Tun-Huang Popular Narratives

The book features translations of four vernacular Chinese stories from the late T'ang and Five Dynasties periods, discovered in a cave at Tun-huang. These texts, written in an early colloquial language, provide rare insights into the popular entertainment of that era, encompassing both Buddhist and secular themes. Despite their philological challenges, they offer a unique glimpse into the cultural landscape of ancient China, showcasing vibrant narratives that have remained largely unstudied until now.