The date there are three extant critical editions of the Ming dynasty novel Chin-P'ing-Mei. On the basis of the brief comments to be found in the Chung-chen edition, Ch'ing dynasty scholars Chang Chu-po and Wen Long went on to offer extensive critical commentaries. Of these two editions, the Wen Long vision was discovered relatively recently and offers a number of points worthy of further consideration, including its critique of characters, discussion of novel-writing techniques, analysis of erotic passages in Chin-P'ing-Mei, and exposition of the cynical undertone of the novel. Since Wen Long wrote his comments directly next to those of Chang Chu-po as a type of response and rebuttal, this “dialogue” format serves to give his comments a highly critical tone, particularly in terms of critiques of some of the female characters in the novel. Likewise, in the course of this heated debate, Wen Long gives serious consideration to the acts of reading and criticism, particularly in terms of what the reader's attitude is and what rules should apply to reading. Taking his cue from reader's Chin-P'ing-Mei's theme of using excess as a warning, Wen Long takes the view that the reader is a highly rational, conscientious entity and that reading stimulates his or her moral awareness. On this view, the ultimate goal of reading is to provoke and promote moral awareness. Through his strong questioning of Chang Chu-po's comments, Wen Long shows the emphasis he gives to the reader's self-awareness and his belief that the reader and the author are equally important and together construct the novel's meaning. Wen-Long's comments not only continue the tradition of the critique of Chinese classical novel, but also echo modern literary critical theory, and as such make Wen Long deserving of his place in the history of the criticism of the novel.