lodgings. T......Page 116
Lone Peak’s three abstentions and the Knave’s five are the m......Page 117
Why was he willing to pay such a high rent to stay at this t......Page 119
Why should that be, you ask. Surely Vesperus had not posted......Page 120
From this time on, his behavior grew quite irresponsible and......Page 121
Storyteller, what you’ve just said doesn’t tally with what y......Page 122
My lifelong ambition, he thought, was to marry the most beau......Page 123
Now, the way to look at a woman is the same as the way you l......Page 124
At sight of the girls, Vesperus went out of his mind. Since......Page 125
For a long time Vesperus remained stupefied, unable to utter......Page 126
On the _____ day of the _____ month, met two outstanding bea......Page 127
After finishing the comments, he remembered someone he had o......Page 129
Black Belle. Age about thirty-five, but looking only fifteen......Page 130
After completing his comments, he drew three large circles b......Page 131
“It’s been on my mind every hour of the day. How could I pos......Page 132
Fiction writers always confine themselves to narrative as di......Page 133
The Knave took a seat and opened the discussion: “Well, brot......Page 135
“Brother, you have such a wealth of experience that you must......Page 136
“But that’s no obstacle! So long as the basic quality is the......Page 137
“In that case let’s confine ourselves to this one and ignore......Page 138
“‘My husband is away,’ she replied. ‘But if it’s silk you wa......Page 139
“She sounds like perfection itself. Of course I do! But how......Page 140
In every other matter that’s the case; the poor man is easie......Page 141
“The poor man, on the other hand, has only one wife who slee......Page 142
“One of them is in her twenties,” said the Knave, “and the o......Page 143
Noting that the description of the two women roughly fitted......Page 144
“That’s very reassuring. Still, it wouldn’t do any harm to t......Page 145
“You’re worrying unnecessarily, my good fellow,” said Vesper......Page 146
Seeing that Vesperus was not about to respond, the Knave sho......Page 147
Body a pearly white, Head a crimson glow. Around the base......Page 148
“If this is what it’s like when limp,” said the Knave, “I ca......Page 149
“Admired?” said the Knave. “A virgin with her maidenhead int......Page 150
“I saw the other two with my own eyes,” said the Knave. “Thi......Page 151
At last it dawned on Vesperus that the Knave was telling him......Page 152
“Talent and looks,” said the Knave, “are sweeteners for the......Page 153
From the forcefulness with which the Knave spoke, Vesperus r......Page 154
Each passage of discourse is bound to contain several superb......Page 155
Let us tell how Vesperus’s joyous mood was swept clean away......Page 157
Thus a moment of suspicion was followed by a moment of wild......Page 158
Henceforth, whenever he attended a literary gathering and on......Page 159
After Vesperus had completed his comparative studies, his de......Page 160
However, because he was a young man in his prime, a certain......Page 161
His hunch confirmed, Vesperus turned around and took another......Page 162
After a moment’s fury he shut his door, undid his belt, and,......Page 163
A TRUE MAN FROM A DISTANT LAND HAS COME TO TEACH THE BEDROO......Page 164
The adept in question proved to be an old man of awe-inspiri......Page 165
“If, on the other hand, you wish to attain pleasure with the......Page 166
“What if it is large to begin with?” asked Vesperus. “Or sma......Page 167
“If the original is small and the client wants to increase i......Page 168
“But it has to be possible!” exclaimed Vesperus. “It’s my na......Page 170
“The first is that you must wait a hundred and twenty days a......Page 171
“The third drawback is that, although your acquired strength......Page 172
“I’m living in rented rooms,” said Vesperus, “which is very......Page 173
“Thus your second drawback doesn’t bother me either; in fact......Page 174
“Since you are so set on it,” said the adept, “I shall certa......Page 175
This incident was the root cause of all the evil he was to d......Page 176
If anyone else were writing this book, he would certainly ha......Page 177
Readers should pay particular attention to this kind of pass......Page 178
Song Yu’s brilliance, Pan An’s beauty, The grace of the wil......Page 179
He possessed two pages, one named Satchel, the other Sheath.......Page 180
“A farewell? Surely you couldn’t bear to part with us?”......Page 181
“When you go off on your seductions, you’ll need to have an......Page 182
Since he dealt in such secret techniques, the adept had foun......Page 183
The dogs had been brought to the operating room with ropes a......Page 184
After another day or two, just as he was thinking of going t......Page 185
“If you’ve made any progress, it will be merely cosmetic and......Page 186
“Stop making fun of me, brother, and hurry up and show me. I......Page 187
“What method did you use to turn that puny object into somet......Page 188
