{"product_id":"the-old-man-of-the-moon-shen-fu","title":"The Old Man of the Moon by Shen Fu | Classic Chinese Memoir \u0026 Love Story","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Old Man of the Moon by Shen Fu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Old Man of the Moon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e by Shen Fu is an intimate and deeply moving account of love, marriage, family, hardship, and loss in eighteenth-century China. Drawn from Shen Fu’s celebrated memoir \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSix Records of a Floating Life\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this selection presents the author's enduring relationship with his wife and the joys and difficulties they experience together. Through simple domestic moments, financial struggles, separation, and grief, Shen Fu creates a remarkably personal portrait of married life and devotion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout This Book\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe work centers on Shen Fu's relationship with his wife, Chen Yun, and presents their marriage through memories of everyday life. Their relationship is portrayed with unusual intimacy, from shared conversations and artistic interests to the pressures created by poverty, family tensions, and changing circumstances.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe title refers to the traditional Chinese figure known as the Old Man of the Moon, associated with arranging marriages. The idea of this mysterious matchmaker becomes an important symbol of the couple's belief in the lasting connection between husband and wife, even beyond their present lives.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than presenting a grand historical narrative, Shen Fu focuses on personal experiences and ordinary moments. This gives the book a reflective and emotionally direct quality while also offering readers a glimpse into marriage, family relationships, customs, and everyday life in Qing-era China.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKey Themes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLove and marriage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFamily and relationships\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoverty and hardship\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeparation and loss\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChinese culture and traditions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMemory and personal experience\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArt, poetry, and everyday life\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDevotion and companionship\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEighteenth-century Chinese society\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMortality and enduring love\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy Read The Old Man of the Moon?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis book offers a different perspective on classic Chinese literature by placing an intimate human relationship at the center of the narrative. Shen Fu's writing captures both the happiness found in ordinary companionship and the sadness that accompanies financial difficulties, family conflict, illness, and loss.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders interested in memoirs, classic literature, Chinese history, cultural traditions, and timeless love stories can find considerable value in this short work. Its personal style makes historical China feel immediate and relatable rather than distant or purely academic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book is also an accessible introduction to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSix Records of a Floating Life\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, one of the best-known autobiographical works associated with Shen Fu.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShen Fu (c. 1763–1825?)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was a Chinese writer of the Qing Dynasty, best known for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSix Records of a Floating Life\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. His memoir is remembered for its intimate portrayal of marriage, family life, travel, artistic interests, and personal experiences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMuch of what is known about Shen Fu comes through his own writing. His work provides readers with a personal window into aspects of educated life and domestic relationships in eighteenth-century China. Penguin also publishes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSix Records of a Floating Life\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in its Penguin Classics collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTranslation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Penguin edition is translated by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeonard Pratt and Chiang Su-hui\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, bringing Shen Fu's Chinese memoir to English-language readers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The Old Man of the Moon\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Shen Fu\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTranslators:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Leonard Pratt and Chiang Su-hui\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Work:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSix Records of a Floating Life\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGenre:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Classic Literature \/ Memoir \/ Chinese Literature\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e English\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormat:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e English Paperback\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Penguin Books\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeries:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Penguin Little Black Classics\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 26 February 2015\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 9780141397801\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Edition listings vary between approximately 57 and 64 pages\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Language:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Chinese\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinal Overview\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Old Man of the Moon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a short but emotionally rich classic that explores the beauty and fragility of married life. Through Shen Fu's memories of his relationship with his wife, readers encounter love, companionship, cultural traditions, financial hardship, family conflict, and loss. Its intimate style makes it an appealing choice for readers of classic memoirs, Chinese literature, historical writing, and enduring love stories.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BookBeen","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":53623105454389,"sku":null,"price":299.0,"currency_code":"PKR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":53623105487157,"sku":null,"price":899.0,"currency_code":"PKR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/1731\/5125\/files\/BookBeen_66_0535d8a6-ee92-492b-8c28-682ca6fb9bc1.png?v=1790010717","url":"https:\/\/bookbeen.com\/products\/the-old-man-of-the-moon-shen-fu","provider":"Bookbeen","version":"1.0","type":"link"}