Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.
Wu Jianren (T: 吳趼人, S: 吴趼人, P: Wú Jiǎnrén, W: Wu Chien-jen; 1866–1910), also known as Wu Woyao (T: 吳沃堯, S: 吴沃尧, P: Wú Wòyáo, W: Wu Wo-yao) was a Chinese writer of the late Qing period. A native of Foshan, Guangdong province, he is known for several novels, namely The Strange State of the World Witnessed Over 20 Years and The Sea of Regret.
Wu Jianren wrote novels for an audience who did not receive a classical education, and he used everyday vernacular speech in his works.
Wu Jianren recorded stories from newspapers that he could use as a source in his work within a notebook. Bao Tianxiao, another novelist who wrote an account of Wu Jianren's notebook, used this technique to write Shanghai Chunqiu (上海春秋; Shanghai records).