Mei Dingzuo

Mei Dingzuo (Chinese: 梅鼎祚; pinyin: Méi Dǐngzuò) (1549-1615) was a Chinese writer and playwright. He was described by a contemporary drama reviewer as being "an outstanding and talented descendant of a distinguished family..."[1]

Life

He was born in Xuancheng. Mei's family consisted of academics and owned a large library of their own.[1] Mei was friends with Tang Xianzu,[1] Wang Shizhen, and Wang Daokun.[2] His teacher was Jiang Qifang. Mei collected books. He would meet with his friends to share books they recently acquired.[1] He failed imperial examinations and became a full-time writer.[2] Mei's hired his own workers to create woodblocks for his books. He also published his books himself.[3]

Legacy

Works by Mei are held in the National Central Library.[2]

Works

  • Chang ming lü ji (Story of the Longevity Threads)[2]
  • Kunlun nu (Kunlun Slave)[2]
  • Yu he ji (Story of the Jade Box)[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jing Shen (4 August 2010). Playwrights and Literary Games in Seventeenth-Century China: Plays by Tang Xianzu, Mei Dingzuo, Wu Bing, Li Yu, and Kong Shangren. Lexington Books. pp. 95–96. ISBN 978-0-7391-3857-1.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "The Story of the Jade Box, with Li Zhuowu's Critical Comments". National Central Library. World Digital Library. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  3. ^ Kai-wing Chow (2004). Publishing, Culture, and Power in Early Modern China. Stanford University Press. pp. 63–64. ISBN 978-0-8047-3368-7.