Question
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>
Summary
| California | 2025-02-01 | Y | 3 | 26.67 | 100% | 100% | 67% |
| Great Lakes | 2025-02-01 | Y | 5 | 12.00 | 100% | 20% | 0% |
| Lower Mid-Atlantic | 2025-02-01 | Y | 6 | 8.33 | 67% | 17% | 0% |
| Midwest | 2025-02-01 | Y | 6 | 18.33 | 100% | 33% | 50% |
| North | 2025-02-01 | Y | 3 | 20.00 | 100% | 67% | 33% |
| Overflow | 2025-02-01 | Y | 5 | 14.00 | 100% | 20% | 20% |
| Pacific Northwest | 2025-02-01 | Y | 2 | 20.00 | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| South Central | 2025-02-01 | Y | 2 | 15.00 | 100% | 50% | 0% |
| Southeast | 2025-02-01 | Y | 4 | 17.50 | 100% | 25% | 50% |
| UK | 2025-02-01 | Y | 10 | 15.00 | 60% | 80% | 10% |
| Upper Mid-Atlantic | 2025-02-01 | Y | 8 | 13.75 | 100% | 13% | 25% |
| Upstate NY | 2025-02-01 | Y | 2 | 15.00 | 100% | 50% | 0% |