Ma Ruifang Unveils Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio

Author: Ma Ruifang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Ma Ruifang reveals, CCTV "One Hundred Lectures Forum," a 300-year-old "youthful age" dialogue, Liaozhai and Honglou, short and long, twin peaks standing side by side, leaving a lasting legacy for centuries. Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio completely subverted the old tradition of ancient Chinese novels depicting fox spirits as beautiful women, not only portraying their beauty but, more importantly, their independent female consciousness, loudly saying "no" to the male-dominated, female-submissive tradition that had lasted for thousands of years. The fox spirits in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio actively pursue love when they desire it, fiercely resent when they hate, unhesitatingly unite when they wish to, and decisively leave when they refuse to be subservient to men. "A woman's name is weakness" – this rule is completely broken by the fox spirits, poetically so. Pu Songling wrote of gods, ghosts, foxes, and demons, but behind them, he painted the turmoil of the human world. Thus, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio became a treasure trove of fiction that combines supernatural tales, mythology, and allegories. – Ma Ruifang
In early 2005, Professor Ma Ruifang from Shandong University began lecturing on Speaking of Liaozhai on CCTV-10's "One Hundred Lectures Forum." With her rich professional knowledge and lively narrative style, she quickly won the widespread attention of audiences from all walks of life. Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio is a household name. Some say it is a supernatural tale of ghosts and foxes; others claim that Pu Songling used ghosts and foxes to satirize the dark reality of society. But in this book, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio carries a deeper meaning: it not only embodies the dreams of a frustrated scholar who failed the imperial exams time and again but also showcases vivid and alternative female characters. With over 30 years of research, Professor Ma offers a fresh interpretation of this classic short story and its author. Through this book, readers can discover the new meaning of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio in the 21st century and sense the echoes of "feminism" and "environmentalism" in the novel. What is even more noteworthy is that Professor Ma's research reveals that Dream of the Red Chamber has many inheritances from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio – "Liaozhai and Honglou both created utopias. Liaozhai still dreams and believes in dreams, while Honglou has woken up and has no way out."