Contents Briefing

This book is a refreshing way of picturing very famous and appreciated literary and artistic figures of the Ming and Qing dynasties of China, Including Li yu, Yuan Mei, Jin Sheng Tan, Wu Mei Cun, Zhang Ban Qiao, Gong Zi Zhen, and Liu Ya Zi.

These are all incredibly talented people, whose lives might have followed the most diverse paths, but which still show common characteristics. There are writers who crow about their glorious connections, painters who put on airs of government conspirators, poets who outstretch their talents to excuse for their execrable temper….

The life and destiny of artists of any period is closely linked to the political and social events of that period. This books reads like an imaginary parade back in the times of Imperial examinations, recommendations which would make or break government officials, times where anything would be done to gain power, not forgetting love and lust, rivalry and hate, prostitution... Sounds like a novel, but it is all researched and absolutely true.

What differentiates these distant artists from the ones of today? Why was so much about their lives kept secret, far away from history annals? Ke Ping launches himself into interesting questions, taking the lives of thirteen artists as the core for a gaze into the literary and artistic realms of the time, unfolding the brilliance and the darkness of their existences.

Publisher Profile

On April 29, 2005, Chongqing Publishing Group was established on the basis of the former Chongqing Publishing House, a leading publisher for 55 years, which published about 800 new titles of books every year. As a large-scale cultural enterprise, the Group engages itself in books, newspapers and journals, electronic and audio-video products, and Internet publishing, with its business covering paper trade, printing, distribution, advertisement, tourism and real estate as well.

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