Difference between revisions of "Feng Menglong"
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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). | 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 | + | 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 that led to my being 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, he would pay money in the form of a bribe 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 = | ||
| + | |||
| + | My most important work is the "Three Words" (三言 = Sanyan). "Three Words" is a collection of three different books: Clear Words to Instruct the World (喻世明言 = Yushi mingyan) | ||
= ''Three Words'' (三言) = | = ''Three Words'' (三言) = | ||
= Other Stuff = | = Other Stuff = | ||
Revision as of 07:36, 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 that led to my being 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, he would pay money in the form of a bribe 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
My most important work is the "Three Words" (三言 = Sanyan). "Three Words" is a collection of three different books: Clear Words to Instruct the World (喻世明言 = Yushi mingyan)