Feituo Quanzhuan

What if a novel existed that mocked society, language, bureaucracy, greed, and human absurdity - all at once, through a whirlwind of satire, surreal humor, and linguistic invention?

Feituo Quanzhuan (《飛跎全傳》), attributed to Zou Bixian and likely written during the Qing dynasty (early 19th century), is one of the most unusual and inventive works of traditional Chinese fiction. Blending satire, parody, social commentary, and absurdist narrative, it follows the strange rise and adventures of Shi Xin - better known as “the Gimp” - a figure whose physical deformity mirrors the twisted moral landscape around him.

From corrupt officials and grotesque feasts to ghostly households, absurd journeys, and allegorical encounters, the novel unfolds as a continuous carnival of exaggeration and critique. Every name, object, and place carries layered meaning - often humorous, often biting, always deliberate.

✦ This Translation

This English translation by Valentin Sarić presents the text in full literary form, preserving:

The rich wordplay and satirical naming conventions

The rhythmic structure of embedded poems and verse

The tone of Qing vernacular storytelling

The absurdist and philosophical undercurrents of the narrative

Rather than simplifying or flattening the text, this edition embraces its complexity - rendering its humor, strangeness, and cultural depth accessible while remaining faithful to the original spirit.

✦ What You Will Find Inside

A rare example of Chinese comic-satirical fiction

A narrative filled with grotesque humor, parody, and exaggeration

A vivid portrayal of social hypocrisy, corruption, and ambition

A journey that blends fantasy, folklore, and absurd realism

One of the most linguistically playful texts of its kind

✦ A Work Ahead of Its Time

At once humorous and unsettling, The Complete Tale of the Gimp anticipates modern absurdist and satirical literature. It stands alongside the great traditions of world satire, offering a uniquely Chinese perspective on the follies of human society.

This edition is ideal for readers of:

Classical Chinese literature

Satirical and absurdist fiction

Comparative literature and world classics

Scholars, translators, and curious readers alike

Rediscover the great epics, mysteries and chronicles of dynastic China: gods and generals, swindlers and scholars, courtesans, ghosts and emperors, in complete English translations.