Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: Wang Liulang (Wang, the Sixth) centers on the trans-life friendship between the fisherman Xu and the water ghost Wang Liulang.
Though simple in plot, it carries profound ethical weight, reflecting Pu Songling’s insights into humanity, society, and destiny.
Friendship in Its Purest Form
The tale’s core lies in Xu and Wang’s bond, remarkable for its:
- Selflessness: Xu offers wine nightly without expectation; Wang repays by herding fish without coercion, transcending transactional human relationships.
- Transcendence of Death: Xu (a mortal fisherman) and Wang (a drowned spirit) form an equal, intimate bond despite disparate existences.
- Defiance of Hierarchy: After becoming an earth god, Wang never treats Xu condescendingly, subtly challenging societal norms where “wealth breeds closeness; poverty breeds distance.”
Compassion Over Instinct
As a water ghost, Wang needs a drowning victim to replace him for reincarnation—a primal instinct. Yet, moved by compassion, he saves a drowning mother and child, relinquishing his chance. This “counter-instinctive” act:
- Shatters the stereotype of “all ghosts are evil.”
- Reveals a moral height exceeding many self-serving humans.
Karmic Justice with Nuance
Wang’s promotion from ghost to earth god embodies “virtue rewarded,” yet Pu Songling deepens this:
- As a god, Wang serves the people diligently, implying true authority demands responsibility, not just reward.
- This comforts the oppressed (who rarely see justice) while satirizing corrupt officials who “hold power without virtue.”
Equality Across Realms: Human, Ghost, and God
Xu and Wang interact as equals throughout:
- Xu never fears or scorns Wang as a ghost.
- Wang, as a god, never belittles Xu.
This implicit equality challenges feudal hierarchy and systemic oppression.
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