Chuanqi (short story and novella)
Chuanqi has four main themes: love, gods and demons, xiayi (heroes and knights-errant) and history.
[1]: 230 They are some of the earliest Chinese literature written in the form of short and medium-length stories and have provided valuable inspiration plot-wise and in other ways for fiction and drama in later eras.
"[7] The chuanqi of the Tang period frequently use incidental poems, set their story in the national capital Chang'an, finish with an instructive moral, and are narrated by someone who claims to have seen the events himself.
These stories consisted of anecdotes, jokes, legends, and tales involving mystical, fantastical or legendary elements.
Therefore, like in historic records, chuanqi usually begins with basic information of the main character—their year of birth and death, origin, noteworthy ancestors and their titles—and end with comments on the event or the character.
Poetry, both in regulated verse and folk song style, is largely used to express emotions, describe a person or scenery, make comments or to mark a turn in the plot.
[9]: 75–77 Structure-wise, it is important for chuanqi to have a complete structure and the best works usually meet this standard while having a complex plot.
[9]: 120–121 Technique-wise, compared to fictions from the Six Dynasties, chuanqi is better at describing scenery, emotions, setting atmosphere and achieving these goals with poetry.
[9]: 121 In the Tang dynasty, the increasing social productivity and booming economy led to rising demand for entertainments and cultural activities.
Only three works are extant today:[4]: 20, 11 Gu jing ji supposedly by Wang Du, Supplement to Jiang Zong's Biography of a White Ape by an anonymous author and You xian ku by Zhang Zhuo.
The complex personality of the white ape is portrayed in a realistic and fascinating way, making the story a classic among early works of chuanqi.
[9]: 127 You xian ku recounts the love affair a man has with two female immortals; graphic description of intercourse can be found in the story.
Although the influence of the old gods and demons fiction still lingered, many stories had begun to reflect reality instead of telling mere fantasies.
Liushi is abducted by a foreign general in a rebellion before being rescued by the fierce warrior Xu Jun and finally reunited with Han Hong.
[11]: 364 In the Late Tang, it was once again the trend for chuanqi writers to tell mysterious stories unrelated to real life.
[9]: 72、163 The only fictional work from this period that can be counted as chuanqi is Zhi cheng Zhang zhu guan.
Typical works from this period include "Jin feng chai ji" from Jiandeng Xinhua by Qu You,[3]: 394 The Wolf of Zhongshan by Ma Zhongxi, and "The Taoist of Lao Mountain", "Xia nu" and "Hong Yu" from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling.
They originally vow to be life-long lovers, but Xiaoyu worries that their relationship will not last, so she asks Li Yi to put off their marriage for eight years.
For example, Record of an Ancient Mirror written in Early Tang dynasty tells the story of how Wang Du from the Sui dynasty receives an ancient mirror from Hou of Fenyin and slays demons with its help;[11]: 74–82 Liu Yi zhuan by Li Chaowei tells the story of how Liu Yi, when passing the north bank of Jing River after failing the examinations, meets a shepherdess, who turns out to be the daughter of the Dragon King, abused by her husband, and helps her send words to her father.
[16] In order to give lessons or express satire, zhiguai chuanqi are often about supernatural beings or another world.
The World Inside a Pillow is a story that advises people to give up the desire for fame and gain.
In the story, a student who has failed the examination many times meets a Taoist monk who gives him a porcelain pillow.
The student sleeps on the pillow and dreams that he successfully becomes a Jinshi in the exams and is made an official, but is later exiled because of slanders.
[13]: 32 [11]: 255 Du Zichun, The Engaging Inn and Xin Gongping shang xian written by Li Fuyan in Late Tang dynasty are also noteworthy works of chuanqi.
Among them, Xin Gongping shang xian is particular not because of its beautiful writing, but because it uses a ghost story to reveal the secrets behind an assassination of an emperor.
[13]: 30 Notable works of chuanqi on this theme include The Tale of Wushuang by Xue Diao, Kunlun Nu by Pei Xing, Xie Xiao'e zhuan by Li Gongzuo, Hongxian zhuan by Yuan Jiao and The Tale of the Curly-Bearded Guest by Du Guangting.
The curly-bearded guest seeks to dominate the kingdom, but realises that Li Shimin is destined to be emperor after meeting him.
[10]: 133 The characterisation of heroes in The Tale of the Curly-Bearded Guest has reached an unsurpassed peak in fictions written in classical Chinese.
