Chapter 10: Should One Engage in Romance and Poetry?
With a large population and bustling markets, if "Journey to the West" were to be printed, it would surely sell exceptionally well
Gao Wen almost laughed out loud, and couldn't help but recall the time when he was in high school, reading novels in class. There was no need to ask; the old man was definitely not reading any serious texts like the Analects or poetry.
Before he could clearly see, the owner of the bookstore seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, swiftly closing the book with an agility that was not typical for his age, and placed a copy of the "Analects" on top of it
The floor of the bookstore is made of blue stone slabs, mopped to a shine as bright as a mirror, with a large round table made of marble positioned in the center
There are no extra people in the bookstore, only an old man dressed in a blue robe sitting at the table reading a book
A scholar who aspires to hold an official position must participate in the imperial examination and must pass the assessments of these subjects, demonstrating the ability to write excellent essays. However, merely being able to compose fine contemporary writings is not sufficient
It is evident that the shop owner is a person of discernment. Opening this bookstore is not only for earning a little pocket money, but also serves the purpose of making friends through literature, which further demonstrates his considerable economic strength
In the present day, the era in which Gao Wen finds himself exhibits the same phenomenon. In his view, the romantic novels published in the market and the rural erotic literature are simply unbearable to read, yet each new release sells like hotcakes, making the paper in Luoyang scarce.
Before leaving, Gao Wen had already come to understand that although Han City is merely a fifth-tier city, it is quite large
What?
This describes the social environment during the reigns of Emperor Yingzong and Emperor Daizong, where the commodity economy began to develop significantly, marking the emergence of capitalism. With the advancement of productivity and the abundance of material life, the supply of spiritual nourishment has failed to keep pace with demand
Walking through Hancheng, Gao Wen was somewhat surprised, not expecting it to be so large. After walking through four or five streets and sweating from the exertion, he finally arrived at Dongxue Alley
Just browsing, let it be a collection of contemporary essays. Gao Wen did not rush to mention the matter of selling manuscripts, but instead focused his gaze on the bookshelf at m.hetushu.com, which occupied an entire wall.
He is looking down at a book, reading while stroking his short beard beneath his chin, his expression one of serene contentment, occasionally emitting a low, strange sound: "hiss," "huh," "uh," "ah."
Gao Wen chuckled and said, "I do not study the customs of the Song Dynasty, so why would I buy this book?" He then put it back and took out a copy of "The Family Instructions of Zhu Xi" to glance at it, only to find the pages filled with decayed feudal ethics and morals, which were utterly repugnant.
Seeing the suppressed laughter on Gao Wen's face, the bookstore owner felt a bit embarrassed as well. He stood up and slightly cupped his hands in greeting: "Young man, are you here to buy books? The collection of essays from last year's provincial examination in Shaanxi has just arrived. Let me take you to have a look... uh, the collection from the Xi'an prefectural examination has also arrived..."
The so-called contemporary literature refers to the eight-legged essay. No, it also includes official documents such as memorials, edicts, decrees, and commands, as well as examination poems. In summary, it encompasses the imperial examination papers.
Looking around, on a not very long street, there are at least four bookstores. After a brief hesitation, Gao Wenwei entered the largest one, named "Linlang Pavilion".
It is precisely for this reason that the commerce in Hancheng is quite prosperous, with a resident population of over 50,000 and a daily influx of several thousand transient individuals. Recently, due to the ongoing conflict in northern Shanxi, the number of merchants has decreased somewhat. However, as the hostilities between the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars gradually subside, it is expected that restoring the former vibrancy should not be a difficult task. After all, this place is an essential route for entering Shaanxi from Taiyuan.
The remuneration for such papers is generally not high, amounting to only a few taels of silver, or even less. Many times, Chinese candidates, in order to gain fame, do not accept any payment at all, and may even pay out of their own pockets.
"Young man, have you found a book you like?" The boss lowered his voice, wearing a mysterious expression: "How about some romantic literature?"
