What the heck: An Annotated Selection of the Sayings of Confucius

Author: Yuan Mei (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Many ghost stories are filled with horror, bloodshed, and violence. However, the ghosts depicted by the Qing Dynasty master of ghost tales, Yuan Mei, are diverse and varied. There are ghosts who care about their reputation, those who act pretentiously, extortionists, tricksters who, pretenders, bullies, bureaucratic ghosts, rogue ghosts, vagrant ghosts, clumsy ghosts, greedy ghosts, debtors, foolish ghosts, fortune-telling ghosts, timid ghosts, lustful ghosts, alcoholic ghosts, gambling ghosts, and poor ghosts. They are both mortal and money-loving, afraid of loneliness, enjoy lively gatherings, can be satisfied with a single meal for a whole year, need a pass to travel to other places, and shatter into pieces if knocked down.
The Analects·The Master Speaks records: "The Master never spoke of the strange, the violent, the chaotic, or the supernatural." This implies that Confucius never discussed things related to the bizarre, violence, disorder, or ghosts and spirits. However, the great Qing Dynasty scholar Yuan Mei went against this, compiling all the tales he had heard—about ghosts, monsters, fox spirits, and even extraordinary people and events—into a book titled Zi Bu Yu (Unspoken Words). The title signifies that the book's content revolves around the strange, the violent, the chaotic, and the supernatural.
After the publication of Zi Bu Yu, Yuan Mei discovered that a Yuan Dynasty scholar had also titled his work Zi Bu Yu. Out of respect for his predecessor, he once renamed his book Xin Qi Xie (New Strange Tales). However, people still calling this work Zi Bu Yu. Unlike other ghost stories, Yuan Mei's Zi Bu Yu showcases a fresh style. The tales are simple, humorous, yet deeply philosophical, often immersing readers in thought and bringing a smile of understanding. It is suitable for family reading and appreciation.