The story “Yingning” from Strange Tales from Liaozhai is a classic short story written by Pu Songling, a writer from the Qing Dynasty. This tale centers around the romantic relationship between the protagonist, Scholar Wang, and Yingning, and is filled with elements of fantasy and profound social commentary.
Summary of the Story
While out enjoying the Lantern Festival, Wang Sheng(Scholar Wang) encounters a young girl named Yingning, who is holding a branch of plum blossoms and smiling constantly. He instantly falls in love with her. Yingning is not only beautiful but also constantly wears a smile on her face; however, her laughter sometimes seems inappropriate for the situation. Through great effort, Wang finally discovers where Yingning lives and learns that she is the daughter of his aunt. Although they are related, in the old society this was not considered an obstacle to marriage. As the story unfolds, Wang’s affection for Yingning deepens, and Yingning gradually reveals her innocent yet clever and witty personality. In the end, Wang takes Yingning home, and the two get married.
Allegorical Meaning
Deconstruction of Feudal Ritual Codes
Yingning’s laughter rebels against the Confucian dictate that “a woman’s laugh should not reveal her teeth.” Her eventual disappearance stems not from personal flaws, but society’s intolerance of boundary-crossing women — epitomized when the lecherous neighbor’s assault backfires, exposing the hypocrisy of patriarchal norms’ custodians.
The Dilemma of an Ideal Personality
Early scholars idealized Yingning as an “embodiment of freedom,” yet her pivotal shift from laughter to weeping reveals a tragic truth: even a supernatural fox spirit cannot preserve authenticity in the human world. Her tears of grief for her ghost-mother symbolize the individual’s isolation within an ethical society.
Dialectics of Survival Strategy
The interpretation of “hiding in laughter” unveils the survival wisdom of marginalized beings. By deploying innocent giggles to lower human vigilance, Yingning embodies the self-preservation tactics of the vulnerable under oppression. Though this strategy prolongs life, it demands the suppression of her true nature.
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