Journey Through World Classics -- Liaozhai

Author: Pu Songling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio is a treasure of classical Chinese fiction. This collection of short stories was copied and circulated during the author's lifetime, and its popularity spread even further after it was published. By the mid-19th century, it had been translated into over 20 languages, including English, French, German, and Japanese. In narrating the interactions between humans and various supernatural beings, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio often follows the pattern of "similar things attract each other" and "things with the same spirit seek each other." This is an ancient concept referring to the idea that similar things can draw close to each other, produce resonance, and achieve a level of communication at the biological and spiritual levels. Many stories in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio unfold and develop around this principle.
Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio is a "history of ghosts and foxes" written in the style of legendary tales. Since its publication, this extraordinary book has deeply captivated a wide readership. Many of its stories have become household names, well-known even to children. The author, Pu Songling, lived during the transitional period between the last two dynasties of feudal China: he was born in the 13th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1640) and passed away in the 54th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1715). The turbulent social conditions and shocking realities of his time pushed this brilliant and sensitive literary figure, who came from a scholarly family, to painstakingly gather materials and write this extraordinary masterpiece—Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
The events recorded in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio are all bizarre and strange, yet each story is utterly captivating, sometimes even chilling. By writing about ghosts, foxes, and seemingly impossible events, Pu Songling critiques, exposes, and satirizes the cruelty, savagery, and ugliness of human society, vividly presenting the "man-eating" nature of feudalism to his readers. At the same time, he praises and expresses his ideals and emotions for humanity, as well as the kindness, beauty, and sincerity that exist in the world.
When it comes to ghosts and monsters, young readers might be scared to stay alone in the dark after reading the stories. They might ask: Are ghosts really real in this world? Of course, no need for further explanation—you know that ghosts don't actually exist. However, when some people commit bad deeds and escape punishment, righteous people hope that they will eventually face justice. That's why there is this supernatural power—the ghosts and gods. At the same time, the good things Pu Songling desired, constrained by feudal etiquette, were difficult to see in reality at that time, or could not be openly celebrated. So, they had to happen in a supernatural world, in the interactions between humans and ghosts, or between humans and fox spirits.