The child does not speak.

Author: Yuan Mei (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-01-01
Features: To measure the emotions of ghosts and gods, to reveal the hidden depths of humanity, to read tales of fox spirits and enchantresses, and the dreamlike "Fortress Besieged." Strange forces and chaotic deities—things the Son of Heaven does not speak of. Yet "Dragon Blood" and "Ghost Cart" are mentioned in the Book of Changes; the "Black Bird" giving birth to the Shang dynasty and cattle and sheep feeding grain are spoken of in the Odes. Zuo Qiuming personally studied under the, and his Inner and Outer Chronicles are particularly detailed about these four subjects. Why is this? The Son of Heaven teaches people "literature, conduct, loyalty, and trustworthiness," but beyond this, he says, "If you do not know life, how can you know death?" and "Revere ghosts and gods but keep them at a distance," establishing the ultimate principles of human morality. The Book of Changes takes subtle and profound symbolism, poets record auspicious signs, Zuo Qiuming is vast in knowledge and extraordinary in writing, leaving behind works that explore the transformations of heaven and earth. Their principles all run parallel without contradiction.
In my life, I have few hobbies. I am unable to drink, sing, or play choupu to join in social pleasures. Outside of literature and history, I have no means of self-entertainment. Thus, I widely collected things that stir the mind and shock the ears, speaking and listening at random, recording them for preservation—not out of confusion, but like a connoisseur of flavors who, after savoring the eight delicacies, must also taste obscure sauces and pickled greens to avoid a sluggish stomach; or like a connoisseur of music who, after mastering the Xian and Shao melodies, must also explore the music of dwarfs and outcasts to avoid narrow ears. Using folly to drive away mediocrity and shock to awaken laziness—does not this resemble the game of chess? To engage in it is better than not, and this too is one of the joys of Bi Chen venturing into the wild.
In the past, Yan Hui the Gentleman and Li Yu the Marquis, though of great merit to the state, enjoyed discussing ghosts and monsters; Han Yu, who took up the Dao as his mission, liked to debate baseless tales; Xu Shen, who rejected Buddhism and Taoism, enjoyed collecting strange anecdotes, and his disciples even forged stories to flatter him. I cannot match the strengths of these four sages, but I have secretly adopted their weaknesses. When the book was completed, it was initially titled Zi Bu Yu (The Son of Heaven Does Not Speak of Strange Things). Later, I found that there were similar works in Yuan Dynasty fiction, so I changed the title to Xin Qi Xian (New Strange Tales).
Zi Bu Yu is one of the more famous notebooks of tales from the Qing Dynasty. Its author, Yuan Mei, also became a renowned literary figure of the mid-Qing period due to his multifaceted literary achievements. Although the content of this book is more diverse, from the author's subjective intent, it is still a form of leisure, like his poetry and prose, expressing personal feelings within a broader scope. The title Zi Bu Yu is derived from the Analects, Chapter 7: "The Son of Heaven does not speak of strange forces, chaos, or deities." Later, the author found that there were works with the same title in Yuan Dynasty fiction, so he changed it to Xin Qi Xian.
Zi Bu Yu has 24 volumes, with a continuation of 10 volumes, totaling 34 volumes. Most of the stories in Zi Bu Yu record supernatural and ghostly events, with a particular emphasis on ghost stories. These tales generally promote the idea of cause and effect, rewarding good and punishing evil. The content of Zi Bu Yu is rich, though aside from the feudal dross embedded in the stories, the seemingly absurd and magical tales also contain some positive and healthy elements. Overall, the content of Zi Bu Yu is highly diverse, containing both positive and negative aspects.
Originally, Zi Bu Yu had 1,023 stories. After selection, 491 were included. Although these selected stories account for less than half of the entire book, they preserve more than two-thirds of the original text.