Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio

Liaozhai zhiyi, sometimes shortened to Liaozhai, known in English as Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Strange Tales from Make-Do Studio, or literally Strange Tales from a Studio of Leisure, is a collection of Classical Chinese stories by Qing dynasty writer Pu Songling, comprising close to 500 stories or "marvel tales" in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles, which according to some critics, served to implicitly criticise societal problems. Written over a period of forty years from the late 1600s and ending in the early 1700s, it circulated in manuscripts that were copied and recopied among the author's friends but did not appear in print until 1766. Since then, many of the critically lauded stories have been adapted for other media such as film and television.

Publication history
Pu assembled the nearly five hundred short and lengthy tales over a period of forty years between the early 1670s and the early 1700s. As was the convention of his time, Pu titled his work using the sobriquet Liaozhai (聊齋), translated into English as the "Studio of Conversation" or "Studio of Leisure".

The scholar Zhang Peiheng (章培恒) writes that the original Liaozhai comprised eight volumes, the earliest completed around 1681 and the latest completed between 1707 and 1714. The compilation was first circulated in scribal copies but it was not published until after the author's death in 1715. Around 1693, Shandong financial commissioner Yu Chenglong reportedly offered Pu a thousand taels in exchange for his Liaozhai manuscript, but Pu declined his offer.

The final manuscript was "carefully preserved" by the Pu family after his death, with many different individuals, including the local magistrate, requesting to make copies of it. The earliest surviving print version of Liaozhai was printed in 1766 in Hangzhou by publisher Zhao Qigao (趙起杲), who claimed that Pu originally intended for his anthology to be titled Tales of Ghosts and Foxes (鬼狐傳). Although Zhao also alleged that his publication was based on the "original manuscript" as was copied by a friend, it did not contain all the stories found in the original manuscript; in the preface to his publication, he writes, "I have expunged simple and brief notes which are dull and commonplace, forty-eight in all." Moreover, Zhao censored stories that had "brief references to sensitive topics". Nonetheless, the Zhao edition was well-received and was first republished by scholar Li Shixian (李時憲) in 1767.

At some point after 1871, Pu Jieren (普价人), a seventh-generation descendant of Pu Songling, had the original manuscript, which was reportedly made up of twenty volumes, rebound in eight volumes. They were then kept in two boxes, one of which disappeared "under circumstances which are still obscure". In 1950, the Pu family donated the surviving four volumes, which contained some 237 short stories, to the Liaoning Provincial Library.

Themes
Unlike much Chinese and Western horror fiction, the "scary stories" in Liaozhai are not intended to be frightening, but to blur the borders between the supernatural and everyday reality, using physical and psychological detail to make the move between these realms seem natural. These tales, which are "works rich in romanticism", explore the philosophical concept of qing (情), the passionate and emotional entanglement of the world, be it human or supernatural.

Literary significance
Liaozhai zhiyi is the most acclaimed Chinese "supernatural tales" collection since the three major Ming dynasty hua (話) collections, which are the Jiandeng Xinhua (剪燈新話) by Qu You, the Jiandeng Yuhua (剪燈餘話) by Li Changqi, and the Mideng Yinhua (覓燈因話) by Shao Jingzhan; these three had a far-reaching impact across East Asia.

Early commentary on Liaozhai regarded it as a "superior but typical example" of the zhiguai genre. Subsequent critics and writers disagreed with such a view, instead focusing on the allegorical nature of the stories instead; for instance, Yu Ji, who was Zhao Qigao's secretary, wrote in his preface to Zhao's edition of Liaozhai: "... saying that it differs little from collections of rare phenomena or strange tales is a very shallow view and one that greatly contradicts the author's intent." Pu's grandson, Pu Lide (蒲立德), viewed the work as "an act of serious self-expression".

