Strange Tales from Liaozhai (a Chinese Studio): A Xia narrates the tragic romance between scholar Jing and the beautiful A Xia (not a human being).
Scholar Chen encounters A Xia attempting suicide and rescues her. Learning she is homeless, he invites her to stay at his home. Enamored by her beauty, Chen attempts to force himself on her. A Xia resists fiercely, their struggle overheard by neighbor Scholar Jing, who intervenes. A Xia escapes during the commotion.
Later, A Xia appears at Jing’s home. They cohabit, and she soon leaves to seek parental approval for marriage with Jing. Jing, fearing his wife might oppose taking a concubine, divorces his wife through relentless abuse, driving her away.
Discovering Jing’s betrayal, A Xia abandons him and marries Young Master Zheng, living happily. Later, Jing fails imperial exams, his family declines into poverty, forcing him to beg from relatives.
Despite his actions, A Xia — remembering their past bond — supports Jing financially, enabling him to remarry and rebuild his life.
Allegorical Analysis
Loyalty and Moral Integrity:
Jing loses A Xia’s trust by betraying his wife, underscoring ethics as foundational to relationships.
Karmic Retribution:
Jing’s abandonment of his wife brings misfortune: exam failure and destitution, embodying the principle that immoral acts invite cosmic justice.
Gratitude as Virtue:
A Xia aids Jing despite his flaws, highlighting the duty to repay kindness and cherish past benevolence.
Female Autonomy:
A Xia’s choice to leave Jing and pursue happiness asserts women’s agency in self-determination, transcending feudal constraints.
In essence, A Xia explores loyalty, betrayal, karmic balance, trust and gratitude while celebrating female resilience and moral redemption.
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