In Wan Village, the wife of a man named Shi was plagued by a fox‑spirit that haunted her. She suffered greatly from it but could not get rid of it. Behind the door there was a bottle. Whenever the woman heard her father‑in‑law coming, the fox would slip into the bottle and hide there. The woman had observed this pattern many times, kept it in mind, but said nothing.
One day, the fox crawled into the bottle again. The woman quickly stopped up the mouth with wadding, placed the bottle in a cooking cauldron, and poured in hot water to boil it. As the bottle grew hot, the fox cried out: “It is scorching hot! Do not play such cruel tricks!” The woman said nothing. The fox shrieked more urgently, but after a while there was no more sound. She pulled out the stopper to examine it – there was nothing but a pile of fur and a few drops of blood.
Note
This tale is a rare instance of a woman taking direct, decisive action against a supernatural tormentor, without the help of priests or exorcists. Her cleverness – observing the fox’s habit, waiting for the right moment, and using domestic tools (bottle, wadding, cauldron) – turns her from a passive victim into an active victor. It reflects the folk belief that even ordinary people can overcome evil with wit and resolve.
Fox‑spirit (狐):
In Chinese folklore, fox spirits are shape‑shifting spirits that often seduce or torment humans. They can be malevolent (haunting households, possessing people, or draining vitality) or benevolent (rewarding kindness). In this story, the fox is a domestic pest that repeatedly hides in a bottle, suggesting a cunning but not overwhelmingly powerful creature.
Haunting (祟):
The character suì (祟) refers to supernatural harm caused by ghosts or demons – often manifesting as illness, nightmares, or general misfortune. Victims of such hauntings typically sought help from Taoist priests or folk healers.
Father‑in‑law (妇翁):
Literally “the wife’s father‑in‑law” (i.e., the husband’s father). In traditional Chinese households, the father‑in‑law held patriarchal authority. His presence may have intimidated the fox, causing it to flee and hide.
Bottle and wadding (瓶, 絮):
The bottle is likely a ceramic or glass vessel with a narrow mouth. Stopping it with cloth or cotton wadding (xù) effectively traps the fox because the spirit, though able to shrink and squeeze into small spaces, cannot pass through solid material.
Boiling in a cauldron:
The woman uses a cooking pot to boil water and immerse the bottle. This is a brutal but practical method of extermination – heat is a common folk remedy against evil spirits, as it is believed to break their magical power. The fox’s plea (“Do not play such cruel tricks”) suggests it can feel pain and fear, humanising it slightly.
The ending – fur and blood:
The fox’s physical remains confirm its death. In Chinese supernatural fiction, spirits often leave behind animal traces when killed – here, only fur and blood remain, proving that the fox was a corporeal entity, not a pure illusion.
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