dz_v09

Title: “Prostitute Tumbles from Building” 妓女墜樓
Year: 1884 Volume: 9 Page Number: 41

Caption Translation: During the early Tongzhi reign, Lishui Tai started the trend of grandiose teahouses in the northern district Hubei section of Shanghai. The three-floor teahouse faces the river, the spacious building allowing people to enjoy the sunshine in winter and to escape heat in summer. The alley to the west was occupied by brothels, where people could converse with customers at the teahouse’s balustrade. At that time, this teahouse enjoyed prosperous business that exceeded any other. Later, however, the provincial capital moved yet again, and the noble families along with it. The teahouse’s business started to decline. At this point its ownership has changed several times, and more than ten years ago its three stories were reduced to two. The downtown area moves northward day by day, and the first-class brothels follow it. Although some girls still stay here to entice visitors, refined guests only pay a visit once in a while.

Everything seems on the verge of disappearing; the brothels move out one by one, and while the condition [of the rest] deteriorates, men’s favor declines with it. The teahouse therefore can never regain its original splendor. Late last month, a prostitute of Changxian tang climbed up in the teahouse with her servant. Curious, they leaned against the balustrade to get a good view. The wooden baluster broke in two, and people and railing both went tumbling down. Shi Jilun does not exist in this world. Why would this prostitute imitate the tale of Lu Zhu?

Translator: Alec Wang

Caption Text: 滬北茶寮之華美，始於同治初年之麗水臺。台凡三層，面街臨河，極軒厰，冬可以負曝，夏可以乘涼，西望，隔一弄皆妓院，憑欄可通聲欬，其時茶寮生意之盛，無有出其右者。厥後省垣复避地者，复邦族，而是台之生意亦稍稍就衰，迄於今，屢易主，台之夷三為二者，又且十馀年矣。市面日北，開妓院之上等者，亦屢北遷，是處縱有姊妹花向人招展，而騷人雅客間一經行，若將渙已，望望然去之，氣象迥非昔比，人情與為轉移，而是台之舊觀，遂不可複。前月下旬，有長仙堂妓偕其傭，乘興一登，倚欄眺遠，欄木中斷，人與俱顛，世無石季倫，誰要爾效綠珠故事？

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