ABSTRACT
In 1774 Yuan Mei celebrated his mother’s ninetieth (i.e. eighty-ninth) birthday, setting out one thousand candles and shooting off fireworks (literally, “fire trees,” huosbu 火樹) inside his garden. Everyone of importance was invited to the party, and as Yuan wrote: On the opposite bank, music and song helped out, While the men and women of the city went wild. At this time, a single cup of wine Was truly a flagon from the realm of Purple Mist! 1
