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