Mouse vs Cat in Chinese Literature Read online

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  Not e s to e pi l ogu e

  20 Jacob (1901, 8) mentions in his survey of comic works a Kedi ile fare hikajesi, “which treats the war of the cats and the mice in verse.” The Turkish National Library holds editions from 1900, 1910, and 1917.

  21 Sadan (1999). These Arab versions may go back to the twelfth century. See Lebedev (1992) for a short discussion of fragments of a poem on the war of the cats and the mice among the Cairo Genizah fragments. A tenth-century text perhaps also already refers to this type of light entertainment.

  22 Littmann (1950).

  23 Brunner-Traut (1954, 351).

  24 Sadan (1999).

  25 Dong Xiaoping (2012); Nomura (1993); Zhong Jingwen (1993).

  26 For Korea, see Li Yan and Li Shanchan (2017, 441–43). Also see Zong In-sob (1970, 184–86). In Japan, the story of the selection of the groom is first recorded by Iwaya Sazanami as “Nezumi no yomeiri” in his Nihon mukashibanashi (Hakubunkan, 1896).

  The first choice of the mice parents in this case is not the sun but the moon.

  27 Williams (2012, 160–206). But the word “cat” is taboo at these weddings! In 1885, the Tokyo publisher T. Hagesawa issued an English version by David Thompson of this tale as The Mouse’s Wedding, with colored woodblock illustrations, which was repeatedly reprinted. See Thompson (1885).

  28 “There are wedding stories featuring cats, sparrows, gods, monsters, and foxes” (Williams 2012, 167).

  29 They also produced frightening images of shape-shifting cats ( bakeneko) and cat monsters ( nekomata).

  30 Kaneko (2012).

  31 McCormick (2009, 68–69) provides a color reproduction of the sixteenth-century picture scroll devoted to this story.

  32 Mei (2018). In tales that feature Yahyōei Nezumi, the wedding that takes place is one between rats, and the human bride makes a timely escape.

  33 Mills (1979).

  34 Skord (1991, 33–43). Despite its title, “The War between the Cats and the Mice” (Anonymous 1976) actually offers a modern retelling of Neko no sōshi that ends with a peace between the cats and the mice brokered by the old monk.

  35 Hunter (1992, 38–41).

  36 Friday (2002). “Neko no myōjutsu” is an essay in Issai’s The Vil age Zhuangzi (Inaka Shōji). The various skill levels achieved by the cats correspond to the various levels one may attain in swordsmanship.

  37 Yoshitora (n.d.).

  38 The motif of a mouse making his escape after putting a bag over the cat’s head is also encountered in the work of Kuniyoshi (Kaneko 2012, 105).

  39 Dr. Laura Nüffer not only drew my attention to Yoshitora’s work, but also provided me with brief summaries of the text in each picture.

  40 In India, a white mouse is the preferred mount of the elephant god, Ganesha.

  41 In the title of the print, the word Ni­Shin is written as nishin 似真 (verisimilar), but this is clearly a pun on Ni­Shin 日清 (Japan vs. the Qing).

  42 However, Utagawa Yoshifuji (1828–1887) in 1883 produced a print in which mice upon arrival in the underworld are judged by cats and, following judgment, are tortured by cats.

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  Bibliogr a ph y

  V e r sions of t h e U n de rwor l d L aw C a se

  of t h e Mouse ag a i nst t h e C at

  Dagushu Xiaolaoshu gaozhuang 大鼓书小老鼠告状. n.d., accessed September 23, 2018, http://v.youku.com/v_show/id-XODczN2Y2OTQw.html.

  Dongbei dagu: Haozi gaomao 东北大鼓耗子告猫. n.d., accessed February 18, 2018, http://

  xmvhw.com/showart.asp?id=719.

  Gao mao Haozi shenyuan 告貓耗子伸冤. Woodblock edition. Beijing: Ronghuantang, 1882.

  In Suwenxue congkan, vol. 98, 89–108.