Still later critics in the nineteenth century focused on the "literary style and narrative technique" of Liaozhai. Qing dynasty critic Dan Minglun (但明倫) writes in the preface to his 1842 interlinear commentary of Liaozhai: "From Liaozhai, I also gained insight into literary methods." Around the same period, Liaozhai also attracted critical attention from Western writers, for example, Samuel Wells Williams mentioned Liaozhai in his writings as "a perfect work with pure language and elegant style" and its "beautiful writing style" has also received praises from the likes of William Frederick Mayers and Karl Gützlaff.

Since the 20th century, its literary status was further elevated. Guo Moruo said of Liaozhai that "The writing of ghosts and demons is superior to all others; the satire on corruption and tyranny is penetrating to the marrow." Yuken Fujita of Keio University wrote in 1954 that "Among the many literary works that are descended from ancient Chinese fiction [i.e. Bowuzhi, Soushen Ji, Shishuo Xinyu, Lieyi Zhuan, Shi Yi Ji, etc.], it [Liaozhai] has already established a reputation as the most outstanding short story collection." Hiromasa Imai describes Liaozhai as "the pinnacle of ghost literature." Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio was also listed by Jorge Luis Borges as one of his favorite books.

Influence
Following Liaozhai zhiyi's critical and commercial success, other well-received "wonder tale" and "fantasy" story collections also soon appeared, creating a publishing craze for such literature in China well into the 19th century. Some notable major collections include Yuan Mei's Zibuyu (What the Master Would Not Discuss, 1788), Shen Qifeng's Xie Duo (1791), Ji Yun's Yuewei caotang biji (Notes of the Thatched Abode of Close Observations, 1789-1798 & 1800) and Wang Tao's Songyin manlu (1875).

Unabridged

 * Strange Tales From A Chinese Studio (Unabridged Version), 12 volumes (tr. Park Jongho). Park Jongho, 2024..
 * Strange Tales from Liaozhai, 6 volumes (tr. Sidney L. Sondergard). Jain Pub Co., 2008-2014. ISBN 978-0-89581-001-4.

Excerpts and abridgements

 * Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (tr. John Minford). London: Penguin, 2006. 562 pages. ISBN 0-14-044740-7.
 * Strange Tales from the Liaozhai Studio (Zhang Qingnian, Zhang Ciyun and Yang Yi). Beijing: People's China Publishing, 1997. ISBN 7-80065-599-7.
 * Strange Tales from Make-do Studio (Denis C. & Victor H. Mair). Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1989. ISBN 7-119-00977-X.
 * Strange Tales of Liaozhai (Lu Yunzhong, Chen Tifang, Yang Liyi, and Yang Zhihong). Hong Kong: Commercial Press, 1982.
 * Strange Stories from the Lodge of Leisure (George Soulie). London: Constable, 1913.
 * Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (tr. Herbert A. Giles). London: T. De La Rue, 1880; 2nd ed. revised, London, 1908; 3rd ed. revised, London, Laurie, 1916. Reprinted with a new foreword by Victoria Cass. Tokyo, Rutland, Vt.: Tuttle, 2010. ISBN 978-0-8048-9408-1.

Giles's translation
John Minford and Tong Man describe Herbert Giles's translation as "prudish", because he chose not to translate "anything connected with sex, procreation, blood, sometimes indeed the human body in any of its aspects" and often made "extraordinary lengths to cover up his traces, showing considerable craft and cunning." In the Giles translation fox spirits wish to chat and share tea with people rather than trying to seduce and engage in sexual intercourse, and romantic partners at most exchange kisses. They wrote that "Giles was a creature of his time" since he was required to follow Victorian Era morality, and urged readers to "not get Giles' bowdlerising of Liao-chai out of proportion." They added that "the widely distributed Commercial Press (HK) edition of the stories makes many of the same prudish cuts as Giles."

Minford and Tong Man write that people have continued reading Giles's translations even though they "have been at best quietly tolerated, more often derided, and dismissed as orientalist bowdlerisations..." Lydia Chiang describes Minford and Tong Man's essay as a "post-Saidian re-evaluation" that compares the Giles translation to traditional and modern Chinese representations of the story.

