{"product_id":"the-kitchen-god-and-his-wives-a-modern-chinese-folk-epic-hardback-9781501779121","title":"The Kitchen God and His Wives; A Modern Chinese Folk Epic (Hardback) 9781501779121","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Kitchen God and His Wives\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eA Modern Chinese Folk Epic\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eWilt L. Idema (Translated by)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781501779121\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 15 March 2025\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e222 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.907 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Kitchen God and His Wives\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e is a modern folk epic on the origin of the Stove God, widely venerated across China.\u003c\/b\u003e In this tale, the Stove God (or Kitchen God) begins as a mortal man who owes his wealth and success to his loyal wife, the long-suffering Guo Dingxiang. Guo's ungrateful husband divorces her, losing his fortune and eventually becoming a beggar. When he receives charity from his former wife, he is filled with remorse and kills himself by jumping into the stove. This act elevates both the man and his wife to godhood. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSet in China's countryside and ranging from heaven to hell, this tale provides a look at traditional marriage customs and the uses and abuses of fortune telling in southeastern Henan. This volume contains Wilt L. Idema's full and annotated translation of the\u003ci\u003e Guo Dingxiang\u003c\/i\u003e epic together with an extensive study of the textualization of this work in the years following the Cultural Revolution.\u003ci\u003e The Kitchen God and His Wives\u003c\/i\u003e offers a valuable look at Chinese folk culture and traditional storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cornell East Asia Series","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52610535325976,"sku":"9781501779121","price":86.76,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-kitchen-god-and-his-wives-a-modern-chinese-folk-epic-hardback-9781501779121","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}