In Chinese literature, xiaopin (小品, Wade-Giles: ''hsiao-p'in'') is a form of short essay, usually non-fictional, and usually being exclusively composed in prose.Mair 2001. "Introduction: The Origins and Impact of Literati Culture", paragraph 21. The form is comparable to that of ''

Tsurezuregusa is a collection of essays written by the Japanese monk Kenkō (兼好) between 1330 and 1332. The work is widely considered a gem of medieval Japanese literature and one of the three representative works of the zuihitsu genre, along with ''The P ...

'' by the Japanese monk

Yoshida Kenkō was a Japanese author and Buddhist monk. His most famous work is ''Tsurezuregusa'' (''Essays in Idleness''), one of the most studied works of medieval Japanese literature. Kenko wrote during the Muromachi and Kamakura periods. Life and work Ken ...

. The genre flourished in the late

Ming The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

and early

Qing dynasties The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speaki ...

.Mair 2001. "Introduction: The Origins and Impact of Literati Culture", paragraph 19.

Notable practitioners

The following authors are considered among the most notable historical practitioners of the genre:Mair 2001. "Introduction: The Origins and Impact of Literati Culture", paragraph 22. *

Gui Youguang Gui Youguang (; 1507–1571) was a Chinese writer of Ming Dynasty. His courtesy name was Xifu () and his art name was Zhenchuan (),'' Britannica Kokusai Dai-Hyakkajiten'' article "Gui You-guang" (帰有光, ''Ki Yūkō'' in Japanese). Shogakukan. ...

(1506-1571) *

Lu Shusheng Lu, Lü, or LU may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Lu (music), Tibetan folk music * Lu (duo), a Mexican band ** ''Lu'' (album) * Character from Mike, Lu & Og * Lupe Fiasco or Lu (born 1982), American musician * Lebor na hUidre, a manuscrip ...

(1509-1605) *

Xu Wei Xu Wei (, 1521–1593), other department Qingteng Shanren (), was a Chinese painter, playwright, poet, and tea master during the Ming dynasty. A noted painter, poet, writer and dramatist famed for his artistic expressiveness.Cihai: Page 802. ...

(1521-1593) *

Li Zhi Li Zhi may refer to: *Emperor Gaozong of Tang (628–683), named Li Zhi, Emperor of China *Li Ye (mathematician) (1192–1279), Chinese mathematician and scholar, birth name Li Zhi *Li Zhi (philosopher) (1527–1602), Chinese philosopher from the M ...

(1527-1602) *

Tu Long Tu Long (; Wade-Giles: T'u Lung, 1542–1605), was a playwright and essayist who lived during the Ming Dynasty. He was born in Yin county (now Yin county, in suburb of Ningbo city, Zhejiang). In 1577, Tu Long obtained the degree of jinshi. He ...

(1542-1605) * Chen Jiru (1558-1639) * Yuan Zongdao (1569-1600) *

Yuan Hongdao Yuan Hongdao (, 1568–1610) was a Chinese poet of the Ming Dynasty, and one of the Three Yuan Brothers, along with his brothers Yuan Zongdao and Yuan Zhongdao. Hongdao's life spanned nearly the whole of the Wanli period (1573-1620) in Chinese h ...

(1568-1610) *

Yuan Zhongdao Yuan Zhongdao (袁中道, Wade-Giles ''Yüan Chung-tao''; 1570–1624) was a Chinese poet, essayist, travel diarist and official was born in Kung-an in Hu-kuang. History He shares his fame with two other brothers, Yuan Zongdao (1560–1 ...

(1570-1624) * Zhong Xing (1574-1624) * Li Liufang (1575-1629) * Wang Siren (1575-1646) * Tan Yuan-chun (1585-1637) * Zhang Dai (1597-1684?)

Subjects

Victor Mair Victor Henry Mair (; born March 25, 1943) is an American sinologist. He is a professor of Chinese at the University of Pennsylvania. Among other accomplishments, Mair has edited the standard ''Columbia History of Chinese Literature'' and the ''Co ...

wrote in 1999 that

he authors of ''hsiao-p'in''wrote about such topics as wars, temples, belvederes, gazebos, huts, scholars, maids, courtesans, actors, storytellers, ventriloquists, dogs, calligraphy, stationery, bamboo, canes, trips to the countryside, attendants, fools, paintings, portraits, poetry, retirement, old age, death, dreams, the mind of a child, peach blossoms, flowers, excursions, brooks, lakes, ponds, mountains, drinking, and all manner of books.

References

Bibliography

* Mair, Victor H. (ed.) (2001). ''

The Columbia History of Chinese Literature ''The Columbia History of Chinese Literature'' is a reference book edited by Victor H. Mair and published by the Columbia University Press in 2002. The topics include all genres and periods of poetry, prose, fiction, and drama but also areas not t ...

''. New York: Columbia University Press. {{ISBN, 0-231-10984-9. (

Amazon Kindle Amazon Kindle is a series of e-readers designed and marketed by Amazon. Amazon Kindle devices enable users to browse, buy, download, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines and other digital media via wireless networking to the Kindle Store. ...

edition.) Chinese literature by medium Ming dynasty literature