A Cup Mirrors This World
The novel depicts a lesser figure named Ou Zui, who is described as being only slightly intelligent and incapable of studying, yet high spirited, as well as failing to obtain the degree of xiucai for many years. Ou Zui, suddenly remembering that he has a friend who serves as a county head magistrate in a different part of the state, decides to pay him a visit while feigning to be a noted scholar. Everywhere he ventures, Ou Zui “plagiarizes the verse of scholars of his time, writing them on half-gold and half-white thin doors with one leaf, and even leaves the inscription ‘my humble writings awaiting your comments’.” He then proceeds to visit the local officials and receives their gifts. The narrative depicts a group of tongsheng lacking in talent but eloquent in speech, as well as criticizing the phenomenon of false scholars.
- Item No.
- FU 857.08 440 v.3
- Period
- Qing dynasty
- Notes
- Written by the proprietor of Zhuoyuan Pavilion
