Xu Zhonglin (traditional Chinese: 許仲琳; simplified Chinese: 许仲琳; 1567 – c. 1619 or 1620) was a Chinese fantasy novelist who lived during the Ming dynasty.[1] He is best known as the author of the 16th-century semi-mythical novel Investiture of the Gods (封神演義; Fengshen Yanyi).[2] He was born in Yingtian Prefecture, present-day Nanjing.[3]

Xu Zhonglin
Traditional Chinese許仲琳
Simplified Chinese许仲琳
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXǔ Zhōnglín
Wade–GilesHsü Chung-lin

An original copy of Investiture of the Gods is held in the Japanese Library of the Grand Secretariat, printed by Shu Zaiyang. The second section of the book is inscribed with the words "edited by Xu Zhonglin, the Old Recluse of Mount Zhong."[2] This is likely the source of his possible pseudonym "Zhongshan Yisou" (鍾山逸叟), which literally means "a carefree old man living in Mount Zhong". Some[who?] say that Xu wrote the novel for a trousseau for his daughter.

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References

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  1. ^ Mozina, David J. (2021). Knotting the banner : ritual and relationship in Daoist practice. Honolulu. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-8248-8670-7. OCLC 1252423432.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b Yuming, Luo (2011-01-01). "Drama and Fiction of the Ming Dynasty". A Concise History of Chinese Literature. Brill. doi:10.1163/9789004203679_019. ISBN 978-90-04-20367-9.
  3. ^ 中國文學. Foreign Languages Press. 1983. p. 71.