Before long he was back, a broad grin on his face. “Congratu......Page 189
“If you’re customers of ours, how is it I don’t know you?”......Page 190
Before he even took the silk, Vesperus said, “This is too ye......Page 191
“Where in the world are you going to find silk as white as t......Page 192
Suppose an oversexed woman were able to see people at a dist......Page 193
Vesperus did not finish his tea, but left half a cup in trib......Page 194
Picking up the silk, the Knave urged Vesperus out of the sho......Page 195
“With me beside you, that’s not likely to happen, so don’t w......Page 196
Fiction is parable and, as such, its content is obviously no......Page 197
In Chapter Six, the Knave described this woman as prudish, a......Page 198
Let us tell now of Honest Quan’s wife, whose childhood name......Page 199
Fragrance remained in mourning for a full year before marryi......Page 200
In what sense was she a woman of experience? As a girl she h......Page 201
Observing that Honest Quan, although coarse-grained and dull......Page 202
This woman was in her thirties, and her husband, like Fragra......Page 203
“Not just better—ten times better, in my opinion. I stand in......Page 204
After many other intriguing remarks, the neighbor retreated......Page 205
“No.”......Page 206
The neighbor had an extremely prurient mind and, on hearing......Page 207
The whole time the neighbor held forth, Fragrance was busy c......Page 208
“I did mean what I said, and I know how it can be done, too.......Page 209
“I know what you have in mind. Master Quan’s endowment is we......Page 210
Fragrance’s plan for taking a lover is absolutely masterly,......Page 211
The neighbor was so upset her nostrils flared and her eyes f......Page 213
The woman nodded and sent Fragrance off to lie down, while s......Page 214
Vesperus parted the labia with his hands and began to work h......Page 215
She began squealing again. “How is it you intellectuals are......Page 216
Why didn’t she tell the truth? Because, as a stand-in, she f......Page 217
Although she had an ugly face, she was blessed with small fe......Page 218
Tiptoeing into the kitchen, she lit the fire and ladled some......Page 219
“Don’t be alarmed,” she said. “I’ve just been spying out the......Page 220
Vesperus, who felt as if he were sobering up from a binge or......Page 221
“You have a point. That is important. But I not only slept w......Page 222
Vesperus put his arms around her and kissed her as he undid......Page 223
He took the pillow out from under her head, inserted it unde......Page 224
But the size of a penis is fixed, so how can it be lengthene......Page 225
If a woman has one pillow under her hips already and another......Page 226
After placing the pillow under her hips, Vesperus raised her......Page 227
His technique was now exactly the opposite. He withdrew slow......Page 228
“You’ve convinced me of your powers,” said Fragrance. “You’r......Page 229
Every second or third night the ugly neighbor would drop by.......Page 230
The Knave was afraid Vesperus’s youthful passions would get......Page 231
What a pity that a secret lost since antiquity, a formula th......Page 232
I used to think, she said to herself, that talent and looks......Page 233
Those weak, useless creatures who scarcely manage to consumm......Page 234
To my lover, Scholar Vesperus: Ever since you stopped comin......Page 235
After finishing the letter, she stood by the door until she......Page 236
When they had sex, she used the same means by which she had......Page 237
“None other than the dreaded, world-famous miracle thief, A......Page 238
“But from then on, we heard noises coming from your house ev......Page 239
“An old technique of his, haven’t you heard?” asked the neig......Page 240
“Neither solution will work,” he said. “Even if Quan’s wife......Page 241
Meanwhile, ever since parting from Fragrance, Vesperus had b......Page 242
“In that case it will be simple,” said the Knave, “except fo......Page 243
To Mistress Fragrance: The two months since we parted seem......Page 244
After delivering the letter to Fragrance, the Knave took out......Page 245
“He’s been driven to it by poverty, nothing else.”......Page 246
Quan arrived and a marriage certificate was drawn up, to whi......Page 247
That same day, still without letting Vesperus know, the Knav......Page 248
Once Vesperus and Fragrance had become husband and wife, the......Page 249
“Of all the women I’ve seen,” he thought, “only those two wh......Page 250
Comment: There are many special features to her beauty. She......Page 251
He was overjoyed. There cannot be more than a few dozen fami......Page 252
So he abandoned the classic methods found in literature and......Page 253
Carrying his set of tools, he climbed up the ladder and took......Page 254
He was about to call her, but feared someone else might hear......Page 255
As he opened the trunk, tipped out its romantic contents, an......Page 256
Poem One Like clouds her garments are, like a flower her fa......Page 257
He recited the poems again. When there was still no response......Page 258
