Since in the Edo period Chinese culture was viewed in high regard, this made Yomihon popular among the higher classes to seem more sophisticated.
In addition, to escape censorship, Yomihon was written as historical fiction to avoid using real people, while still containing commentary about the state of Japan.
Akinari also relished in the complex nature of Yomihon, and hated the other popular genres of time, and is quoted as saying Lady Murasaki deserves to be doomed to hell for writing the Tale of Genji.
[7] Middle Yomihon developed further on the progress made before it, with authors like Itan Ohie’en publishing multiple collections based on Chinese tales.
In addition, another author called Shoshu wrote Shochu hachiyuden, which the title directly anticipated Bakin’s work of Nanso Satomi Hakkenden.
[8] As Kyoden’s student, those themes made its way into Bakin’s works and created what can be considered one the best Yomihon written, Nanso Satomi Hakkenden.
In it, the themes of karmic retribution, revenge plotlines, reinforcement of good and chastising of evil and adaptation of Chinese literature all find their place to create a cohesive and wildly successful Yomihon.