[绘画聊斋][山东友谊][中卷][姊妹易嫁]

Foreword
Yan Wei qing
Wang Heng zhan
The great star of the Chinese literature Pu Songling was born in the 13th year of Chongzhen (1640)of Ming Dynasty and died in the 54th year of Kangxi (1715)of Qing Dynasty;he styled himself Liuxian;Dweller of Liuquan (the willow spring)was another name for him.Pu Songling was from Pujia Village,Zichuan District,Zibo,Shandong Province.He was born in a family of great learning and got a literary name in his teenage.But he failed in the examinations continuously there after and he had a lifetime of frustrations. Only at 71 he became a candidate for the imperial institution of higher learn- ing.Beside he used to be an assistant to a ranking official at his middle age, he stayed in his village as a teacher and he had not a sucessful career all his life.
With rich imagination,simple but elegant language,strange and tricky
plots and colorful figures,Story of the Ghost,the short story collection in cla-
sical Chinese criticized evils of the time,exposed officialdom,attacked the cor-
rupt practice of the imperial examination system,criticized the feudal marriage
system in the way of describing flower demons and fox devils,strange persons
in different trades by telling stories of fox and devils.This way of writing ful-
ly revealed his "Feeling of Solitary Indignation".The artistic realm of planting
root in reality and surpassing reality and different streams of aesthetic ideals
make up the unique artistic style of "Story of the Ghost".
Ever since "Story of the Ghost"came out,it has been printed and trans-
lated,demostrated on the stage and even made into a film and a documentation
in the TV program,adapted and reappeared so many times,which could be
said countless!Among them many stories and figures are well known to all
indeed.In order to propaganda grandly the excellent national culture,Shan-
dong Friendship Press perused the whole book carefully,made careful choice,
selected the most representative sections,invited the experts to adapt script and excellent painters to make illustrations,applied the form of Chinese with
English version for "Story of the Ghost".Just under the above conditions,
"Story of the Ghost"was adapted to picture-story book to serve both the
Chinese and overseas readers.The publication of this picture-story book will
be a grand occasion in the literary world.However,mistakes can not be avoid-
ed.Your valuable advise is appreciated.
October.1991