Master Tung's Western Chamber Romance

by Li-li Ch'en (Translator), Li-li Chʻen (Translator), Wang Shifu

This twelfth century masterpiece suffered virtual oblivion from the late fourteenth century until 1912, when it was rediscovered by the great sinologist Wang Kuo-wei who helped restore it to its preeminent position in Chinese literature. Comprising 184 prose passages and 5,263 lines of verse to be narrated and sung by a performing singer-storyteller, it is an elaboration of the T'ang dynasty love story, "The Story of Ying-ying, " by Yuan Chen (779-831).

Genres: Fiction, Romance

238 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 1994

Reviews

[Sierra The Book Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best translated book I’ve ever read, most miss interpret sections or things don’t get properly translated. This on the other hand was so good, it was dramatic, sad, suspenseful and written so beautifully. I highly recommend picking this one up and giving it a go.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read the introduction and think about the creation and performance of this 12th century chantefable, but the story was tired and the ending anticlimactic.