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Yaksha Kingdom
There was a merchant named Xu in Jiaozhou. One day his boat was caught in a big storm at sea and he lost control of it. When the storm died down, he opened his eyes and found himself in a jungle valley. He wished he could encounter some people there, so he took a…
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Celestial encounters and earthly choices in “Bai Yuyu”
In Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio – Liaozhai: Bai Yuyu, the gifted scholar Wu Qing’an (also named Wu Jun) attracts attention in his youth for literary talent. A court historian promises his daughter’s marriage if Wu succeeds in imperial exams. After failing the county-level examination, Wu perseveres in studies.
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Bai Yuyu
Wu Qing’an, also known as Wu Yun, distinguished himself when he was still a boy. A taishi (court historian) by the name of Ge was impressed by his writing and asked a friend to invite Wu to his residence.
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Love beyond death in “Lian Suo”
In Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio(Liaozhai): Lian Suo, scholar Yang Yuwei moves to a residence by the banks of the Sishui River. His study faces desolate wilderness. One night, by dim candlelight, he hears a mournful poem whispered in a woman’s voice.
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Lian Suo
Yang Yuwei had moved to a house by the bank of the Sishui River. His study faced an open wilderness. Outside the wall were many ancient tombs. At night, winds blew through white poplar trees, setting them to roaring like sea waves.
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Desire, destruction and supernatural justice in “Huang Jiulang”
“Huang Jiulang” from Liaozhai Zhiyi(Strange Tales from Liaozhai) recounts the tale of He Zixiao, a scholar from Zhejiang with an attraction to men.