The Ghosts Borrow Strength to Subdue the Wicked
According to folklore, when a wicked person is dying, the King of Hell will send evil ghosts to seize them because only these evil spirits have the power to subdue such wicked individuals.
In Yangzhou(揚州), Tang(唐氏)’s wife was both fierce and jealous, responsible for the deaths of numerous concubines and maids. Shortly after, this fierce woman fell critically ill. Even in her sickness, she continued incessantly cursing and raging just as she did in her normal days.
Their neighbor, Xu Yuan(徐元), had extraordinary strength but collapsed in bed a day earlier than the fierce woman. Read More “The Ghosts Borrow Strength to Subdue the Wicked”
Illustration for “《The Scribe(司札吏)》” in 《聊齋誌異》
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. The scribe then returned as a ghost to mock and torment the magistrate. Read More “Illustration for “《The Scribe(司札吏)》” in 《聊齋誌異》”
Illustration for《晚霞》in《聊齋誌異》
Wanxia and Aduan were lovers. Dancer Wanxia was reported to have committed suicide by jumping into the river. Aduan was heartbroken, yet he was surprised to find that Wanxia had come back as a ghost.
The Endless Murder
Du Bo(杜伯), also known as Heng, was a senior official of the Zhou dynasty. The king’s concubine, Nv Jiu(女鸠), wanted to have an affair with Du Bo, but Du Bo refused. Nv Jiu was angry and one day told the king, “Du Bo is secretly trying to seduce me.” The king believed her and imprisoned Du Bo in Jiaodi. He sent Xuefu(薛甫) and Sikong Qi(司空锜) to kill Du Bo.
Du Bo’s friend, Zuo Ru, tried to persuade the king not to kill Du Bo nine times but failed. Read More “The Endless Murder”
The King’s Daughter and the Ghost Judge
In the second year of the Dali period, Magistrate Li Zuoshi of Shanyin fell ill with a serious illness. After several days, his condition improved slightly, and he traveled from Kuaiji to Longqiu. His cousin, Magistrate Li Shu, was serving as the county magistrate in Longqiu, and he invited Li Zuoshi to stay at the county office for a few days.
One night, Li Zuoshi was talking with his guest, Li Ju, by candlelight when suddenly twenty or so men dressed in red robes and carrying weapons appeared in the corridor. Read More “The King’s Daughter and the Ghost Judge”
The Ghostly Encounter
In the Langya region, there was a man named Qin Juebu who was already sixty years old. One day, he was walking home at night after drinking. He passed by the Fengshan Temple when he saw his two grandsons coming to meet him. They supported him for over a hundred paces, suddenly grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground.
“You old slave, you beat me once, and now I’m going to kill you!”
Qin Juebu remembered that he had indeed beaten this grandson once. Read More “The Ghostly Encounter”
The Forbidden Treasure
In the summer, a heavy storm flooded the toilet of Lu Yanxu, the warehouse keeper of Xuzhou. The water soon drained away, and Lu Yanxu invited his neighbors to come and see. They saw a grave pit below, with a large coffin in the middle. Inside the coffin lay a woman in her twenties. She was white and clean, with fingernails that were five or six inches long. She had more than ten gold hairpins in her hair.
The inscription on the gravestone said: “This is a woman from the Qin Dynasty. Read More “The Forbidden Treasure”
The Chang of the Tiger
He saw a little ghost, shaped like a seven or eight year old boy, without clothes.
Towards the end of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, Yuzhou experienced numerous cases of tigers attacking people. Despite setting up traps with mechanisms, none proved successful in catching a tiger.
One moonlit night, a man climbed a tree and patiently waited. He spotted a small ghost resembling a seven or eight-year-old boy, unclothed, strolling nearby. The boy wore turquoise-colored top and bottom clothes. Upon reaching the trap, he deliberately triggered and deactivated it. Read More “The Chang of the Tiger”
Healing the Ghostly Affliction
In the vicinity of Qiantang, there resided a skilled healer named Xu Qiufu, known for his expertise in treating ailments. His abode was situated east of the Hugou Bridge, overlooking the serene waters of West Lake. One night, Qiufu heard a plaintive moaning in the air, the sound laden with intense suffering. Intrigued, he rose and followed the sound to its origin.
Addressing the ethereal presence, Qiufu inquired, “Are you a malevolent spirit? Why do you suffer so? Do you hunger for sustenance or shiver in cold? Read More “Healing the Ghostly Affliction”