The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei: Vol. 1, The Gathering

715 Pages·1997·22.417 MB·English

by  David Tod Roy

THE PLUM IN THE GOLDEN VASE
PRINCETON LIBRARY OF ASIAN TRANSLATIONS
The Plum in the Golden Vase
or，C H IN P’ING M EI
VOLUME O N E ： THE GATHERING
Translated by David Tod Roy
Copyright © 1993 by Princeton University Press
Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street,
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press,
Chichester, West Sussex
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hsiao-hsiao-sheng.
[Chin P’ing Mei. English]
The plum in the golden vase, or, Chin P’ing Mei /
translated by David Tod Roy.
p. cm. 一 (Princeton library of Asian translations)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: v. 1. The gathering.
ISBN 0-691-06932-8
ISBN 0-691-01614-3 (pbk.)
I. Roy, David Tod, 1933- . II. Title. III. Series.
PL2698.H73C4713 1993
895.Γ346—dc20 92-45054 CIP
The publication of this volume was made possible in part through
a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities,
an independent federal agency, to which we would like
to express our deep appreciation
This book has been composed in Bitstream Electra
Princeton University Press books are printed
on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines for
permanence and durability of the Committee on
Production Guidelines for Book Longevity
of the Council on Library Resources
Printed in the United States of America ·
10 9 8 7 6 5
Excerpts reprinted from THE DIALOGIC IMAGINATION, by M. M. Bakhtin,
edited by Michael Holquist, translated by Caryl Emerson and Michael Holquist，
copyright ◎ 1981. By permission of the University of Texas Press.
To all those students，friends，and colleagues
WHO PARTICIPATED WITH ME IN THE EXCITEMENT
OF EXPLORING THE WORLD OF THE CHIN PING MEI
OVER THE PAST QUARTER CENTURY

CONTENTS
List of Illustrations xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction xvii
Cast of Characters xlix
Preface to the Chin P’ing Mei u-hua 3
Preface to the Chin P’ing Mei 6
Colophon 7
Four Lyrics to the Tune “Burning Incense” 8
Lyrics on the Four Vices to the Tune “Partridge Sky” 10
CHAPTER 1
Wu Sung Fights a Tiger on Ching-yang Ridge;
P，an Chin-lien Disdains Her Mate and Plays the Coquette 12
CHAPTER 2
Beneath the Blind Hsi-men Ch’ing Meets Chin-lien；
Inspired by Greed Dame Wang Speaks of Romance 43
CHAPTER 3
Dame Wang Proposes a Ten-part Plan for “Garnering the Glow”
Hsi-men Ch’ing Flirts with Chin-lien in the Teahouse 62
CHAPTER 4
The Hussy Commits Adultery behind Wu the Elder’s Back；
Yün-ko in His Anger Raises a Rumpus in the Teashop 82
CHAPTER 5
Yün-ko Lends a Hand by Cursing Dame Wang;
The Hussy Administers Poison to Wu the Elder 96
CHAPTER 6
Hsi-men Ch’ing Suborns Ho the Ninth；
Dame Wang Fetches Wine and Encounters a Downpour 111
CHAPTER 7
Auntie Hsüeh Proposes a Match with Meng Yü-lou;
Aunt Yang Angrily Curses Chang the Fourth 125
vili CONTENTS
CHAPTER 8
All Night Long P，an Chin-lien Yearns for Hsi-men Ch’ing;
During the Tablet-burning Monks Overhear Sounds of Venery 147
CHAPTER 9
Hsi-men Ch'ing Conspires to Marry P，an Chin-lien；
Captain Wu Mistakenly Assaults Li Wai-ch'uan 170
CHAPTER 10
Wu the Second Is Condemned to Exile in Meng-chou；
Hsi-men and His Harem Revel in the Hibiscus Pavilion 188
CHAPTER 11
P，an Chin-lien Instigates the Beating of Sun Hsüeh-o;
Hsi-men Ch，ni g Decides to Deflower Li Kuei-chieh 205
CHAPTER 12
P，an Chin-lien Suffers Ignominy for Adultery with a Servant;
Stargazer Liu Purveys Black Magic in Pursuit of Gain 224
CHAPTER 13
Li P，ing-erh Makes a Secret Tryst over the Garden Wall；
The Maid Ying-ch'un Peeks through a Crack and Gets an Eyeful 253
CHAPTER 14
Hua Tzu-hsü Succumbs to Chagrin and Loses His Life;
Li P'ing-erh Invites Seduction and Attends a Party 274
CHAPTER 15
Beauties Enjoy the Sights in the Lantern-viewing Belvedere；
Hangers-on Abet Debauchery in the Verdant Spring Bordello 298
CHAPTER 16
Hsi-men Ch’ing Is Inspired by Greed to Contemplate Matrimony;
Ying Po-chüeh Steals a March in Anticipation of the Ceremony 316
CHAPTER 17
Censor Yü-wen Impeaches Commander Yang；
Li P'ing-erh Takes Chiang Chu-shan as Mate 337
CHAPTER 18
Lai-pao Takes Care of Things in the Eastern Capital;
Ch，en Ching-chi Supervises the Work in the Flower Garden 356
CHAPTER 19
Snake-in-the-grass Shakes Down Chiang Chu-shan；
Li P，ni g-erh，s Feelings Touch Hsi-men Ch’ing 376
CONTENTS ix
CHAPTER 20
Meng Yii-lou High-mindedly Intercedes with Wu Yüeh-niang;
Hsi-men Ch’ing Wreaks Havoc in the Verdant Spring Bordello 401
APPENDIX I
Translator’s Commentary on the Prologue 429
APPENDIX II
Translations of Supplementary Material 437
Notes 449
Bibliography 543
Index 573