The Plum in the Golden Vase (Volume One of five)

"The Plum in the Golden Vase , or Jinpingmei , is set in China’s Shandong province, and is one of the four big classic novels of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). It was published anonymously in the early 17th century but set five centuries earlier, presumably as a safer way to comment on contemporary society. Written in richly textured language, it is a fascinating novel, unlike anything else I have ever read (though its influence on the later Chinese classic novel A Dream of Red Mansions is clear) . However, it is not for everyone — partly because of its length (the amazing English translation is published in five volumes), and partly because some passages are very sexually explicit. The story is about an upwardly mobile and corrupt merchant called Ximen Qing, his household and his various affairs. Everything goes his way for a while. However, his pursuit of sexual, financial and political gratification becomes increasingly depraved, and readers sense that retribution is inevitable as he fails to curb excess or take any moral responsibility. The author very effectively shows the moral degeneration of society by focusing on the household of a middle class man, including all kinds of minute details of daily life. If viewed metaphorically, Ximen Qing and his six wives could be seen to represent the emperor and six ministries of government. The novel emphasises that the corruption is not a matter of some greedy individuals and a few crooked officials: it is top to bottom rottenness on a lavish scale. The national consequences are vividly evoked in the final chapter, which describes the chaos of the Jin invasion and conquest of northern China in 1127. Part of Jinpingmei ‘s appeal is the novel’s perceptiveness about human beings. It is no mean feat that — centuries later — readers are invested in the characters, especially considering that most of them are flawed and even despicable people. They laugh at themselves, quarrel and make up, bear grudges or let slights pass with a joke. The characters are very human, and the extraordinary level of detail makes readers feel like we are really spending time with them. And the sad truth is that the central theme of the novel remains just as relevant today: many people will do anything for money."