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
Results 1-5 of 44
... village's earth god3 prompts Pu to castigate her for the residual damage she causes to the reputation of the village (in “The Earth God's Wife” [tudifuren]). This may also explain why Pu prefaces the long xiv Strange Tales from Liaozhai.
... villages, prefectures, or counties, and identifying their distinctive personal characteristics, particularly in terms of scholarly advancement (or failure) and reputation. Coupled with the implied assertion that these figures are real ...
... village or town is supposedly assigned a patron god, a local deity to serve as its advocate, by the celestial powers. Chinese folklore is full of examples of worthy individuals who are charged with the task of becoming some specific ...
... village, there was a man named Xu, who often came to drink at his place. Once, when they were having a dinner party together, a Daoist priest came to his gate, begging for alms. Han's servant tossed him some money and corn, but he ...
... village to the south lives a man named Hu who's just about to conduct a Buddhist ceremony, and if you'll advise him of our problem, he'll be able to help us.” Li promised he would do so. Upon arriving at his home, his underworld ...