西湖渔隐主人

西湖渔隐主人 (Xihu Yuyin Zhuren), meaning 'Master Fisherman-Hermit of West Lake,' is the pen name of an anonymous Chinese author active during the late Ming dynasty (c. early 17th century). He is best known for compiling and writing 歡喜冤家 (Happy Couples), a collection of 24 short stories blending romance, eroticism, and moral satire. The work, set largely in urban and commercial contexts, exemplifies the vernacular fiction tradition of the period, often exploring themes of desire, marriage, and social transgression. Despite its explicit content, the collection is valued for its vivid portrayal of Ming society and its narrative sophistication. The author's identity remains obscure, and no other works are reliably attributed to him. His legacy lies in contributing to the rich corpus of late-Ming erotic fiction, which influenced later Qing-dynasty storytelling and remains a subject of scholarly interest for its literary and cultural insights.