The Golden Lotus (Chinese-English)

the first river novel describing the domestic affairs in ancient China. Its protagonist Xi menqing is a Parvenu of Chinese town, who is good at gambling and fond of women. He uses all kinds of means to get women, to persecute populace and to bribe officials.

The Golden Lotus (5 Volumes)
-Library of Chinese Classics Chinese-English
Author: Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng [Hou Hui in Ming Dynasty]; English translator: Clement Egerton
Publisher: Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, China; 1st edition, 2008
Language: Chinese and English
Library binding: Hardcover, 5 volumes, 2587 pages; 9.8 x 7.2 x 6.5 inches
ISBN: 9787020058877

The Golden Lotus describes the history of an upstart's getting rich and his family life in the 16th century of China. Its protagonist Hsi-men Ching is originally an owner of a Chinese medicine shop, who colludes with the government by bribe, then engages in pettifoggery and secures others' property with the support of the government, gains a large fortune rapidly, and finally, paving his way by means of money, becomes an official. Meanwhile, he lives a personal and family life of wanton extravagance and indulges in sexual pleasures without limitation, keeping promiscuous relations with many women. As a result, his health is seriously damaged and he dies of a sudden illness. After his death, the fortune he accumulated soon goes into others' pockets, and those beautiful wives and concubines of his belong to some new men. The Golden Lotus is notable for the outstanding freshness and individuality of its characterization, and its vivid narrative. It is of special importance in World's literature. It has been translated into Japanese, French, German, Russian and English. Up till now, there are three versions in English. The present text is Clement Egerton's on the basis of Zhang Zhu-po's edition.

大中华文库汉英对照：金瓶梅（全五册）
作者：（明朝）兰陵笑笑生 英译者：（英国）克莱门特?#21380;杰顿
丛书：大中华文库
出 版社：人民文学
出版时间：2008年12月
版次：1
包装：精装全五册
开本：16开
页数：2587 页
ISBN：9787020058877

内容简介
《金瓶梅》语言生动，塑造的人物性格鲜明，在世界文学中有其特殊的意义。它现在已被已成了日文、法文、德文、俄文和英文。到目前为止，英文先后出现了三个译本。《金瓶梅》（汉英对照，全5册）的英文译本是Clement Egerton翻译的，它所依据的中文底本是张竹坡本。

《金瓶梅》写了中国16世纪一位暴发户的个人发迹史和家庭生活史。小说的主人公西门庆原本是一个开药材铺子的商人，他通过行贿来勾结官府，然后又倚靠官府包揽词讼，巧夺民财，迅速地积累财富，最后用金钱开道，登上了仕途。另一方面，他在家庭生活和个人生活上，又极度豪奢，纵欲无度，和众多的女子有淫乱关系。这使他的身体大大受到了伤害，最后暴病身亡。他原来聚敛的钱财，在他死后迅速地落入了他人之手。他那些漂亮的妻妾也分别有了新的归属。

Tags: libraray of Chinese classics, classics of Chinese novels, Ming dynasty