The Porcelain Doll Bride

There was blood in its heart, as big as an egg.

Lu Zanshan had a porcelain doll bride at home. After a few years, his wife joked with him, “Let it be your concubine.” From then on, Lu Zanshan was always in a daze, and he often saw a woman lying in his tent. After a long time, he thought that it was the porcelain doll that was causing trouble, so he sent it to the temple.

One day, a young boy was sweeping the temple in the morning. He saw a mysterious woman, so he asked her where she came from. She identified herself as Lu Zanshan’s concubine, who had been sent to the temple by his jealous wife. Later, when the boy saw the Lu family come, he told them about seeing Lu Zanshan’s concubine.

Lu Zanshan carefully asked about the matter, and based on the clothes that the boy described, he determined that it was the porcelain doll. He had someone break it open. There was blood in its heart, as big as an egg.

Original text in 《廣異記》:

盧贊善家，有一瓷新婦子。經數載，其妻戲謂曰。與君為妾。盧因爾惘惘。恒見一婦人，臥於帳中。積久，意是瓷人為祟，送往寺中供養。有童人，曉於殿中掃地，見一婦人。問其由來，云是盧贊善妾，為大婦所妬，送來在此。其後見盧家人至，因言見妾事。贊善窮覈本末，所見服色，是瓷人。遂命擊碎。心頭有血，大如雞子。

🎨 by Unknown in Qing Dynasty, 《执瓶仕女图》