I. Alimov

“A Travel to the Cave of Immortals” — a Lost Novel of the Tang Period

Abstract. The present articles deals with the Tang dynasty novel “Yu xian ku” (“A Travel to the Cave of Immortals”) that had long been thought lost an re-introduced into science only at the beginning of the 20th century. This novel is emblematic, being the first comprehensive composition in the chuanqi genre that shaped many of its characteristics which became standard over time.

Key words: China, history of Chinese culture, Tang dynasty story, chuanqi, “Yu xian ku”, Zhang Zhuo, China and Japan

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