Difference between revisions of "Feng Menglong"
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= Views in Writings = | = Views in Writings = | ||
| + | To me, ethical earnestness and suspicion of traditional elite forms and accepted wisdom can coexist. In my works, I cited the writings that supported this point because I believe that the "division that makes the most sense lies not between professionals and amateurs, but between ivory-tower pedantry and moral teachings that everyone, no matter how humble, can practice" (122-123). | ||
| + | My own works would almost always contain some kind of morality. In my stories, the greatest sins in the world is "prudishness and hypocritical self-righteousness, while no shame attaches to earning honest money even, for example, as a beggar" (123). It is because of this belief I am sometimes known as the first commercially successful writer: before, literature is shared by being passed among people and writer are not supposed to take money in exchange for their work. Sometimes, if a writer wanted another writer to promote or write a preface for his work, they will pay money in forms of bribes because giving payment is considered improper. I however, was sure that writing can be just as good a profession as any other, so I took money for my writings and made sure it was legal and out in the open. | ||
= Major Works = | = Major Works = | ||
Revision as of 07:32, 19 April 2012
(the first commercially successful writer)
Life
I was born in Changzhou in 1574. I came from a prestigious family. My elder brother, younger brother, and I are called Wuxia sanfeng, which means "the three Feng's in Wuxia." My elder brother Feng Menggui was an artist, my younger brother Feng Mengxiong was a university student and also a published poet, and I was a vernacular writer and poet.
Views in Writings
To me, ethical earnestness and suspicion of traditional elite forms and accepted wisdom can coexist. In my works, I cited the writings that supported this point because I believe that the "division that makes the most sense lies not between professionals and amateurs, but between ivory-tower pedantry and moral teachings that everyone, no matter how humble, can practice" (122-123).
My own works would almost always contain some kind of morality. In my stories, the greatest sins in the world is "prudishness and hypocritical self-righteousness, while no shame attaches to earning honest money even, for example, as a beggar" (123). It is because of this belief I am sometimes known as the first commercially successful writer: before, literature is shared by being passed among people and writer are not supposed to take money in exchange for their work. Sometimes, if a writer wanted another writer to promote or write a preface for his work, they will pay money in forms of bribes because giving payment is considered improper. I however, was sure that writing can be just as good a profession as any other, so I took money for my writings and made sure it was legal and out in the open.