A Fantastic History. San Sui ping yao zhuan Reconsidered

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Acknowledgments ix
4. Translator’s Introduction xi
5. Preface to the San Sui ping yao zhuan 1
6. 1. The pawnbroker Moneybags Hu gets the magic painting. His wife burns the painting and gives birth to Yong’er 5
7. 2. Hu Yong’er goes to buy steamed cakes in a snowstorm. Auntie Sheng gives her the magic teachings of the Goddess of the Ninth Heaven 14
8. 3. Hu Yong’er conjures up cash and rice. Moneybags Hu angrily burns the magic wishing book 20
9. 4. Hu Yong’er changes straw into horses. Hu Yong’er changes beans into soldiers 30
10. 5. The daughter of Moneybags Hu marries Idiot Boy. Hu Yong’er secretly flees to Zhengzhou 37
11. 6. Hu Yong’er conjures up a hideous face at the inn. Bu, the peddler, pursues Yong’er, and she jumps into a well 50
12. 7. Bu Ji encounters Auntie Sheng in the Octagonal well. Bu Ji is banished to Mizhou after presenting the golden caldron 58
13. 8. Zhang Luan rescues Bu Ji in the woods. Zhang Luan enjoys two moons at the shrine of a mountain deity 66
14. 9.Zuo, the lame priest, buys steamed cakes and hoodwinks Ren Qian. Ren, Wu, and Zhang angrily pursue Zuo, the lame priest 75
15. 10. The lame priest enters the belly of the Buddha in the Burial Mound Temple. Ren, Wu, and Zhang dream they receive Yong’er’s magical art 83
16. 11. The Pellet Priest bilks Grand Commandant Bighearted Wang. Du Qisheng magically beheads his son 95
17. 12. His Excellency Bao orders the capture of the demon priest. Second Brother Li denounces the demon and dies in a fall 106
18. 13. Yong’er sells mud candles to gain the attention of Wang Ze. Auntie Sheng counsels Wang Ze to plot rebellion 118
19. 14. Zuo, the lame priest, hands out cash and rice to muster an army. Wang Ze is arrested and thrown into prison 130
20. 15. The lame priest rescues Wang Ze and disables his captors. Liu Yanwei leads an army to apprehend Wang Ze 136
21. 16. Wang Ze leads the people of Beizhou in rebellion. Yong’er marshals her troops and captures prefectures and cities 141
22. 17. Wen Yanbo leads troops to conquer Beizhou. Assistant Commander Cao’s blood pumps destroy the demons’ magical powers 145
23. 18 .The lame priest’s flying millstone strikes the Duke of Lu The Many-eyed Monster saves the Duke of Lu and offers a word of advice 151
24. 19. Wen Yanbo chances to meet Zhuge Suizhi. Fishsoup Li offers a plan to capture Wang Ze 157
25. 20. Beizhou City carves up the demons. Commander Wen quashes the demons and returns to the Eastern Capital 170
26. A Fantastic History. San Sui ping yao zhuan Reconsidered 175
27. Appendix A. Early Historical and Anecdotal Materials Pertaining to the Wang Ze Rebellion 235
28. Appendix B. A Note on the Possible Identity of Wang Shenxiu 249
29. Notes 257
30. Bibliography 293
31. About the Translator 301