German
Martin Buber made the first German translation of the work, included within his Chinesische Geister- und Liebesgeschichten. Buber had assistance from a person named Wang Jingdao. Buber stated in the preface of his translation that his translation had portions previously untranslated in Giles work because Giles, according to the "English custom", had "omitted or paraphrased all passages which seemed to him indecorous". The Chinesische Geister- und Liebesgeschichten was translated into English by Alex Page, published in 1991 by the Humanities Press.

Other translations
Vasily Mikhaylovich Alekseyev published an acclaimed translation of Pu Songling's stories in Russian in two volumes, Fox's Wiles (1922) and The Wizard Monks (1923). It has been cited as the most accomplished translation of the book into a foreign language. The book was translated into Manchu as Sonjofi ubaliyambuha Liyoo jai jy i bithe. Lodovico Nicola di Giura (1868–1947) produced a complete Italian translation of the 1766 edition.

Illustrated editions
In the 19th century, colorful and fully illustrated collector's editions of Liaozhai zhiyi also circulated onto the literary scenes. These exquisitely mounted illustrated Liaozhai are now collected by major libraries and museums around the world, such as the National Library of China and Library of Congress.

Painted stories from an illustrated edition of Liaozhai zhiyi from the late Qing Guangxu period; this edition is located in the Austrian National Library.

Full summary
Based on the full translation by André Lévy published by Philippe Picquier:

