Suzhou Bookshops And Ming&Qing Dynasty Novels

In ancient Chinese societies, the bookstore and the spread of novels are inseparable. To say the least, we couldn’t have witnessed the prosperity of novel and its quick spread without the gradual development of engraving industry. Suzhou, as a city of developed economy, convenient transportation, profound cultural background, enjoys a closer connection between bookstore and novels.This thesis aims to discuss the connections between Suzhou bookstore and novels in Ming and Qing Dynasty, to reveal the characteristics of the engraving novels in Suzhou. Therefore, based on former studies, this thesis will be discussed in four aspects. First, the general view of ancient bookstore and city development. It will start with the economy, culture and folk custom in Suzhou area and the development of ancient bookstore, mainly explain the external conditions of bookstore and novels. Second, the course of inscribe for the engraving novels in Ming and Qing Dynasty. Starting with the depressed period, golden period and waning period, the article makes a macro summary on the development of Suzhou engraving novels.The third part entitled Suzhou Bookstore and Novels in Ming and Qing Dynasty, including four sections, which are the creation of novels in Suzhou(created by bookstore owner and scholar), the content of engraving novels(historical romance, legendary heroes, mythological novels, detective novels, novel of manners, romantic novels, story-teller’s scripts and current events novels), the comments and characteristics of Suzhou engraving novels(novel content, fine prints, universal advertisements). This part is the focus of the article, aims at analyzing the connection between Suzhou Bookstore and novels in Ming and Qing Dynasty and finding out the unique characters of engraving novels, Keeping pace with fashion in inscribe content, targeting at realistic novels and handsome and beauty, introducing new critics such as Yuan Wuya and Yuan Yuling, first adopting moonlight type with elegance and affluence in print. The last part summarizes the reasons and influences why Suzhou engraving novels flourish.