Author of the story collections 初刻拍案惊奇 and 二刻拍案惊奇, known together as the 二拍. With the 三言 of 冯梦龙, they are the classic Ming books of tales in the spoken language.
Líng Méngchū shì Míngcháo mònián de zuòjiā, xiě le hěnduō báihuà xiǎoshuō.
Ling Mengchu was a writer of the late Ming who wrote many stories in the vernacular.
Tips
culture
The title 拍案惊奇 means 'slapping the table in amazement'. Where the 三言 mostly edited older storytellers' tales, the 二拍 are largely his own reworkings of anecdotes from older books.
history
He came from a family of printers in 湖州 known for fine color printing. Late in life he became a local official, and he died in 1644 defending his post against rebels.