Hoping to win her favor, Vesperus took the opportunity for a......Page 259
Vesperus knew from her tone that he had made a mistake and,......Page 260
Fuming, she started down the ladder, pulling herself away fr......Page 261
He was puzzled. What could be the matter with her? he asked......Page 262
Overjoyed, he stepped on to it and climbed silently down, as......Page 263
“What a heartless wretch you are! Who asked you to come here......Page 264
“Mistress, where do you get all of this? Apart from my wife......Page 265
Vesperus realized she knew everything and that it was no use......Page 266
“If it’s really not true, swear a solemn oath.”......Page 267
“There’s nothing wrong with your eyes evidently. After all,......Page 268
Vesperus at once thrust in all the way. Cloud’s vagina was o......Page 269
“You’re too dry inside at present, and that’s why you’re fee......Page 270
He had been working a good two or three hours when Cloud’s h......Page 271
“It’s the one real asset I have, something that no other wom......Page 272
“No, I didn’t miss anywhere.”......Page 273
Cloud hugged him tightly. “Dear one, why do you love me so?......Page 274
“In his youth he was a rake who had one affair after another......Page 275
“To be frank with you, it all began with my telling them. We......Page 276
“There was something awfully superior about their attitude t......Page 277
“With this injustice on your mind,” said Vesperus, “no wonde......Page 278
Jubilant, Vesperus somersaulted off the bed and addressed an......Page 279
There is nothing in fiction more remarkable than The Carnal......Page 280
By this time the reader is so far along the Shanyin road tha......Page 281
Let us tell how Honest Quan gave up work after the sale of h......Page 283
They were all in the dark until Fragrance married Vesperus,......Page 284
The other ideas that occur to me are either unworkable or el......Page 285
He had assumed that the women’s quarters in other men’s hous......Page 286
He was hoping to rent a room nearby where he could stay whil......Page 287
“Impossible in what way?” asked Quan.......Page 288
He changed his name to Lai Suixin, because he had come (lai)......Page 289
“I’m used to hard conditions, and my strength will serve wel......Page 290
He bought a set of farm tools and early each morning would g......Page 291
Before setting foot in the house, he had been greatly worrie......Page 292
Within a few months the Master, noting how hardworking, hone......Page 293
“There’s an old saying,” said Quan. “‘By brains you can supp......Page 294
Quan realized from these remarks that the Master was thinkin......Page 295
“That way I’d have someone to turn to the rest of my life! I......Page 296
The Master’s face broke into a broad smile. “Ah, it does my......Page 297
One marvelous feature of this chapter is the way the straigh......Page 298
Let us explain that the story of how Honest Quan sold himsel......Page 301
But Jade Scent took a different course and gave undue creden......Page 302
But her skepticism did not survive for long. “That’s not tru......Page 303
Day after day she would get up and, neglecting her needlewor......Page 304
As it happened, however, the one who was waiting anxiously t......Page 305
After the third night, however, Quan’s prowess was destined......Page 306
Quan knew she meant it in the sense of there’s no money here......Page 307
“Mistress, the only reason I sold myself was to get inside t......Page 308
Now that he had received her consent, Quan caressed and kiss......Page 309
“I wouldn’t dare offend your precious person. I know a very......Page 310
Why do you suppose he did this? He was employing the method......Page 311
Meanwhile, seeing that he had gone past the gate, Fragrance......Page 312
Jade Scent knew what she was about, and when he said this, s......Page 313
At first they kept Ruyi in ignorance, but then it occurred t......Page 314
“My death will be on your head,” sobbed Jade Scent. “You kno......Page 315
On finishing this chapter some readers will charge the autho......Page 316
You are mistaken, say I. This type of requital does indeed d......Page 317
That night, as he held Cloud in his arms, he learned that al......Page 319
“The ones I call sister are married to two brothers, nephews......Page 320
“Well, my husband, as you know, is a tutor in their husbands......Page 321
“Have you ever been back to the temple to burn incense?” she......Page 322
“I’ve heard that he spends all his time longing for you, but......Page 323
“Well, congratulations!” they said, forcing smiles to their......Page 324
“There’s no problem in meeting him,” said Cloud. “I’ll have......Page 325
Cloud could see they were upset, so she dropped her banterin......Page 326
Lucky Pearl and Lucky Jade assented in unison: “Your reasoni......Page 327
“Tell me,” asked Lucky Pearl, “what method did you use to ge......Page 328
The meal was over, but the dishes had not been cleared away.......Page 329
But Cloud was not about to reveal his qualities so easily. S......Page 330
“Don’t run away so quickly. Let’s get tonight’s order settle......Page 331
