Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Dedication v
3. Contents vii
4. Acknowledgments xiii
5. Translator’s Introduction xv
6. 1. An Account of the Plowmen of the Tongue 1
7. 2. A Legal Case Involving Illicit Love 10
8. 3. Romantic Union 18
9. 4. Women’s Verse 25
10. 5. Humorous Tales from a Precious Window 33
11. 6. Veritable Records from the Red-Light District 40
12. 7. Records from the Red-Light District 46
13. 8. Humorous Quips 53
14. 9. The Characteristics of Ladies 58
15. 10. Poems about Ladies 65
16. 11. Romantic Union 71
17. 12. Extraordinary Encounters with Immortals 78
18. 13. Virtuous Women of the Inner Quarters 90
19. 14. Legal Cases Involving Witty Verdicts 96
20. 15. Felicitous Trysts with Immortals 105
21. 16. Broken Promises 115
22. 17. Romantic Betrayal 121
23. 18. Extraordinary and Predestined Meetings 132
24. 19. Old Stories of Reunion 1 139
25. 20. Old Stories of Reunion 2 148
26. Appendix: A Missing Story Preserved in the Yongle Encyclopedia 157
27. Notes 165
28. Glossary of Chinese Characters 205
29. Bibliography 211