sketch, I fully realize the Herculean difficulties which beset me.
My first task is to find a suitable name for the work. Confucius said, "If the name is not proper, the words will not ring true," and due regard should be paid to his saying. Names for a work of this sort are legion: biography, autobiography, mythological record, history of the relations of the emperor's wives, special biography, family history, and short sketch; but it is regrettable that none of these is suited for my use. Biography? This record is not worthy of being placed side by side with those of men of eminence in authentic history. Autobiography? I am not Ah Q. If this is to be called "an outside record,1 where is his "inside record"? If the title "mythological record" is used, it is plain that Ah Q is not a supernatural being. Special biography? The truth is that the president has never given the Department of History a mandate for the making of a record of Ah Q's history. Although the history of England contains no biography of gamblers, the eminent writer Conan Doyle once wrote such a book entitled "Rodney Stone," but it is permissible only for a writer of his eminence to create such works and not permissible for a writer of my humble attainments to do so. The next consideration is the family history. I do not, in fact, know whether I had the same forefathers as Ah Q or not,
