A Review of Comparative Studies between Poetic and ChongzhenEditions of Chin Ping Mei

There are differences between the poetic and Chongzhen Editions of Chin Ping Mei. From the 1930s to the present, the comparative studies between the two editions have been mainly in the following four aspects. In terms of the relationship between the two editions, we can see the changes from certain consensus to great disputes. The contrast between the two texts have gone through the process from the simple description to systematic analysis, and from comprehensive expatiation to monographic studies. As for the comparison of thinking inclination between the two editions, there have existed the views of both covert and overt differences. And in respects of the comparison of the value between the two editions, there have existed the tendency highlighted from the poetic edition to the Chongzhen one. Such studies have led to notable achievements. Meanwhile, they have some problems like few monographic studies, inadequate depth, and inexplicit purpose of comparison or contrast.