The flourishing of 長篇小說 (long-form fiction) in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) can be attributed to several key cultural, social, and technological factors:
1. Increased Literacy and the Rise of a Reading Public
• The Ming dynasty saw a significant expansion of the literate middle class, including merchants, scholars, and urban dwellers who were not part of the traditional aristocracy.
• The imperial examination system continued to promote literacy, and even those who did not pass the exams sought entertainment in written texts.
• This created a demand for vernacular literature (白話文學), making lengthy and engaging narratives more accessible to common readers.
2. Commercial Printing and the Expansion of the Book Market
• The invention and development of woodblock printing made books cheaper and more widely available.
• The emergence of private printing houses, especially in Jiangnan (Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing), allowed for mass production of novels.
• Serialized publications became common, further supporting long-form storytelling.
3. The Rise of Vernacular Fiction and Storytelling Traditions
• Prior to the Ming, much of Chinese literature was dominated by classical prose and poetry, but the Ming saw the rise of vernacular fiction (白話小說).
• Many Ming novels, such as Water Margin (水滸傳) and Journey to the West (西遊記), were based on oral storytelling traditions that had been refined by professional storytellers (說書人) in teahouses and marketplaces.
• These stories were episodic, making them ideal for long-form storytelling.
4. Patronage and Cultural Shifts
• The late Ming period, particularly under emperors like the Jiajing (1521–1567) and Wanli (1573–1620) Emperors, saw a more relaxed cultural atmosphere.
• Scholars and literati, such as Li Zhi (李贄), defended vernacular literature as a legitimate form of literary expression.
• This was also a period of growing interest in individualism and human emotions, themes explored in long-form fiction.
5. Social and Political Factors
• The Ming dynasty was relatively stable compared to earlier periods of turmoil, providing a conducive environment for artistic and literary development.
• However, its later years were marked by bureaucratic corruption and social unrest, which inspired satirical and critical works, such as Wu Cheng’en’s Journey to the West and Feng Menglong’s Three Words (三言) collections.
• Novels often reflected Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist ideas, but also subtly critiqued society, governance, and morality.
6. The Influence of Drama and Historical Romance
• Ming dynasty chuanqi (傳奇) drama, especially the works of Tang Xianzu (湯顯祖), influenced the narrative structures of novels.
• Historical romances, such as Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義) and Shi Nai’an’s Water Margin (水滸傳), blended history with legend, creating long and engaging stories that appealed to a broad audience.
Conclusion
The convergence of increased literacy, printing technology, vernacular storytelling traditions, and a growing urban readership made the Ming dynasty a golden age for the 長篇小說. Works like Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and The Plum in the Golden Vase (金瓶梅) set the stage for the Qing dynasty’s literary masterpieces, such as Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢).
