Annotation

Judged by Issue 4 – copies of which are the only ones known to exist – Miaodi xiaoshu’s contents consisted of long and short fiction, detective stories and short stories using the biji form ('the notebook' genre). Its ‘Sound of the Opera’ (jusheng) column features comments on performances, a photograph of an actress and stories about opera stars that could be read as fiction. Along with its other extensive coverage of opera stars, courtesans and ‘places of pleasure’, Miaodi xiaoshuo is a typical ‘amorous matters’ (huashi) magazine. (It also welcomed submissions on ‘the history of prostitution’ and ‘observations on the brothel industry’). One noteworthy article is ‘Secret History of an Opera Star: Ho Fifth-Aunt’, written by Luo Liming, who was known also to have written many anecdotes about brothels and prostitution under the pen name ‘An old companion from Shek Tong Tsui (Tangxijiulü). As well as being sold through bookstores, Miaodi xiaoshu was available through the Liang Guoying pharmacy. This private enterprise was a key supporter of art and literature activities for many years, including financing and publishing the educational pictorial Renjian (1920) and the literary magazine promoting new writing Hongdou (1933-36).