This is the core urban area of Hancheng. Crossing He-Tu-Shu Street, one arrives at the county government and the administrative center of Tongguan Road. On the other side, there are the Confucian Temple and the county school, which can be considered the political and cultural center of the county. The pedestrians on the street are mostly scholars and public officials
For instance, a novel titled "The Tale of Su'e" narrates the love story between Wu Sansi, the nephew of Empress Wu Zetian, and the maid Su'e. Throughout the text, there is hardly any substantial content, with the majority of the writing dedicated to describing forty-three different postures of the couple. Such a book, even in the tolerant and open-minded Ming Dynasty, would be subject to strict prohibitions. If a scholar were to sneak a glance at it and be discovered by the instructors or mentors of the county or provincial schools, he would certainly face corporal punishment.
It is precisely because a candidate's score directly depends on the preferences of the chief examiner that it is difficult not to attract the attention of the scholars. Otherwise, even if your academic performance is exceptional, if you do not consider the examiner's preferences, you will still face a dismal fate once you enter the examination room
Therefore, after the completion of the provincial examinations held every three years and the national examinations held every three years, the case files of the candidates will be purchased at a high price by the owners of various bookstores, who will then print and distribute them for the reference of scholars
Indeed. Boss Yu let out a sigh of relief, nimbly dragging a thin wooden box from behind a screen. Upon opening it, he found it filled with poorly bound, low-quality books.
Upon seeing this, I felt a slight disappointment in my heart
This gentleman is approximately in his fifties, which would be considered quite elderly during the Ming Dynasty. However, he possesses a ruddy complexion, dark hair, and a square face with prominent features, giving him a dignified appearance.
Titles such as "Jade Chamber Red," "Jade Concubine's Charming History," "Mandarin Duck Needle," "Pleasant Emotion Array," and "Wild History of Passionate Marriages" evoke vivid imagery of their contents. As for the authors' names, they lack creativity, with monikers like Donglu Luoluo Sheng, Yanyan Sheng, and Yiling Xiaoxiao Sheng. All these names share the common suffix 'Sheng,' indicating that the authors are likely impoverished scholars, struggling to make ends meet and resorting to writing erotic literature to survive.
This year, our Ming Dynasty has changed its emperor, and we must wait until next year when the era name is changed before the imperial examination can be held. All levels of the imperial examination will also have to wait until next year. Moreover, with each new emperor comes new officials; who knows whether the local magistrate will be replaced. At this time, it is meaningless to study the current trends. The owner of the bookstore is a typical scholar, eloquent and articulate. Although he sees that Gao Wen is dressed in rags, he is very tidy and exudes a subtle scholarly aura. Assuming he is a scholar from a humble background, he feels a sense of familiarity and becomes more talkative: "My surname is Yu, and my given name is Xingyan. Young man, you look unfamiliar; may I ask which school you are studying at?"
The books on the shelf are numerous, yet they consist solely of various Confucian classics such as the "Four Books," "Five Classics," "Tang Poetry," and "Song Lyrics." Just the "Complete Tang Poetry" alone comprises more than fifty volumes, occupying two entire shelves. As for the historical novels, there is not a single one.
In the past, when Gao Wen went out, he was either called "Gao the Fool" by everyone at the same time or referred to as "Master Cha" by the common people. This young man truly made him feel somewhat unaccustomed.
Thus, Gao Wen said nothing and continued to look casually. As he observed further, he thought to himself: It seems that this is a bookstore of considerable refinement, and the owner is also a person of taste. It stands to reason that they would not print novels... Am I in the wrong place...? No, wasn't the owner secretly reading idle books earlier...? I saw through it, and yet he appeared flustered... No, wasn't the owner secretly reading idle books earlier...? I saw through it, and yet he appeared flustered...
The old man was clearly a lover of books, with approximately three or four volumes of thread-bound ancient texts piled on the table before him, including the "Analects," "Great Learning," and "Classic of Filial Piety," all covered in blue cloth, beautifully bound.
