Chinese Weird Gallery

Illustration for “《The Scribe(司札吏)》” in 《聊齋誌異》

by

An illustration for the ghost story “The Scribe(司札吏)” in “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio”, in Qing Dynasty.

“The Scribe” is a short story from the collection of classical Chinese short stories “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio” by the Qing dynasty writer Pu Songling. The story tells the tale of a tyrannical and superstitious magistrate who had many taboos. One day, the magistrate’s scribe accidentally violated one of his taboos, and the magistrate had him killed. 

Illustration for 《辛十四娘》in《聊齋誌異》

by

The story tells of Xin Shisiniang(辛十四娘), a beautiful woman in red who is a kind-hearted fox spirit, aspires to help others and become an immortal.

Although she is a fox spirit, she has a kind heart. She lives with her fox father and 18 sisters in a dilapidated temple. She is named Shishier because she is the 14th of 19 sisters.

Penglai(蓬莱/蓬萊)’s Story

by
鰲 蕭雲從《天問圖》

In Chinese #mythology, Penglai(蓬莱/蓬萊) is depicted as a suspended pavilion above the sea,supported by a cluster of auspicious clouds. It’s the palace of the immortals,all made of gold and jade,and the birds and beasts are all white.

It is stated in《列子》that there are five fairy mountains in the sea: First is Mount Taiyu, second is Mount Yuanjiao, third is Mount Fanghu, fourth is Mount Yingzhou, fifth is Mount Penglai.’ Penglai is just one among them. 

The Structure of Penglai(蓬萊)

by

There is an interesting theory about the structure of the mystical mountain, Penglai(#蓬萊) being a pot.

In WangJia(王嘉)’s ‘Records of the Unearthed Tales《拾遺記》’, Penglai ‘s structure is described as resembling a pot, alongside two other mystical mountains, Fangzheng and Yingzhou. These three, collectively termed the ‘Three Pots(三壺) ‘. The Three Pots symbolize three sea-bound mountains. Fanghu(方壺) represents Fangzhang(方丈), Ponghu(蓬壺) signifies Penglai(蓬萊), and Yinghu(瀛壺) embodies Yingzhou(瀛洲), all shaped akin to vessels.
This pot-like imagery signifies a contained world, each potentially holding its own universe within. 

《仙山樓閣圖》 仇英

by


This painting continues the tradition of previous immortal mountain artworks. The towering emerald-green mountains reaching into the clouds, the pavilions hidden among the irregular pine forests, and the bridge symbolizing the passage to the immortal realm, serving as a connecting and linking symbol – these typical elements of the immortal mountain paintings are all referenced by the artist.

Tales of Yuyi(郁夷國)

by

To the east of Penglai(蓬萊) , there is a country called Yuyi, where golden mists frequently appear. The immortals say that this mountain often floats within the mist, sometimes rising high, sometimes hanging low.

Many buildings stand on the mountain, their windows usually facing towards the bright direction when the mist disperses, and all facing north when the mist vanishes.

文命忽見對面山上金霧迷漫，金霧之中，樓臺宮殿，窗戶洞開，不可勝計。隔了一會，金霧滅歇，房屋依然，而窗戶皆不見，仿佛如房屋之後面一般，甚不可解。大鵹道：「此地名叫郁夷國，是蓬萊山之東鄙，群仙居於此者不少。在山上所築的房屋皆能浮轉低昂，忽而朝南，忽而朝北，忽而高，忽而低，沒有一定，亦是仙家行樂之一法。」

~鐘毓龍 《上古秘史》, in the Qing Dynasty

I think the earliest record of that is in 《拾遺記》, will talk about that in the next thread. 

《蓬萊仙境》張大千

by

The Emperor asked Li Shaoweng, how to get to the floating mountain.
‘First, offer to Taiyi(太一); only then can one ascend to the heavens. Only after ascending to the heavens can one reach Penglai(蓬萊).’

Li Shaoweng from Qi, aged two hundred, had the appearance of a youth. His creations in various forms were all effective. The Emperor greatly believed in him, appointed him as the General of Wencheng, and treated him as an honored guest.