Chinese Weird Tales

A collection of Chinese weird tales and mythology stories, recorded in ancient classics. Collected and translated by myself.

How can my funeral cost so much money?

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A short and funny story about the death’s reappearance.

Zhu Tai(朱泰)’s family lived in Jiangling(江陵). During the Song Yuanhui(宋元徽) period, he died of illness and had not yet been buried. His ghost suddenly appeared, sitting next to his corpse, comforting his mother, and everyone saw it. He told the people who were handling the funeral that everything should be done frugally, and said to his mother: “Our family is so poor, and I am dead, and I can no longer serve and support you. 

The Straw Hat Man who Lives in the Well

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He was wearing a straw hat and laughing as he climbed over the railing, but he fell into the well again.

Dugu Shuya(獨孤叔牙), who often ordered his family to draw water from the well, felt that it was very heavy and could not turn the rope. Several people helped to pull it up, but it turned out to be a person. He was wearing a straw hat and laughing as he climbed over the railing, but he fell into the well again. 

How to Get the Moon by Papercutting

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A twisting Chinese mythology story about how magical powers of Taoism(道家) can do anything, even travel through time and space.

Once upon a time, there was a Mr. Wang who lived in the upper reaches of the Wujiang River(烏江). He usually kept his whereabouts hidden, so the villagers could not tell who he was. Some people thought he was a demon.

One day, a fire broke out in the village. The fire spread quickly and destroyed many houses.