First book

1. Examination for the post of tutelary genius [ Kao chenghuang (考城隍)]

2. Homunculus in the ear [ Erzhongren (耳中人)]

3. The Animated Corpse [ Shibian (屍變)]

4. Fatal aspersion [ Pen shui (噴水)]

5. When the pupils speak to each other… [ Tongren yu (瞳人語)]

6. The fresco [ Huabi (畫壁)]

7. Incursion of a mountain griffin [ Shanxiao (山魈)]

8. Bitten lamie [ Yao gui (咬鬼)]

9. Fox Caught [ Zhuo hu (捉狐)]

10. The Black Wheat Monster [ Shouzhong gui (蕎中怪)]

11. Spells of a haunted house [ Zhai yao (宅妖)]

12. Wang, the friend of a humble fisherman [ Wang liulang (王六郎)]

13. For the theft of a peach [ Tou tao (偷桃)]

14. The magic pear tree [ Zhong li (種梨)]

15. The Hermit of the Mountains of Labor [ Laoshan daoshi (勞山道士)]

16. The monk of Long Purity [ Changqing seng (長清僧)]

17. The snake charmer [ She ren (蛇人)]

18. The injured python [ Zhuo mang (斫蟒)]

19. The adulterous dog [ Quan jian (犬奸)]

20. God of Hail [ Baoshen (雹神)]

21. Fox marries his daughter [ Hu jia nü (狐嫁女)]

22. Grace [ Jiaona (嬌娜)]

23. The Retribution of the Trickster Monk [ Seng nie (僧孽)]

24. Witchcraft [ Yao shu (妖朮)]

25. Cynocephalic monster [ Ye gou (野狗)]

26. The Three Lives of Liu [ San sheng (三生)]

27. Bottled [ Hu ru ping (狐入瓶)]

28. Sobbing ghosts [ Gui ku (鬼哭)]

29. Mother at Eight [ Zhending nü (真定女)]

30. The Exorcist [ Jiao ming (焦螟)]

31. Competition bad luck [ Ye sheng (葉生)]

32. Forty ligatures [ Sishi qian (四十千)]

33. Inverted [ Cheng xian (成仙)]

34. Newlywed Hijacking [ Xinlang (新郎)]

35. The Prophecy of the Dirty Fox [ Ling guan (靈官)]

36. Immortal and ghost [ Wang lan (王蘭)]

37. Eagle and tiger, vigilant deities [ Ying hu shen (鷹虎神)]

38. Quail fights [ Wang cheng (王成)]

39. Phénichette [ Qingfeng (青鳳)]

40. Made-up skin [ Hua pi (畫皮)]

41. Son of a merchant [ Gu er (賈兒)]

42. Snake bulimic [ She pi (蛇癖)]

Second book

43. The Coprophagus Monk [ Jin shicheng (金世成)]

44. Vulpine Seductions [ Dong sheng (董生)]

45. Stonecruncher [ Shi (石)]

46. Local temple demon [ Miao gui (廟鬼)]

47. Judge Lu [ Lu pan (陸判)]

48. The laughing girl [ Yingning (嬰寧)]

49. Little Grace [ Nie xiaoqian (聶小倩)]

50. Noble Mouse [ Yi shu (義鼠)]

51. Earthquake [ Dizhen (地震)]

52. The Young Lord of the Sea [ Hai gongzi (海公子)]

53. Hospitality [ Ding qianxi (丁前溪)]

54. Big sea fish [ Hai dayu (海大魚)]

55. Giant aquatic turtle [ Zhang lao xianggong (張老相公)]

56. Star anise [ Shuimangcao (水莽草)]

57. Cattle maker [ Zao chu (造畜)]

58. Triple dream [ Fengyang shiren (鳳陽士人)]

59. Missed Widower [ Geng shiba (耿十八)]

60. Children from Beyond the Grave [ Zhu'er (珠兒)]

61. Lilliputian Officers [ Xiao guanren (小官人)]

62. The fourth young lady Goupil [ Hu sijie (胡四姐)]

63. Dying together [ Zhu weng (祝翁)]

64. Alligator's Revenge [ Zhupolong (獵婆龍)]

65. Goat hair [ Mou gong (某公)]

66. Magnificent sword stroke [ Kuai dao (快刀)]

67. Vengeance [ Xia nü (俠女)] (Literally: “The heroic woman”, adapted into a film in 1971 by King Hu under the title “A touch of zen”)

