• The Tiger’s Redemption

    “The Tiger of Zhao Cheng (The Repentant Tiger)” is a story from Strange Tales from Liaozhai (Liaozhai Zhiyi), recounting a tale of filial piety, vengeance, and forgiveness. Set in Zhao Cheng, the story revolves around an elderly woman and her son.

  • The Repentant Tiger

    Once upon a time in Zhaocheng County there was an old lady in her seventies who had only one son. One day, her son went into the mountains and was eaten by a tiger. The old lady was so grieved that she nearly committed suicide.

  • Sequel to a Dream

    After winning the title of jinshi, (Tran. Note: Jinshi was a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination; juren was a successful candidate at the provincial level) Juren Zeng and several others who had passed the examination went for an excursion in the suburbs of the provincial capital.

  • The foresight of the plain sister

    “The Sister Switch (Sisters Marrying in Each Other’s Stead)” is a story from Strange Tales from Liaozhai (Liaozhai Zhiyi), presenting a fable about marital choice and values. Centering on the contrasting attitudes of two sisters towards marriage, it reveals the conflict between superficial appearance and intrinsic worth, as well as the recognition of true…

  • The Sister Switch

    Grand Secretary Mao Ji in the Ming Dynasty was born of a poor family. His father often tended cattle for others. Living in the same county was Zhang and his family, who were rich and influential. They had recently built a grave site on the southern slope of East Mountain.

  • Concubine subdues the robbers

    There was a rich household on the western outskirts of Yidu. Shandong Province. The master had recently acquired a concubine, who was very pretty. The master’s wife treated the concubine badly, often flogging her for no reason at all.