At 600 pages in Gladys Yang’s translation, this novel is the shortest of the six novels canonized for Western audiences by H. T. Hsia (“shah”). For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this novel by Wu Jingzi that mocks single-minded takers of the Civil Service Exam.
ANSWER: The Scholars [or Rúlín Wàishǐ; accept Unofficial History of the Forest of Scholars]
[10m] Though written in a later dynasty, The Scholars is set during this Chinese dynasty. Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms were written during the rule of this dynasty.
ANSWER: Ming Dynasty [or Dà Míng]
[10e] In The Scholars, this novel’s opening is parodied when Wang Mien watches stars of the “Scholars” constellation fall to earth. This Ming Dynasty novel follows a group of 108 bandits called the Stars of Destiny.
ANSWER: Water Margin [or Outlaws of the Marsh or All Men Are Brothers or Shui Hu Zhuan]
<TH, World Literature>