The fountainhead of chinese erotica : the lord of perfect satisfaction (Ruyijun zhuan) / with a translation and critical edition, Charles R. Stone.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Stone, Charles R., 1958-

Standardized Title:

Ruyijun zhuan. English.

Language:

Chinese

English

Subjects (All):

Ruyijun zhuan.

Physical Description:

viii, 271 pages ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Lord of perfect satisfaction

Place of Publication:

Honolulu : University of Hawai'i Press, [2003]

Summary:

The Lord of Perfect Satisfaction (Ruyijun zhuan), a short work of fiction from the early sixteenth century, tells the story of the Tang Dynasty's notorious Wu Zetian, the only woman to rule as emperor of China. It is famous not for the history it relates, but for its graphic sexual descriptions--the first ever in a Chinese novel--purportedly given from a woman's point of view. Despite its renown and unmistakable influence on later writing, the origins and significance of the Ruyijun zhuan have never been explored, in any language, and until now it has never been translated. Its date of composition is unknown, its author unidentified. Combining a complete translation with a detailed and far-ranging study of the text, The Fountainhead of Chinese Erotica places this important cultural document into historical context and offers possibilities on its meaning.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 237-258) and index.

ISBN:

0824824121

OCLC:

50228107