The imperial examination is directly related to the future of scholars, making it a matter of great concern. Whenever a new literary work is published, it sells out quickly. It is also the most reliable source of income for bookstores, somewhat akin to physical stores in later times being impacted by online book sales, relying solely on educational materials for profit
I casually pulled a copy of "Records of the Luoyang Temples" from the bookshelf and flipped through two pages, feeling an inexplicable surge of emotion. This is truly a genuine ancient text from the Ming dynasty; if it were placed in later generations, it would undoubtedly be a treasured collection in a library
It appears to resemble a bookstore
This location is situated in the northeast corner of the Guanzhong Plain. It has been established as a city since the Xia Dynasty. The area experiences distinct seasons, has a mild climate, ample sunlight, and relatively high rainfall, making it an agricultural hub and a grain-producing region in Shaanxi. Additionally, it is located by the Yellow River, facilitating water transport, and serves as one of the two transportation hubs connecting Shaanxi and Shanxi, the other being Huayin County located behind Tongguan.
The streets are lined with shops primarily selling the Four Treasures of the Study, along with bookstores, wine houses, and tea houses, all of which are fundamentally part of the cultural industry. Among them, there is also a silk shop and a rouge shop. Particularly the rouge shop seems somewhat out of place in this rich cultural atmosphere. However, upon further reflection, it becomes clear. In this era, education is indeed a costly endeavor. Those who can attend school are at least from the middle class, and in ancient times, people married young. It is a delightful experience to come here to read and, at the same time, buy some rouge and powder for one's wife at home, hoping to elicit a smile from her.
However, if your article aligns with the examiner's preferences, even if it is riddled with flaws and full of gaps, it will still be accepted, elevating you to a position above others
This point is most evident in the two examinations, the provincial and the metropolitan, which is why there is the humorous tale in "The Scholars" about Fan Jin, who repeatedly failed his exams only to suddenly achieve success and subsequently suffer a mental breakdown.
When asked how much the book costs, Boss Yu replied that a set is six coins of silver, and then asked if I wanted to buy it
The most famous figure among them should be Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng, also known as Lord Wang Shizhen
Gao Wen: "So it is Boss Yu. I am Gao Wen, originally from Han City." While conversing with Boss Yu, he also glanced at the books on the shelf
Gao Wenxin, filled with curiosity, could not help but walk over to the old man and leaned down to take a look.
This is somewhat reminiscent of modern society in later generations, where even the most abysmal films can easily rake in hundreds of millions or even billions at the box office. The reasoning is simple: there is a shortage of consumable cultural products. In a buyer's market with no options, one can only passively accept.
Gao Wen naturally understood the value of the "Journey to the West" that he was copying, and he was not willing to randomly seek a partner. Considering the scale of this shop, it could be said to be the best in Han City, so it would be worthwhile to have a discussion with the owner
The style of this book is indeed very low, and the story is extremely simple. In fact, the author did not intend to put much thought into the story; lacking in drama, it resorts to sensationalism.
Indeed, one must read critically. As the saying goes, without knowing darkness, how can one know light? The key lies in how you read. It is said that the lewd see lewdness, while the wise see wisdom. Gao Wen smiled faintly; the gentleman Yu before him was quite handsome, yet at this moment appeared so sordid, reminding him of an encounter in a computer market, where a mysterious fifty-year-old man had similarly leaned towards him and asked, "Buddy, do you want a disc?"
"Please lower your voice; we are all educated individuals, and this is a disgrace to our civility, a disgrace to our civility." Mr. Yu, with an embarrassed expression, said: "Life is short; to put it plainly, it is merely about food and relationships. As the saying goes, 'The ospreys call on the islet in the river.' As long as one harbors a noble spirit, reading critically can also be considered a form of cultivation"
In contrast to the modern college entrance examination, which predominantly consists of multiple-choice questions with standard answers, the imperial examination of ancient times allowed for considerable flexibility. The outcome often depended significantly on the preferences of the chief examiner. Even if one wrote exceptionally well, if it did not align with the tastes of the esteemed master, one could still be eliminated. As the saying goes: "What is sweet to one may be poison to another"
This study is arranged quite elegantly, featuring an array of camphor wood furniture that is polished to a brilliant shine. A massive bookshelf occupies an entire wall, holding at least a thousand books. Opposite the bookshelf is a flower stand, adorned with blue-and-white porcelain and Shoushan stone ornaments