  “Haozi gao limao” 耗子告狸猫. Performed by Han Dexiang 韩德祥. In Li Haisheng 李海生,

  ed., Dongbei minge gushi xia 东北民间故事下, 335–39. Harbin: Heilongjiang, 2016.

  “Haozi gao limao” 耗子告狸猫. (Weirao errenzhuan 围绕二人转). n.d., accessed April 8, 2016, http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_50ed51340100sef4.html.

  “Haozi gao mao” 耗子告猫. In Xiong Tongfu 熊同福, ed., Chuandong zhuqin 川东竹琴, 182–

  89. Beijing: Zhongguo Gongren, 2008.

  “Haozi gao mao” 耗子告猫. In Zou Zhongxin 邹忠薪, ed., Jinqianban chuantong shumao xuan 金钱板传统书帽选, 113–23. Chengdu: Sichuan Renmin, 1984.

  “Haozi gao mao (Dongbei dagu wenben)” 耗子告猫东北打鼓文本. n.d., accessed April 8,

  2016, http://xiangsheng jie.com/forum.php?mod=virewthread&tid=338.

  Haozi gao mao 耗子告貓 ( Xinkan Laoshu hanyuan Yanwang shen mao duan 新刊老鼠含冤

  閆王審貓段 / Xinkan Haozi gao limao quanduan lianhualao ci 新刊耗子告貍貓全段蓮

  花落詞). Beijing: Baowentang, [late 1800s].

  Laoshu baojuan 老鼠寶卷. In Fang Buhe 方不和, ed., Hexi baojuan zhenben jiaozhu yanjiu 河西宝卷真本校注研究, 301–13. Lanzhou: Lanzhou daxue, 1992. According to an editorial note, the text had been collected by Xu Zhude 徐祝德 in the area of Shandan County and copied out by Ren Yumei 任玉梅 and Yan Fujiang 阎富江. A similar text is included in He Denghuan 何登焕, comp., Yongchang baojuan 永昌 宝 卷, 2 vols. (Yongchang: Yongchang Xian Wenhuaju, n.d.), vol. 2, 783–89; Wang Xuebin 王学斌, comp., Hexi baojuan jicui 河西宝卷集椊, 2 vols. (Beijing: Zhongguo Renmin Daxue, 2010), vol 2: 900–912; Xu Yongcheng 徐永成, comp., Jin Zhangye minjian baojuan 金张掖民间宝卷, 3 vols. (Lanzhou: Gansu Wenhua, 2007), vol. 1, 238–44; Zhang Xu 张旭, comp., Shandan baojuan 山丹宝卷, 2 vols. (Lanzhou: Gansu Wenhua, 2007), vol. 2, 21–26.

  “Laoshu gao limao” 老鼠告狸猫. Collected by Hao Wanhui 郝万慧. Minjian wenxue 1 (1989): 3–7.

  “Laoshu gao limao” 老鼠告狸猫. In Kang Yunxiang 康云祥, Shuoshuo changchang meige wan: Kang Yunxiang quyi zuopin xuan shang 说说唱唱没个完康云祥曲艺作品选上, 23–33.

  Taiyuan: Beiyue, 2009.

  “Laoshu gao limao juan” 老鼠告貍貓卷. Attached to 1803 copy of Ciyun baojuan 慈雲寶卷.

  Modern edition in Shang Lixin 尚丽新 and Che Xilun 车锡伦, Beifang minjian baojuan yanjiu 北方民间宝卷研究, 542–43. Beijing: Shangwu, 2015.