68. Friendship of good drinkers [ Jiu you (酒友)]

69. Lotus fragrance [ Lianxiang (蓮香)]

70. The loving parrot [ Abao (阿寶)]

71. Prince of the Nine Mountains [ Jiushan wang (九山王)]

72. Survivor's Revenge [ Zunhua shu hu (遵化署狐)]

73. Three brothers [ Zhang cheng (張誠)]

74. The Vixen of Fenzhou [ Fenzhou hu (汾州狐)]

75. The smart one [ Qiaoniang (巧娘)]

76. The city of the two tutelary geniuses [ Wu ling (吳令)]

77. Vocal imitations [ Kou ji (口技)]

78. Sentences of Vixens [ Hu lian (狐聯)]

79. Wei Water Fox [ Weishui hu (潍水狐)]

80. Red Jade [ Hongyu (紅玉)]

81. Dragons [ Long (龍)]

82. Ghost poem [ Lin siniang (林四娘)]

Third book

83. In the middle of the river [ Jiang zhong (江中)]

84. Love of youth [ Lu gong nü (魯公女)]

85. The Taoist priest receives [ Daoshi (道士)]

86. Monsieur Goupil [ Hu shi (胡氏)]

87. Sleight of hand [ Xishu (戲朮)]

88. Begging monk [ Gai seng (丐僧)]

89. Downed Foxes [ Fu hu (伏狐)]

90. Hibernating Dragon [ Zhe long (蟄龍)]

91. The Peach Trees of Su the Immortal [ Su xian (蘇仙)]

92. Temporary underworld [ Li boyan (李伯言)]

93. Huang the ninth [ Huang jiulang (黃九郎)]

94. The Daughter of Nanking [ Jinling nüzi (金陵女子)]

95. The Resurrection of Mr. Tang [ Tang gong (湯公)]

96. Judge in the Underworld [ Yanluo (閻羅)]

97. The Blue Birds [ Liansuo (連瑣)]

98. The Taoist Priest Dan [ Dan daoshi (單道士)]

99. The golden bracelet [ Bai yuyu (白於玉)]

100. In the land of  yaksha [ Yecha guo (夜叉國)]

101. The little bun [ Xiao ji (小髻)]

102. Monks of the West [ Xi seng (西僧)]

103. The Glutton gang [ Lao tao (老饕)]

104. Embroidery [ Liancheng (連城)]

105. Worse than bad jokes [ Huo sheng (霍生)]

106. A game of ball [ Wang shixiu (汪士秀)]

107. Avenged by his daughter [ Sang sanguan (商三官)]

108. The young wolf slayer [ Yu jiang (於江)]

109. Little Second, Great Magician [ Xiao er (小二)]

110. Lady Geng, the avenger [ Geng niang (庚娘)]

111. Hidden treasures [ Gong mengbi (宮夢弼)]

112. The crested blackbird [ Quyu (鴝鵒)]

113. Raccoon [ Liu haishi (劉海石)]

114. Sermon to the Specters [ Yu gui (諭鬼)]

115. The Devil's Glass Eyes [ Ni gui (泥鬼)]

116. Farewell in a dream [ Meng bie (夢別)]

117. Bitch of Light [ Quan deng (犬燈)]

118. Monks of the Barbarian West [ Fan seng (番僧)]

119. The vixen's companion [ Hu qie (狐妾)]

120. Thunder Department Attendant [ Leicao (雷曹)]

121. The Gambler's Talisman [ Du fu (賭符)]

122. Disloyal Husband [ Axia (阿霞)]

123. Self-harm of a murderer [ Li sijian (李司鑒)]

124. “Lord of the five black ram skins” [ Wu gu daifu (五朗大夫)]

