Hao Qiu Zhuan
Hao Qiu Zhuan 好逑传
Bilingual Critical Edition / Mehrsprachige kritische Edition
| Project Information / Projektinformation | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Title | 好逑传 (Hao Qiu Zhuan) |
| English Title | The Fortunate Union / The Pleasing History |
| German Title | Die angenehme Geschichte des Haoh Kjoeh |
| French Title | Hau Kiou-Choaan, ou l'Union bien assortie |
| Editor | Martin Woesler |
| Publisher | European University Press |
| Chapters | 18 |
| Status | In Preparation (Scan Correction Phase) |
About the Novel
The Hao Qiu Zhuan (好逑传, "The Fortunate Union") is one of the most historically significant Chinese novels for the history of cultural exchange between China and Europe. Written in the Ming or early Qing dynasty, it tells the story of the scholar Tie Zhongyu (铁中玉, "Iron Beauty") and the virtuous maiden Shui Bingxin (水冰心), whose love story unfolds amid political intrigue, tests of loyalty, and acts of chivalry.
Historical Significance
The novel holds a unique place in the history of East-West literary relations:
- 1761: Thomas Percy published the first English translation, Hau Kiou Choaan; or, The Pleasing History, based on a manuscript by James Wilkinson, who had translated it from a Portuguese intermediary version. This was one of the first Chinese novels ever published in a European language.
- 1766: A German translation appeared in Leipzig, translated from the English by an anonymous translator: Haoh Kjoeh Tschwen, die angenehme Geschichte des Haoh Kjoeh.
- 1828: A French translation was published in Paris: Hau Kiou-Choaan, ou l'Union bien assortie.
These early translations, despite their indirect transmission paths (Chinese -> Portuguese -> English -> German/French), sparked enormous interest in Chinese literature across Europe and influenced writers such as Goethe, who famously discussed Chinese novels in his conversations with Eckermann.
This Edition
This critical edition presents six versions of the text in parallel:
| Version | Language | Source | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Original | 中文 | 好逑传 (18 chapters) | Ming/Qing | Complete |
| Percy / Wilkinson | English | Hau Kiou Choaan; or, The Pleasing History (4 vols.) | 1761 | Scan correction in progress |
| French Translation | Français | Hau Kiou-Choaan, ou l'Union bien assortie (4 tomes) | 1828 | Scan correction in progress |
| German Translation (hist.) | Deutsch | Haoh Kjoeh Tschwen | 1766 | Scan correction in progress |
| Modern English | English | New translation by Martin Woesler | 2025 | Complete |
| Modern German | Deutsch | Neue Uebersetzung von Martin Woesler | 2025 | Complete |
Note on Historical Texts: The Percy (1761), French (1828), and German (1766) translations are being prepared from OCR scans of the original editions. Page numbers from the historical books appear in square brackets (e.g., [p. 45], [S. 123]) and must be preserved. These texts still require proofreading and correction. We welcome volunteer proofreaders!
Table of Contents
| Ch. | 中文 | English | Chinese | Percy 1761 | French 1828 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 第一回 省凤城侠怜鸳侣苦 | In the Phoenix City, a Chivalrous Heart Pities a Pair of Lovebirds | 中文 | 1761 | 1828 |
| 2 | 第二回 探虎穴巧取蚌珠还 | Into the Tiger's Den to Retrieve the Pearl from the Clam | 中文 | 1761 | 1828 |
| 3 | 第三回 水小姐俏胆移花 | Miss Shui's Bold Ruse: Transplanting the Flower | 中文 | 1761 | 1828 |
| 4 | 第四回 过公子痴心捉月 | Young Master Guo's Vain Pursuit: Grasping at the Moon | 中文 | 1761 | 1828 |
| 5 | 第五回 激义气闹公堂救祸得祸 | Righteous Indignation in the Magistrate's Court: A Rescue That Breeds Disaster | 中文 | 1761 | 1828 |
| 6 | 第六回 冒嫌疑移下榻知恩报恩 | Risking Suspicion to Move the Sickbed: Repaying Kindness with Kindness | 中文 | 1761 | 1828 |
| 7 | 第七回 五夜无欺敢留髡以饮 | Five Nights Without Transgression: Daring to Invite the Sage to Drink | 1828 | ||
| 8 | 第八回 一言有触不俟驾而行 | A Single Word Gives Offense: Departing Without Waiting for the Carriage | 1828 | ||
| 9 | 第九回 虚捏鬼哄佳人止印佳人喷饭 | Fabricating Ghosts to Frighten a Beauty, Only to Make Her Burst Out Laughing | 1828 | ||
| 10 | 第十回 假认真参按院反令按院吃惊 | Feigned Earnestness Before the Provincial Inspector: Turning the Tables | 1828 | ||
| 11 | 第十一回 热心肠放不下千里赴难 | A Warm Heart Cannot Rest: Rushing a Thousand Li to Help | 1828 | ||
| 12 | 第十二回 冷面孔翻得转一席成仇 | A Cold Face Can Turn: A Single Banquet Creates an Enemy | 1828 | ||
| 13 | 第十三回 出恶言拒聘实增奸险 | Hateful Words Refuse the Betrothal: Treachery Deepens | 1828 | ||
| 14 | 第十四回 舍死命救人为识英雄 | Risking One's Life to Save Another: Recognizing a True Hero | 1828 | ||
| 15 | 第十五回 父母命苦叮咛焉敢过辞 | When Parents Command with Bitter Entreaties, How Can One Refuse? | 1828 | ||
| 16 | 第十六回 美人局歪厮缠实难领教 | The Beauty Trap: A Crooked Scheme Hard to Endure | 1828 | ||
| 17 | 第十七回 察出隐情方表人情真义侠 | When Hidden Truths Are Revealed, True Chivalry Shines Forth | 1828 | ||
| 18 | 第十八回 验明完璧始成名教终好逑 | When Perfect Jade Is Verified, Propriety Finds Its Good Match at Last | 1828 |
Call for Proofreaders
Help us correct the historical translations!
The Percy (1761), French (1828), and German (1766) texts have been digitized from historical editions via OCR. They contain numerous scanning errors that need manual correction:
- Long s (ſ) misread as f, l, or other characters
- Broken words across page boundaries
- Missing or garbled characters
- Historical page numbers that must be preserved in [square brackets]
If you can read 18th-century English, French, or German typography, your help would be invaluable. To get started, request an account and begin editing any chapter page.
References
- Percy, Thomas (ed.): Hau Kiou Choaan; or, The Pleasing History. A Translation from the Chinese Language. 4 vols. London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1761.
- Haoh Kjoeh Tschwen, die angenehme Geschichte des Haoh Kjoeh. Ein chinesischer Roman, in vier Buechern. Leipzig: Johann Friedrich Holstein, 1766.
- Hau Kiou-Choaan, ou l'Union bien assortie, roman chinois. 4 tomes. Paris: Moutardier, 1828.
- Woesler, Martin: Hao Qiu Zhuan -- Bilingual Critical Edition. European University Press (forthcoming).