The Merchant’s Son (Jia Er), from Pu Songling’s Strange Tales from Liaozhai, unfolds in the Chu region. A merchant departs on business, leaving his wife and young son at home.
One night, the wife dreams of an intimate encounter and awakens to find a dwarfed man beside her — a fox spirit in disguise. Tormented by its persistent hauntings, she descends into psychological breakdown. To protect his mother, her ten-year-old son displays extraordinary courage and cunning.
After failed attempts to trap the spirit, the boy devises a meticulous plan. He tracks the spirits to their den, disguises himself as a fox spirit, pretends to buy wine — covertly lacing it with toxin, deliberately engineers an unexpected encounter, sends the poisoned wine as gift to the fox spirit and finally poisoned all the three fox spirits to death. His patience and ingenuity restore peace to his family.
Allegorical Meaning
Courage and Wisdom:
Despite his youth, the boy confronts supernatural evil with strategic brilliance. His triumph proves that resolve and intellect can overcome any obstacle, transcending age or stature.
Filial Duty:
The son’s unwavering love drives his actions. His devotion epitomizes traditional familial values, showcasing how duty empowers individuals to defy darkness.
Confronting Evil:
The fox spirits symbolize forces that disrupt domestic harmony. Their defeat embodies righteousness prevailing over corruption, reinforcing the moral axiom of “cosmic justice”.
The boy’s transformation — from child to self-reliant hero — highlights psychological maturation through adversity. His tenacity mirrors universal resilience against life’s tribulations.
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