Strange Tales from Liaozhai - Vol. 5The weird and whimsical short stories in Strange Tales from Liaozhai show their author, Pu Songling (1640-1715), to be both an explorer of the macabre, like Edgar Allan Poe, and a moralist, like Aesop. In this first complete translation of the collection's 494 stories into English, readers will encounter supernatural creatures, natural disasters, magical aspects of Buddhist and Daoist spirituality, and a wide range of Chinese folklore. Annotations are provided to clarify unfamiliar references or cultural allusions, and introductory essays have been included to explain facets of Pu Songling's work and to provide context for some of the unique qualities of his uncanny tales. This is the fifth of 6 volumes. |
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... These are like the inhabitants of “Anqi's Island” (anqi dao), who only allow contact with mortals through their disciple, young Zhang; indeed, when Grand Secretary Liu Hongxun is granted permission to Strange Tales from Liaozhai xxi.
... young Zhang to three old men who are suspiciously reminiscent of the Three Pure Ones, venerated in Daoism.3 The canny characters in Pu's stories know to associate a variety of specific behaviors and powers with Daoist immortals ...
... young man waiting outside his gate who entreated him tobeallowedtomanagetheofficial'scommunications. Zhao summoned him, noticing that he was both handsomeandrefined;heasked theyoungman his name, and was told it was Lu Yaguan. Lu said he ...
... young man, I studied how to perform some modest magic tricks, and I tried out one of them.” The servants again required Lu to pay the bill. “There's some wheat in my village,” said Lu, “that's just been winnowed, and you can grind two ...
... young man sitting on the north side, and realized that he must be the prince, so he prostrated himself on the floor of the hall. Everyone in the packed hall rose to their feet. The prince pulled Gu up, and then had him sit on the east ...