The Paratextual Functions of the Early Chinese Anecdote – with *Tang zai Chimen 湯在啻門 and *Tang chu yu Tangqiu 湯處於湯丘 as Examples

Abstract

This article proposes a set of function-based criteria for identifying paratextual elements in manuscript texts. With *Tang zai Chimen and *Tang chu yu Tangqiu as examples, I show how their narrative frames perform functions akin to titles, authors’ names, and prefaces. This approach offers a new explanation for the prevalence of the anecdote genre as well as a renewed understanding of the functions of the paratext.