Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Dedication v
3. Contents vii
4. List of Illustrations xi
5. Acknowledgments xiii
6. Introduction xv
7. Translators’ Note xxvii
8. Chronology of Chinese Dynasties xxix
9. Stories Old and New
10. Title Page from the 1620 Edition 1
11. Preface to the 1620 Edition 5
12. 1. Jiang Xingge Reencounters His Pearl Shirt 9
13. 2. Censor Chen Ingeniously Solves the Case of the Gold Hairpins and Brooches 48
14. 3. Han the Fifth Sells Her Charms in New Bridge Town 76
15. 4. Ruan San Redeems His Debt in Leisurely Clouds Nunnery 94
16. 5. Penniless Ma Zhou Meets His Opportunity through a Woman Selling Pancakes 113
17. 6. Lord Ge Gives Away Pearl Maiden 123
18. 7. Yang Jiao’ai Lays D own His Life for the S ake of F riendship 133
19. 8. Wu Bao’an Abandons His Family to Ransom His Friend 143
20. 9. Duke Pei of Jin Returns a Concubine to Her Rightful Husband 159
21. 10. Magistrate Teng Settles the Case of Inheritance with Ghostly Cleverness 172
22. 11. Zhao Bosheng Meets with Emperor Renzong in a Teahouse 194
23. 12. The Courtesans Mourn Liu the Seventh in the Spring Breeze 207
24. 13. Zhang Daoling Tests Zhao Sheng Seven Times 222
25. 14. Chen Xiyi Rejects Four Appointments from the Imperial Court 240
26. 15. The Dragon-and-Tiger Reunion of Shi Hongzhao the Minister and His Friend the King 252
27. 16. The Chicken-and-Millet Dinner for Fan Juqing, Friend in Life and Death 281
28. 17. Shan Fulang’s Happy Marriage in Quanzhou 290
29. 18. Yang Balao’s Extraordinary Family Reunion in the Land of Yue 302
30. 19. Yang Qianzhi Meets a M onk Knight-Errant on a J ourney by Boat 318
31. 20. Chen Congshan Loses His Wife on Mei Ridge 334
32. 21. Qian Poliu Begins His Career in Lin’an 349
33. 22. Zheng Huchen Seeks Revenge in Mumian Temple 383
34. 23. Zhang Shunmei Finds a Fair Lady during the Lantern Festival 417
35. 24. Yang Siwen Meets an O ld Acquaintance in Yanshan 430
36. 25. Yan Pingzhong Kills Three Men with Two Peaches 450
37. 26. Shen Xiu Causes Seven Deaths with One Bird 461
38. 27. Jin Yunu Beats the H eartless Man 475
39. 28. Li Xiuqing Marries the Virgin Huang with Honor 489
40. 29. Monk Moon Bright Redeems Willow Green 502
41. 30. Abbot Mingwu Redeems Abbot Wujie 517
42. 31. Sima Mao Disrupts Order in the Underworld and Sits in Judgment 537
43. 32. Humu Di Intones Poems and Visits the Netherworld 557
44. 33. Old Man Zhang Grows Melons and Marries Wennü 572
45. 34. Mr. Li Saves a Snake and Wins Chenxin 591
46. 35. The Monk with a Note Cleverly Tricks Huangfu’s Wife 602
47. 36. Song the Fourth Greatly Torments Tightwad Zhang 617
48. 37. Emperor Wudi of the Liang Dynasty Goes to the Land of Extreme Bliss through Ceaseless Cultivation 643
49. 38. Ren the Filial Son with a Fiery Disposition Becomes a God 669
50. 39. Wang Xinzhi Dies to Save the Entire Family 687
51. 40. Shen Xiaoxia Encounters the Expedition Memorials 718
52. Notes 753
53. Bibliography 778