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  Bi bl iogr a ph y

  “Laoshu gao mao” 老鼠告猫. Performed by Lei Da 雷大 and Wen Bin 文彬; recorded

  and edited by Yang Yinghai 杨应海. In Yang Yinghai, Tan Ying 谭瑛, and Tang Siwen 唐思文, eds., Shehui shenghuo minge xuan 社会生活民歌选, 170–77. Hong Kong: Tianma Tushu, 2004.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” 老鼠告状. Performed by Li Kejin 李克金; recorded by Chen Hongbin 陈宏斌. In Chen Hongbin, ed., Minjian changben di’erji 民间唱本第二集, 553–59. Zhuhai: Zhuhai, 2009.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” 老鼠告狀. In Linqu minjian wenxue jicheng (ziliao ben diyi juan) 临朐民

  间文学集成资料本第一卷, 383–88. Linqu: Linqu Xian Minjian Wenxue Jicheng Ban-

  gongshi, 1989. According to an editorial note, this song was performed by “Ma Yiqin 马一琴, female, illiterate, age 68, from Sanyuan Village in Chengguan Town” and had been recorded and edited by Ma Tongxiu 马佟秀.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang“ 老鼠告状. In Liu Xiaoming 刘晓明, ed., Longzhou geji chubian �
�舟歌

  集初编, 235–36. Guangzhou: Shijie Tushu, 2017.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” 老鼠告状. Performed by Wang Shirong 王世荣. In Zhang Geying

  张哥莺 and Du Mingliang 杜明亮, eds., Fangxian minge ji 房县民歌集, 201–6. Wuhan: Changjiang, 2007.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” 老鼠告狀. In Zhang Daoyi 张道一, Laoshu jianü: Shu minsu ji qi xiangguan yishu 老鼠嫁女鼠民俗及其相关艺术, 58–62. Jinan: Shandong Meishu, 2009. Quoting Minjian wenxue 民间文学 8 (1982). That version was provided by an old peasant in Yitang Township in Linyi County, Shandong Province.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” 老鼠告状. By Zhang Zhongchen 张忠臣. In Hu Zhongcai 胡中才 and

  Li Su’e 李素娥, Jingshan yin luogu 荆山阴锣鼓, 427–36. Wuhan: Hubei Renmin, 2010.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” 老鼠告状 (A). Performed by Yu Xiuwen 余秀文; collected by Wu Ge 武戈. In Zhao Tianlu 赵天禄 and Yu Xiuwu 余秀武, eds., Yunxi minge ji 郧西民歌集, vol. 3, 48–53. Jingyang juan 景阳卷. Internal publication, 2004.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” (B). Collected by Liu Juying 刘菊英 and Ge Hongfa 葛洪发; edited by Zhiyong 智勇. In Zhao Tianlu 赵天禄 and Yu Xiuwu 余秀武, eds., Yunxi minge ji 郧西

  民歌集, vol. 3, 54–57. Jingyang juan 景阳卷. Internal publication, 2004.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” 老鼠告状. (Wenzhou guci). By Ruan Shichi 阮世池, Hu Guangze

  胡广则, and Hu Ping 胡平. Quyi 1 (2007): 7.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang” 老鼠告狀. (Yangzhou qingqu). In Wei Ren 韦人 and Wei Minghua

  韦明铧, comps., Yangzhou qingqu 扬州清曲, 110–13. Shanghai: Shanghai Wenyi, 1985.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang (20 duan)” 老鼠告状 （20 段）. In Guo Daorong 郭道荣, ed., Yu dongnan minge xuan 渝东南民歌选, 8–9. Beijing: Keji Jishu Wenxian, 2004.

  “Laoshu gaozhuang ji” 老鼠告状记. Edited by Lei Jiabing 雷家炳. In Tai Kexiang 邰科祥, Shannan xiaoge wenhua kaocha 陕南孝歌文化考察, 254–60. Xi’an: Shifan Daxue, 2016.

  “Laoshu tong mao gaozhuang” 老鼠同猫告状. From Maoming City. Performed by Li Shi-

  chang 黎世昌; recorded by Yang Qiangwen 杨强文. In Zhongguo geyao jicheng: Guangdong juan 中国歌谣集成广东卷, 667–68. Beijing: Zhongguo ISBN Zhongxin, 2007.

  Maoshu yixing butong ci 貓鼠異性不同詞. Manuscript. n.d. Keio University Library, Tokyo.

