Supernatural Strange Stories

Author: Xiao Zhi Guai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Ancient masterpieces passed down through generations, a timeless collection of supernatural tales. Top-tier selection of essence, horror and paranormal, classic treasures! When Mr. Lu Xun edited Ancient Novels Unearthed and Tang and Song Legends, he made full use of Taiping Guangji. In his essay "Breaking," he pointed out: "I believe Taiping Guangji has two advantages. First, it includes almost all novels from the Six Dynasties to the early Song Dynasty, so if you do a general study, you don’t need to buy many more books. Second, it clearly categorizes and gathers spirits, ghosts, monks, and Taoists, so much so that you’ll see them to the point of (boredom) and no longer have the courage to read Taiping Guangji for those who discuss fox spirits today." Mr. Qian Zhongshu commented on the author of Zi Bu Yu, Yuan Mei: "Under great fame, he has exhausted all the charming tales, so it’s natural for his peers to envy him, turning envy into hatred." Mr. Lu Xun once said: Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio is "using the method of legends but recording strange events." The immortal Lao Jun advises people not to fear ghosts but to blow at them with breath, using the intangible to oppose the intangible. Ghosts fear breath more than knives and clubs. Mr. Zhang Qishi said: "Don’t fear seeing ghosts, but if you must fight them, victory is good, but defeat means I’m no different from them." — Zi Bu Yu The magistrate felt pity and said: "Dogs repay kindness more than humans do. If humans don’t know gratitude, why are they better than dogs?" — Strange Tales of the Marvellous Ruan Deshi once saw a ghost in a toilet. The ghost was calm and composed, smiling gently and saying: "People say ghosts are repulsive, and indeed they are." The ghost blushed and withdrew. — Records of Ghostly Retributions How strange this is, unheard of in ancient times. This is called emotions going beyond propriety. — Notes from the Studio of a Vagrant This book collects selected supernatural stories from seven works, including Strange Tales of the Marvellous, Taiping Guangji, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Notes from the Studio of a Vagrant, and Zi Bu Yu. The selection focuses on myths and legends with traditional Chinese characteristics, such as reincarnation, karmic retribution, fairy maidens, dragons, fox spirits, cultivation, animal communication, city gods, judges, and human-ghost unions. It promotes the idea of punishing evil and rewarding good while warmly praising noble and pure love. Many stories have been widely circulated in later generations, such as Dong Yong, White Robed Maiden, Nie Xiaoqian, and Lao Mountain Taoist. This book includes the original works to delight readers. In terms of editing, in addition to the original texts, it also provides translations in vernacular Chinese, allowing readers to better grasp the authors’ original intent through comparative reading. In ancient Chinese strange tales, there are often (feudal) superstitious beliefs. As part of the study of ancient Chinese culture, these have been included in this book for readers to understand.