• 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Protected: Huang Jiulang

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  • Justice in the underworld is far more impartial

    “Li Boyan” of Strange Tales from Liaozhai, tells of Li Boyan, an upright scholar from Yishui, Shandong. After suddenly falling ill, he informs his family he is summoned to the underworld as Yama (King of Hell) pro tempore. He instructs them not to bury him, awaiting his return. That day, Li dies.

  • Li Boyan, the temporary Yama

    A scholar named Li Boyan, from Xishui, Shandong, was a straightforward, upright and brave man. Suddenly he collapsed with some kind of acute illness.