Phony Reformer

Luke S. K. Kwong is professor emeritus of history at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. His books include A Mosaic of the Hundred Days: Personalities, Politics, and Ideas of 1898 and T’an Ssu-t’ung, 1865–1898: Life and Thought of a Reformer.

An illuminating satire of bureaucratic ‘reformers’ on the make in the post-Boxer late-Qing reform era. Serialized in 1905, this short novel chronicles the unlikely career climb of Yuan Bozhen, who time and again manages to make bad decisions and still land on his feet. The novel reads like a tongue-in-cheek ‘how-to-succeed’ manual for low-level bureaucrats at the turn of the century. It concludes with a poem spelling out the moral of the story, like a big red bow on a box of candy. Luke Kwong’s fluid translation is accompanied by an informative introduction and extensive annotations. With realistic ground-level details of officials interacting with each other, with foreigners, and with the Chinese citizenry, the novel makes an ideal supplement to any course on the late Qing or modern China.

• Preface and AcknowledgmentsTranslator’s Introduction: A Long Vigil Before DaybreakNotes on the TranslationChapter 1An anti-missionary case funnels public funds into private pockets;Old-school folks break down prejudices to go after new measures.Chapter 2Promotions up official ranks and making riches are words of sound advice;Patronage and gift-giving are shortcuts to success for which people scramble.Chapter 3The job of machine procurement comes as a reward for the cash contribution;In the name of civilization is the effort made to join the Natural Feet Society.Chapter 4Mockery is what motivates the effort to study the English primer;The social circle broadens to lead to making friends with Wilkes.Chapter 5The hunt for the Wealth Voucher rebels leads to a good friend’s death; The investigation into local mining rights gives rise to covetous thought.Chapter 6Mining shares are peddled on Fuzhou Road to attract investors;A company is set up in Guangxin prefecture to produce camphor.Chapter 7New rules are drafted to forestall school education’s harmful effects;Preemptive action is the key to success in handling foreign relations.Chapter 8An old friend’s cooperation helps resolve a Sino-foreign dispute;A police surcharge is enforced in the name of policy innovation.Chapter 9An old flame cannot reignite as the nestled bird is scared away;The heartache lingers as the male fox sets out to look for a mate.Chapter 10A superior’s favor incurs add-on duties at the correctional center;In search of marital bliss, a letter is sent with a marriage proposal.Chapter 11The dress-up embrace of Great Universality dazzles every eye;Vengeance over a private feud goes public in the newspapers.Chapter 12Harsh words in heated argument cause affection and fortune to vanish;Endurance through hardship yields fruits of fame and riches in the end.Chapter 13Commendation for the intendant status fulfills a long-standing career desire;Supervision of school affairs calls for implementation of authoritarian rules.Chapter 14Deft skills in making money are applied to maximize mining profits;Army duties become a concurrent job when no other deputy is found.Chapter 15Grandees play favorites with those who beseech their patronage;Colleagues throw a banquet to celebrate his transfer and promotion.Chapter 16Once the mask is stripped away, the tracks of the past are fully revealed; In a lyrical poem, warm-hearted but trite, the point of the tale is unveiled.Bibliography