Kin Ping Meh (Jin Ping Mei) 1930 Edition – now usually written Jin Ping Mei) is a famous Chinese social and domestic novel from the late Ming dynasty (16th century). The work is known for its realistic, often unflinchingly detailed portrayal of everyday life, social hierarchies, and the moral failings of its characters. It is considered one of the earliest major naturalistic novels in world literature.

The novel follows the rise and moral collapse of the merchant Ximen Qing and the intertwined lives of his wives and concubines. Noted for its psychological depth, social observation, and unflinching realism, Kin Ping Meh stands as a milestone in early modern narrative fiction.

• Condition: Page lightly yellowed and the cloth binding is degraded along the spine. Pages still tightly bound and clean, a couple of pages have yellow staining. The previous owner’s signature on the first blank page.

Bibliographic Details

• Publisher: Insel‑Verlag, Leipzig

• Year: 1930

• Translator: Franz Kuhn

• Binding: Original cloth (Leinen), hard cover

• Illustrations: None

• Format: Dünndruckausgabe (thin paper) – Size: 19.5cm x 11cm

• Language: German

Notes for Collectors

This Leipzig printing is valued for its durable binding, crisp typography, and restrained presentation — ideal for readers and collectors seeking a complete, unembellished edition of this major literary work.