MCLC: huaben xiaoshuo (1-5)

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: James E. Dew <jameserwindew at yahoo.com>
Subject: huaben xiaoshuo (1)
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Early on (1920s?), "prompt-book" was used as a translation for 话本. Later,
perhaps "vernacular short story" was preferred. But there are probably
others on the list who know more about this than I.

Jim Dew

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From: Margaret Wan <margaret.wan at languages.utah.edu>
Subject: huaben xiaoshuo (2)

"Vernacular story" or vernacular short story is the most common
translation for huaben.  See Patrick Hanan, The Chinese Vernacular Story
(Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1981).

Since the 1950s, xin huaben (new huaben) can also refer to book-length
works loosely based on contemporary storytelling, but significantly
edited. 

Margaret Wan

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From: Laughlin, Charles <cal5m at eservices.virginia.edu>
Subject: huaben xiaoshuo (3)

"Vernacular/colloquial short stories" seems to have been uncontroversial
since the 50s, when John Bishop first published about them in English
(Prusek's 1955 writings on the topic were not translated into English
until the 70s).

There is an article about the term if you want to dig deep:

Wivell, Charles. "The Term Hua-pen," in David C. Buxbaum and Frederick W.
Mote, eds. _Transition and Permanence: Chinese History and Culture_ (Hong
Kong: Cathay Press, 1972).

Charles Laughlin
University of Virginia

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From: Timothy Wong <TIMOTHY.WONG at asu.edu>
Subject: huaben xiaoshuo (4)

The term 話本 has always been translated as "prompt book," even though the
idea that it was a kind of written script for oral storytellers has long
been disproven.  See, in English, the fine article by Charles Wivell, "The
Term 'Hua-pen" in Transition and Permanence: Chinese History and Culture,
eds David Buxbaum and Frederick W. Mote, published by Cathay Press, Hong
Kong, 1972, pp. 295-306.  I have always thought it would be better
rendered as "Oralistic Texts," to  indicate their pioneering setting down
of vernacular Chinese narratives in writing.

Tim Wong

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From: Lily Lee <l.lee at sydney.edu.au>
Subject: huaben xiaoshuo (5)

I have seen Ming narratives, huaben narratives,  huaben stories.

Lily