Explore eerie encounters and unexplained mysteries involving ghosts, spirits, and the supernatural world in these captivating tales.
During the chaos of the Xie Qian Rebellion, official residences were occupied by rebel soldiers as their strongholds. Among them, the residence of the Scholar-Envoy Wang Qixiang was particularly crowded with bandits. When the government troops breached the city and launched a sweeping search and kill operation against the rebels, the courtyard’s steps were soon filled with corpses, and blood flowed all the way to the outer gate. After Wang Qixiang entered the city, he removed the bodies, cleaned up the bloodstains, and settled in. However, even in broad daylight, ghosts would often be encountered within the residence. At night, phosphorescent lights would flicker under the beds, and the wailing of ghosts could be heard from the corners of the walls.
One day, the scholar Wang Haodi was staying at the Wang family’s residence when he heard a faint voice from under the bed repeatedly calling out, “Haodi! Haodi!” After a while, the voice grew louder, saying, “I suffered so much in death!” It then burst into tears, causing cries to echo throughout the courtyard. Wang Qixiang heard this and rushed in, brandishing a precious sword, and said arrogantly, “Don’t you recognize me, Wang Qixiang, from the Wang College?” All around, there was a chorus of “hissing” sounds as they collectively mocked him. Wang Qixiang then established a water-land Daoist temple and invited monks and Taoist priests to recite scriptures, offer repentance, and perform rites to help the departed souls. During the night when ghost rice was scattered, phosphorescent lights suddenly appeared everywhere. Initially, there was a gatekeeper surnamed Wang at the Wang residence who had been seriously ill and unconscious for several days. However, that night, he suddenly stretched his limbs as if waking from a deep sleep. His wife fed him some food, and he said, “Just a while ago, the master, for some reason, was giving alms in the courtyard, and I followed along with everyone, eating in a hurry. After finishing, I came back. So I’m not hungry now.” From then on, the ghosts and spirits no longer appeared. Could it be that the monks and Taoist priests’ rituals, prayers, and offerings had indeed been effective?
The chronicler of strange tales said: Things like evil spirits and demons can only be subdued by one’s virtue. When the government troops breached the city, Wang Qixiang’s power was immensely influential, and most people would tremble at the sound of his voice. However, the ghosts dared to mock him. It seems that these supernatural beings had already foreseen his unfavorable fate, right? I hereby advise all the gentlemen of the world: pretending to be like ghosts cannot scare ghosts, so I hope you will not pretend to have the appearance of ghosts to frighten others anymore!
《鬼哭》
谢迁之变，宦第皆为贼窟。王学使七襄之宅，盗聚尤众。城破兵入，扫荡群丑，尸填墀，血至充门而流。公入城，扛尸涤血而居。往往白昼见鬼，夜则床下燐飞，墙角鬼哭。
一日，王生皞迪寄宿公家，闻床底小声连呼：“皞迪！皞迪！”已而声渐大，曰：“我死得苦！”因哭，满庭皆哭。公闻，仗剑而入，大言曰：“汝不识我王学院耶？”但闻百声嗤嗤，笑之以鼻。公于是设水陆道场，命释道忏度之。夜抛鬼饭，则见燐火营营，随地皆出。先是，阍人王姓者，疾笃，昏不知人者数日矣。是夕，忽欠伸若醒。妇以食进。王曰：“适主人不知何事，施饭于庭，我亦随众啗啖。食已方归，故不饥耳。”由此鬼怪遂绝。岂钹铙钟鼓，焰口瑜伽，果有益耶？
异史氏曰：邪怪之物，唯德可以已之。当陷城之时，王公势正烜赫，闻声者皆股栗，而鬼且揶揄之。想鬼物逆知其不令终耶？普告天下大人先生，出人面犹不可以吓鬼，愿无出鬼面以吓人也！