Material Culture and Decadent Style in Jin Pin Mei

Late Ming (1573-1644) has a reputation of having been the most flourishing era in Chinese history, its way of life already possessing characteristics of modern day consumer society. The novel 《金瓶梅》 ( Jin Ping Mei - The Plum in the Golden Vase) originating at this period of time, using the city as its backdrop and displaying the human longing for material wealth and pleasure by shining a light upon a situation of its contemporary people''s fetishism and self-satisfaction.
the purpose of this paper is first of all to analyze the use of food and drink and garments and adornments of the characters in the novel 《金瓶梅》, and to illustrate how under the operation of a society whose class division began to be increasingly dominated by use of money, the contemporaries'' requirements not only broke out of the mere level of aspiring for food and shelter in life, but that the times further went on to give rise to a consumer society where tendencies of conspicuous consumption emerged.
On the other hand, from the attitude of the writing of the author it can be learnt that the scholarly culture, in its reaction to phenomenon of the resistance between wealth capital and cultural capital, chose to emphasize the implications of the enjoyment products instead of the vulgar and unbridled squandering.
Moreover, the ideological emancipation resulting from the increased wealth and cultural diversification influenced the author to get rid of the kind-hearted, hero-worshipping writing style of the traditional "classic-novel" and its sincere view of "people''s" sins and desires, thus bringing about an emphasis on trivial fragments differing from the big narrative and a sense-provoking and decadent style.
Lastly, the characters of the novel are in the service of power and wealth. The world confused by alcohol, sensuality and wealth is thoroughly viewed through the authors eyes as he ponders whether the people entrusted to be the subjects and objects of the pleasure-seeking really are able to transcend form indulging in their carnal pleasures or not, this issue is probably no big deal with principle, it’s all about conscious.