“A whole night is more satisfying,” said Cloud, “but it woul......Page 332
Now that she had guessed their thoughts, the sisters resolve......Page 333
“Let’s go to bed,” said Vesperus. “It’s late.”......Page 334
“That too sounds a little odd. You’re surely not implying th......Page 335
Vesperus and Lucky Pearl undressed each other, then climbed......Page 336
Clasping Vesperus tightly, she gave him a couple of playful......Page 337
But Vesperus, who was intent on displaying his prowess, took......Page 338
Vesperus, realizing that she was beside herself with passion......Page 339
Vesperus explained that it was necessary on the first occasi......Page 340
By the time these words were out of his mouth, he had comple......Page 341
Cloud and Lucky Pearl arose early and, with a view to workin......Page 342
“My concubine is pregnant and can’t sleep with me anymore. I......Page 343
“That’s simple,” said Lucky Pearl. “We have plenty of maids,......Page 344
Far from feeling jealous of her sworn sisters, Cloud was pre......Page 345
Once the rule was established, they set up another, extra-wi......Page 347
Shortly after Vesperus moved in, Cloud held a secret conclav......Page 348
“Who else? You know what an oversexed creature she is. She m......Page 349
“No, neither place will do,” said Lucky Pearl. “Those thief’......Page 350
But there was trouble in store for the sisters. One day they......Page 351
“There’s no need to be so suspicious,” said Vesperus. “I hav......Page 352
“There’s no need to get upset,” said Lucky Jade. “There must......Page 353
Then she turned to Vesperus. “Fortunately this brilliant pro......Page 354
At these words the women’s indignation began to evaporate, a......Page 355
By their quick action the nieces had reduced a potential dis......Page 356
Standing a full ten feet from her nieces, she opened the not......Page 357
“There’s not a single stroke in any of the characters he inv......Page 358
All the time she interrogated them, Flora was looking around......Page 359
But fortune favored the enemy. Flora did not need even the s......Page 360
They approached Flora and apologized. “We oughtn’t to have c......Page 361
“If you want to settle the matter privately,” said Flora, “y......Page 362
Now that an agreement had been reached, the nieces were abou......Page 363
After reading the chapter in which they met at the temple, o......Page 364
After the trunk arrived at her house and she had dismissed t......Page 367
1. Better to be thin than fat 2. Better to be short than ta......Page 368
Why do they need these three qualities? In general when a ma......Page 369
Although Flora was an older woman, she did combine both qual......Page 370
Vesperus placed the head of his penis against the heart of t......Page 371
“Simply this, that you have to put extra effort into arousin......Page 372
“His stamina was not even in the second class,” said Flora.......Page 373
“I imagine you had only a small supply at home and that you......Page 374
“What a subtle observation!” said Vesperus. “Obviously I hav......Page 375
“An even more delightful disquisition!” said Vesperus. “But......Page 376
Had Flora not told him her secret in advance, Vesperus would......Page 377
“You may not want to say,” said Flora, “but I can easily gue......Page 378
Next day she arose and brought out her erotic albums and nov......Page 379
When he walked through the side door, the sisters reacted as......Page 380
“In my opinion,” said Lucky Jade, “we should not let her cho......Page 381
Since Flora was their senior, why did she go to her nieces’......Page 382
“Exactly what I had in mind,” remarked Flora.......Page 383
“Where is it from? We’re not at all clear,” said Cloud.......Page 384
“The girl was so affected by his pathetic plea that she felt......Page 385
Her nieces were upset by her supercilious tone and apprehens......Page 386
Flora, who knew her Classic of Guess-fingers by heart, beame......Page 387
“With regard to the number of cups,” said Flora, “we’ll star......Page 388
“I’ll have to push myself to the limit to keep up with all t......Page 389
Having set the rules, Flora exempted Vesperus and told the t......Page 390
She turned to her nieces. “Pick up the top card and follow t......Page 391
The card Lucky Pearl picked up showed a woman lying on a bed......Page 392
As soon as Cloud had received her complement, Flora stood up......Page 393
How can such a coincidence be accounted for? Of all the card......Page 394
“Utter rot!” they retorted. “If wine can substitute for sex,......Page 395
All this while the three wicked young women had been waiting......Page 396
Later her anus swelled up, she had bouts of fever and shiver......Page 397
Fragrance was afraid the babies would be a burden to her and......Page 398
Some people criticize this chapter’s descriptions for going......Page 399
Most of Vesperus’s triumphs have now been told, but only a f......Page 401
Taking both women with him on a nonstop journey to the capit......Page 402
Before the sale Quan had been too obsessed with the idea of......Page 403
