The Age of Irreverence: A New History of Laughter in China

353 Pages·2015·8.96 MB·English

by  Christopher Rea

Th e Age of Irreverence
A New History of Laughter in China
(cid:13656)(cid:19129)(cid:9114)
Christopher Rea
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
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Th e Age of Irreverence
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Th e Age of Irreverence
A New History of Laughter in China
(cid:13656)(cid:19129)(cid:9114)
Christopher Rea
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
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Th e Publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous support of
the Philip E. Lilienthal Asian Studies Endowment Fund of the
University of California Press Foundation, which was established
by a major gift from Sally Lilienthal.
University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university
presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing
scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natu ral sciences. Its
activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic
contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information,
visit www . ucpress . edu.
University of California Press
Oakland, California
© 2015 by Th e Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Rea, Christopher G., author.
Th e age of irreverence : a new history of laughter in China /
Christopher Rea.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-520-28384-8 (hardcover : alk. paper)— ISBN 0-520-28384-8
(hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Chinese wit and humor— History and
criticism. 2. Pop u lar culture— China— History—19th century. I. Title.
PL2403.R43 2015
895.17'4809— dc23 2015010050
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In keeping with a commitment to support environmentally responsible and
sustainable printing practices, UC Press has printed this book on Natures
Natu ral, a fi ber that contains 30% post- consumer waste and meets the
minimum requirements of ansi/niso z39.48-1992 (r 1997) (Permanence
of Paper).
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For Julie, Peregrin, and Permenia
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Th e world today seems absolutely crackers
With nuclear bombs to blow us all sky high.
Th ere’s fools and idiots sitting on the trigger.
It’s depressing and it’s senseless and that’s why . . .
— ERIC IDLE, “I Like Chinese” (1980)
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Contents
Executive Preface ix
Ac know ledg ments xiii
1. Breaking into Laughter (cid:10457)(cid:19129) 1
2. Jokes (cid:19129)(cid:23065)(cid:17958)(cid:8610) 16
3. Play (cid:15840)(cid:12762)(cid:10447)(cid:22888) 40
4. Mockery (cid:27017)(cid:7778)(cid:17964)(cid:21893)(cid:22523) 78
5. Farce (cid:15993)(cid:18917)(cid:27370) 106
6. Th e Invention of Humor (cid:11813)(cid:28288)(cid:11804) 132
Epilogue (cid:19129)(cid:15139) 159
Appendix 1: Selected Chinese Humor Collections, 1900–1937 167
Appendix 2: Which Classic? Editions and Paratexts 193
Abbreviations 199
Notes 201
Glossary 267
Bibliography 291
Index 319
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