  Quantu Laoshu gaozhuang 全圖老鼠告狀 ( Gailiang Laoshu gaozhuang quanben 改良老鼠告

  狀全本). Shanhgai: Xiecheng Shuju, n.d. Lithographic edition, in Fu Ssu-nien Library, Taipei.

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  Shujing zuofan 鼠精作反. In Maolü guai xifu, Shujing zuofan, Gaomao qianduan 毛驢拐媳婦

  鼠精作反告貓前段, 1–3. Beijing: n.d., [Republican period]. Sokodo Collection, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia Library, Tokyo University.

  “Xiaolaoshu gaozhuang” 小老鼠告状. In Lei Enzhou 雷恩洲 and Yan Tianmin 阎天民, eds.,

  Ma Bendian 马本殿, Liu Kezhen 柳克珍, and Chen Dongqing 陈同庆, co-eds., Nanyang quyi zuopin quanji 南阳曲艺作品全集, vol. 1, Dadiao quzi shang 大调曲子上, 133–34.

  Kaifeng: Henan Daxue, 2004.

  “Xiaolaoshu gaozhuang” 小老鼠告状. Edited on the basis of the performance by Li Baixiang 李百祥. In Li Yushou 李玉寿, ed., Minqin xiaoquxi 民勤小曲戏, 588–89. Lanzhou: Gansu, 2015.

  Xiaolaoshu gaozhuang 小老鼠告状. By Li Mengyin 李梦寅, as performed by Duan Zhidi 段志的. n.d., accessed February 18, 2018, http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4e1e7feb0100

  ilyp .html.

  Xiaolaoshu gaozhuang 小老鼠告状. In Wang Xiaokun 王晓坤and Du Yuanyuan 杜元媛, Yubei jingge huibian 豫北经歌汇编 47–52. Beijing: Renmin, 2017.

  “Xiaolaoshu gaozhuang (Lubei hangge)” 小老鼠告状鲁北夯歌. n.d., accessed June 11, 2014, http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_ae12b5a90101g52l.html.

  Xinben Laoshu gaozhuang 新本老鼠告狀. Nineteenth century, woodblock edition ( muyushu).

  Waseda University Library, Tokyo.

  Xinbian Maoshu gaozhuang 新編貓鼠相告. (Prose case file). Shiwentang 世文堂, nineteenth century. Reproduced in Wu Shouli 吳守禮, ed., Qing Daoguang Xianfeng Minnan gezaice xuanzhu 清道光咸豐閩南歌仔冊選注, 90–94; critical edition on 123–26. Taipei: Wu Zhaowan, 2006.

  Xinke Laoshu gao limao 新刻老鼠告貍貓. n.d. Woodblock edition, in Fu Ssu-nien Library, Taipei.

  Xinke Yanduan mao shu zhuan 新刻閻斷貓鼠傳. [Shanghai?], n.d. Lithographic edition, in Fu Ssu-nien Library, Taipei.

  Xinke Yanluo panduan mao shu zhuan 新刻閻羅判斷貓鼠傳. [Shanghai?], n.d. Lithographic edition, in Fu Ssu-nien Library, Taipei.

  Yanluo panduan mao shu quanzhuan (dai you diyu) 閻羅判斷貓鼠全傳代遊地獄. Beijing, Republican period. Sokodo Collection, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia Library, Tokyo University.

  Zhong Shengyang 钟声扬. “Wuying zhuan (Laoshu gao limao)” 无影传 老鼠告狸猫. Shanxi minjian wenxue 61.1 (1992): 26–30.

  Zuixin Laoshu gaozhuang 最新老鼠告狀. Shanghai: Chunyin Shuzhuang, n.d. Lithographic edition, in Fu Ssu-nien Library, Taipei.

  Zuixin Maoshu xianggao quange 最新貓鼠相告全哥. (Gezaice). Xiamen: Huiwentang, [early 1920s].

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  Anonymous. 1976. “The War between the Cats and the Mice, Folktales.” East ( Higashi) 12.1: 62–65.

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