The Pupil-Bound Spirits is both a cautionary story about the dangers of lust and a fable about moral transformation. The grotesque yet whimsical image of tiny spirits chatting inside the eyes gives it a unique place in Chinese supernatural literature.
This article tells the tragic end of the Ming Dynasty. The Qing rose in the northeast, while Li Zicheng’s rebel army marched on Beijing. Chongzhen Emperor hanged himself at Meishan. Li briefly ruled Beijing but lost support. Wu Sangui allied with the Qing, who defeated Li and seized the capital, founding the Qing Dynasty.