At this point in his reflections, he fell to beating his che......Page 404
A very rich client chose her the first evening. Next morning......Page 405
What were these superlative skills of hers? The first was Lo......Page 406
“The most delightful things in life,” she was given to sayin......Page 407
What technique did she use to see that the man got the benef......Page 408
When Jade Scent first arrived, it was not her reputation tha......Page 409
The Maid assumed, as she showed him out, that Jade Scent had......Page 410
Among her clients were two gentlemen so eager to lavish thei......Page 411
When the brothers eventually found out, they felt they might......Page 412
“We don’t believe such a prodigy exists,” said Lucky Pearl a......Page 413
After chatting for a while, they spent the night together. A......Page 414
Vesperus’s lechery and wickedness have now reached their cli......Page 415
“Looking after someone’s family is not something to be taken......Page 417
After knocking until dark, he finally glimpsed someone peepi......Page 418
Where do you suppose the coffin came from? When the Master f......Page 419
Arriving in the capital after a laborious journey, he deposi......Page 420
“Don’t let me hold you up. Please feel free to go on with yo......Page 421
Jade Scent had recognized her husband at first glance and le......Page 422
“Look here, just now I saw a woman run into your bedroom and......Page 423
Inside the room Jade Scent saw little hope for herself. Vesp......Page 424
At the height of the commotion, a number of customers came u......Page 425
He looked at her and pondered, and the more he looked and po......Page 426
The constables then questioned the Maid. In fact she knew no......Page 427
The constables asked if she knew Vesperus. Ruyi meant to den......Page 428
On hearing him speak so honestly, the Maid concluded she wou......Page 429
I used to believe I had a right to sleep with other men’s wi......Page 430
Lone Peak also told me that since his words had failed to co......Page 431
Vesperus asked who the man was. “I don’t know,” replied the......Page 432
The elopement of my wanton concubine should come as no surpr......Page 433
In this chapter the author’s main purpose has at last become......Page 434
Let us tell how the priest Lone Peak had been continually re......Page 435
Vesperus could see from a distance that there was something......Page 436
“You brought in my leather bag,” said Lone Peak, “so you mus......Page 437
Vesperus got to his feet and began to bow in greeting all ov......Page 438
Vesperus felt differently, however. He maintained that those......Page 439
The sight of his wives infuriated Vesperus, and he called on......Page 440
Having arrived at this conclusion, he could not wait for day......Page 441
Now, when monks are about to receive the commandments, their......Page 442
“In thirty-odd years,” he confessed to Lone Peak, “your disc......Page 443
Stubborn Stone found himself strangely affected by the man’s......Page 444
Lone Peak roared with laughter. “What a fine pair of enemies......Page 445
“To be frank with you, master,” said Stubborn Stone, “your d......Page 446
“Those two are not your daughters,” said Lone Peak. “They we......Page 447
“If the master is unwilling to receive a thief’s bows,” said......Page 448
The Knave sat down again and told Stubborn Stone the news of......Page 449
At these words the Knave felt a chill run down his spine and......Page 450
“The priest was living near a crossroads, where he used to r......Page 451
“But if our nature is in accord with the Principle of Heaven......Page 452
“Perhaps your action is less serious and will be judged a li......Page 453
“Admittedly,” he said to Lone Peak, “the things I have done......Page 454
Obviously there is no man who is unfit to become a buddha. I......Page 455
Whereas at the beginning of the book he was grateful to the......Page 456
Li Yu was a renowned essayist, novelist, short-story writer,......Page 457
Educated in New Zealand and England, Patrick Hanan is a prof......Page 458
[8] The victims of amorous excess.......Page 459
[14] The olive, with its bitter taste, stands for a salutary......Page 460
[21] Liu Fen, a Tang candidate, was failed by the examiners......Page 461
[28] Zhuo Wenjun, who eloped with the Han poet Sima Xiangru......Page 462
[37] Xiuta yeshi, Ruyi Jun zhuan, and Chi pozi zhuan, respec......Page 463
[44] The lines come from the song “Junzi jie lao” of the Poe......Page 464
[53] The image comes originally from the famous military tre......Page 465
[61] The woman in Chinese mythology who stole her husband’s......Page 466
[66] This idiom is based on an anecdote in the Shishuo xinyu......Page 467
[75] The reference is to the “Tale of Immortals” (Shenxian z......Page 468
[80] A reclusive poet (A.D. 967-1028). He never married, but......Page 469
[89] In a famous story Wang was supported in his studies by......Page 470
[95] The quotation is from Mencius. See D. C. Lau, trans., M......Page 471
[96] The quotation is adapted from Mencius, where Confucius......Page 472