Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: The Fox Sisters (Fourth Sister Hu) weaves a fantastical tale of scholar Shang and his encounters with fox spirits Hu Sanjie(Third Sister Hu) and Hu Sijie(Fourth Sister Hu), exploring themes of desire, morality, and karmic justice.
Story Summary
At the foot of Mount Tai, scholar Shang meets the alluring fox spirit Third Sister Hu on an autumn night. They begin a passionate affair, but Third Sister Hu later introduces her younger sister Fourth Sister Hu—even more beautiful and virtuous. Fourth Sister Hu warns Shang: Third Sister Hu is a murderer who has claimed three lives. She teaches Shang a protective talisman against her elder sister’s malice.
When Shang pursues another woman, chaos erupts. Yet Scholar Shang remains loyal: he saves Fourth Sister Hu from a Shaanxi demon-hunter attempting to exterminate local fox spirits. Years later, Fourth Sister Hu achieves immortality. Before departing, she reveals Shang’s death date, promising him a painless afterlife as a benevolent spirit.
Allegorical Analysis
Desire and Temptation:
- Hu, the Third, embodies deadly allure—beautiful yet perilous.
- Hu, the Forth, represents virtuous beauty, prioritizing Shang’s safety over passion.
This duality mirrors life’s temptations, urging discernment.
Karmic Justice:
Hu, the Fourth Sister’s kindness is rewarded with ascension; Hu, the Third Sister’s cruelty remains unredeemed. Goodness transcends origins (even a fox spirit’s), while evil invites retribution.
Moral Growth:
Scholar Shang evolves from superficial attraction to valuing inner virtue. His awakening—distinguishing false charm from true compassion—earns the Fourth Sister’s protection and spiritual peace.
Human-Supernatural Boundaries:
The complex fox-human dynamic underscores respect for nature’s mysteries and the yearning to transcend material existence.
Love Across Realms – Affection Versus Reality:
While affirming genuine cross-species love (Hu the Fourth Sister’s devotion), the story acknowledges its inescapable boundary. The Fourth Sister’s departure is not rejection but protection: coexistence would ultimately harm Shang.
Scholar’s Self-Reflection:
As a scholar, Shang’s flaws mirror Pu Songling’s critique of literati:
- Many fail self-cultivation due to lust and weak will.
- Shang’s journey warns: knowledge without moral discipline leads to ruin.
The Fox Sisters story transcends romance, probing desire, ethics, and growth. It champions inner goodness over superficial charm, upholds karmic balance, and echoes Confucian-Daoist values: actions shape destiny, and true transcendence begins with self-mastery.
Leave a Reply