Strange Tales from Liaozhai - Vol. 2The 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 second of 6 volumes. |
From inside the book
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... stopped there in exchange for the tea he offered. In four of the eighty-three stories in this volume, Pu Songling actually claims to be quoting the words of specific persons: of a monk named Ti Kong (“The Foreign Monks” [fan seng]), and ...
... stopped to wait for them; then they all chatted as they walked until they reached the temple gate. As they entered it, the courtyard appeared completely renovated, with tall, elegant pavilions now attached. Amazed, Han said, “It's been ...
... stopped in Zhuo county, Hebei province. Outside a gate, a doctor who was ringing a bell to draw attention declared that he could help vanquish the fox. The academician then invited him to enter the gate. The medicine the doctor gave him ...
... stopped his carriage to investigate what had happened and discovered that they had all been away from home when they died and wanted to return to their native soil, but because they were afraid of being prevented from crossing the ...
... stopping. The servant there, however, pulled him inside by clinging to his clothing. Seeing He so thin, Huang was astonished and conveyed his sympathies. He honestly confessed the reasons for his condition to the young man, his falling ...