Comparison Study Between Cihua Version And Xiuxiang Version Of Jinpingmei

There are generally two systems of the versions of Jinpingmei, the Cihua version and the Xiuxiang version. These two versions share the same main plots but differentiate much from each other. And the differences of texts have major influence on the artistic styles and the ideological trends of these two versions. This paper will compare these two versions from three aspects.First are the differences of forms, the most obvious one between these two versions, including the titles of the books and the chapters, and the poems and ci of the texts. The evolvement of the versions of Jinpingmei shows the maturation of novels with headed charpters. The Cihua versions embody the early novels with headed charpters: entitled with Cihua, having uneven titles of the chapters and stereotypes like"But as to what happened thereafter, that will be disclosed in the ensuing chapter"at the end of every chapter, etc. The Xiuxiang versions expurgate Cihua from the book title and the stereotypes form the chapters, and make the title of the chapters even, being more close to the late mature novels with headed charpters. Artistically, the Cihua versions are vulgar and meager, while the Xiuxiang versions are elegant and fine and showing a tendency of refine ness. Ideologically, they have different major ideas. The Cihua versions mainly criticize alcohol, sex, money and the temper to expostulate with the worldly on the worldly lives. And the Xiuxiang version emphasize the void ness of worldly lives from the contemplations on the living itself. The Cihua versions criticize the eroticism morally while the Xiuxiang versions appreciate it leisurely. The Cihua versions usually evaluate the characters morally while the Xiuxiang versions show a humanist conern.Second are the differences of plots, mainly on Chapter 1, 53, 54 and the...