A New Account of the Tales of the World
《世说新语》
A New Account of the Tales of the World, originally entitled An Account of the World, is a masterpiece of the biographical stories popular during the Wei，Jin and the Southern and Northern dynasties. Liu Yiqing，its writer(403-444)and a native of Pangcheng(now Xuzhou City of Jiangsu Province)，was the nephew of Liu Yu , Emperor Songwu of the Southern Dynasty and was later invested with his hereditary title as the Prince of Linchuan. The book is in three volumes which are further divided into 36 categories according to different subject matters such as virtue，diction，government affairs，literature and generosity. It mainly narrates the talks and anecdotes of the officials and intellectuals of the late Han and the Eastern Jin period. It eulogizes the noble demeanor of the Wei and Jin period and the elegance of the celebrities，praises the lofty moral character and conduct of the people at that time，exposes satirically and allegorically the atrocities，brutalities，greed and extravagance of the ruling class，and commends the feudal moral ethics and the familial system. Focusing on kings and princes，generals and ministers，scholars and beauties，the book outlines，skillfully and often in a matter of a few words，the individuality，personality and charm of its characters by taking adeptly typical examples and details from real life. Ignoring the lesser ones，it high-lights only the important aspects of its characters. Regardless of the completeness and roundness of its plots，it stresses the peculiarities of its characters. In terms of characterization，it makes an attempt to exhibit the distinctive personalities of its characters with a frequent use of contrast and foiling. The language of the book is concise and implicit，profound and mysterious，meaningful and thought-provoking A New Account of the Tales of the World initiates，in the history of Chinese fiction，the“biographical style" novel writing which has a lasting popularity and is followed by many imitators of later generations.
《世说新语》原名《世说》，是魏晋南北朝时期志人小说的代表作，作者刘义庆(403一444)，南朝宋武帝刘裕的侄子，袭封临川王，彭城(今江苏徐州)人今存《世说新语》分上、中、下三卷，按内容分为德行、言语、政事、文学、雅量等三十六门。主要记叙汉末到东晋时期士族阶层文人名士的言谈轶事，内容多为肯定魏晋风度与名士风流，表扬称誉时人的高尚品德和行为，讽喻暴露统治阶级的凶残暴虐和贪婪奢侈，宣扬封建道德，夸耀门阀制度等方面。《世说新语》多记帝王将相、社会名流，善于从生活中选取典型的情节和细节，三言两语勾勒点染出人物的个性、人格和神韵。重点突出，不及其余只追求突出人物的某一特点，不顾及故事情节的完整与圆满。刻画人物时，多用对比与衬托的方法把人物的不同个性鲜明地突出出来。语言简约含蓄，玄远冷峻，耐人寻味。《世说新语》开创了中国小说史上的“世说体”，后世效仿者纷出，经久不衰。
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