125. The Hairy Vixen [ Mao hu (毛狐)]

126. Pianpian, helpful sylph [ Pianpian (翩翩)]

127. The black beast [ Hei shou (黑獸)]

Fourth book

128. The Wonderful Pool [ Yu de (余德)]

129. Captain Yang's Arrow [ Yang qianzong (楊千總)]

130. Strange watermelon [ Gua yi (瓜異)]

131. Half Vixen, Double Devotion [ Qingmei (青梅)]

132. Port of Mirages [ Luosha haishi (羅剎海市)]

133. Friend Tian [ Tian qilang (田七郎)]

134. She gives birth to a dragon [ Chan long (產龍)]

135. Master Thief [ Bao zhu (保住)]

136. Sharing Death [ Gongsun jiuniang (公孫九娘)]

137. Fighting Crickets [ Cuzhi (促織)]

138. Diversion of the plague of locusts [ Liu xiucai (柳秀才)]

139. Survivors of the flood [ Shui zai (水災)]

140. Death of laughter [ Zhucheng moujia (諸城某甲)]

141. Treasury Officer [ Ku guan (庫官)]

142. At the gates of hell [ Fengdu yushi (酆都御史)]

143. Eyeless Dragon [ Long wu mu (龍無目)]

144. Mischievous vixen [ Hu xie (狐諧)]

145. Rain of sapeques [ Yu qian (雨錢)]

146. The Beaten Concubine Takes Down the Bandits [ Qie zhiang ji zei (妾杖擊賊)]

147. Exorcist in spite of himself [ Xiucai qu guai (秀才驅怪)]

148. The younger replaces the older [ Jiemei yi jia (姊妹易嫁)]

149. A new “Dream of Yellow Millet” [ Xu huangliang (續黃粱)]

150. How dragons draw rainwater [ Long qu shui (龍取水)]

151. The Tiny Hound [ Xiao lie quan (小獵犬)]

152. The Go Game Demon [ Ji gui (棋鬼)]

153. The Fourteenth Maiden Xin [ Xin shisiniang (辛十四娘)]

154. White Lotus Cultist [ Bailian jiao (白蓮教)]

155. The pair of lanterns [ Shuang deng (雙燈)]

156. Ghost and fox do not lead far [ Zhuo gui she hu (捉鬼射狐)]

157. The donkey repays the debt [ Jian chang zhai (蹇償債)]

158. Rolling head… [ Tou gun (頭滾)]

159. Ghost Kitchen [ Gui zuo yan (鬼作筵)]

160. The invisible Mr. Goupil [ Hu si xianggong (胡四相公)]

161. Barkers [ Nianyang (念秧)]

162. Frog Concert [ Wa qu (蛙曲)]

163. Mouse Theater [ Shu xi (鼠戲)]

164. Clay Scholar [ Ni shusheng (泥書生)]

165. The Lady of the Soil God [ Tudi furen (土地夫人)]

166. Lotus flowers in midwinter [ Hanyue fuqu (寒月芙蕖)]

167. Madness of Drunkenness [ Jiu kuang (酒狂)]

Fifth book

168. A Prolonged Childbirth [ Yangwu hou (陽武侯)]

169. Noble tiger [ Zhaocheng hu (趙城虎)]

170. Killed by a praying mantis! [ Tanglang bu she (螳螂捕蛇)]

171. Martial arts [ Wu ji (武技)]

172. Miniaturized [ Xiaoren (小人)]

173. Drink to death [ Qin sheng (秦生)]

174. The little one [ Yatou (鴉頭)]

175. Good Drinker's Little Beast [ Jiuchong (酒蟲)]

176. The beautiful carved wooden one [ Mudiao meiren (木雕美人)]

177. Two friends [ Feng sanniang (封三娘)]

178. Dream of vixens [ Hu meng (狐夢)]

179. Remission [ Buke (布客)]

180. A peasant! [ Nongren (農人)]

181. Ghosts and arch-wraiths [ Zhang aduan (章阿端)]

182. The old lady with pancakes [ Botuo ao (稞秭媼)]

183. An unexpected birth [ Jin yongnian (金永年)]

184. Florette [ Hua guzi (花姑子)]

185. Ingratitude [ Wu xiaolian (武孝廉)]

186. The Princess of the Lake [ Xihu zhu (西湖主)]

187. A Godly Son [ Xiaozi (孝子)]

188. The lion [ Shizi (獅子)]

189. Retribution for Jealousy [ Yanwang (閻王)]

190. The clay figurine [ Tu'ou (土偶)]

191. Murder and rebirth [ Changzhi nuzi (長治女子)]

192. The Tomb of the Loyal Dog [ Yi quan (義犬)]

193. The God of Poyang Lake [ Poyang shen (鄱陽神)]

194. Dream of a Woman [ Wu qiuyue (伍秋月)]

195. The Bee Princess [ Lianhua gongzhu (蓮花公主)]

196. The girl in green [ Lüyi nü (綠衣女)]

197. The wolf in the sheepfold [ Li shi (黎氏)]

198. Water lily flower [ Hehua sanniangzi (荷花三娘子)]

199. Salutary invectives [ Ma ya (罵鴨)]

200. Unworthy Son [ Liu shi zi (柳氏子)]

201. The Immortal Fox [ Shang xian (上仙)]

202. The Montcalme Monkey [ Hou jingshan (侯靜山)]

203. Flows of sapeques [ Qian liu (錢流)]

204. Master Fox's Relevant Scribbles [ Guo sheng (郭生)]

205. Risks of widowhood [ Jin shengse (金生色)]

206. The unknown [ Peng haiqiu (彭海秋)]

207. Geomancy [ Kanyu (堪輿)]

208. Abandoned Daughter-in-law [ Dou shi (竇氏)]

209. Curious growth [ Liang yan (梁彥)]

210. Dragon Meat [ Long rou (龍肉)]

Sixth book

211. Sub-prefect of Lu City [ Lu ling (潞令)]

212. Execrable shrew [ Ma jiefu (馬介甫)]

213. The star of literary success [ Dou xing (魁星)]

214. Felony [ She jiangjun (厙將軍)]

215. The Goddess of Flowers [ Jiangfei (絳妃)]

216. A Welcoming Fox [ Hejian sheng (河間生)]

217. Cowardice [ Yun cuixian (雲翠仙)]

218. Dancing Deity [ Tiao shen (跳神)]

219. Hard as Iron [ Tiebushan fa (鐵布衫法)]

220. General of Herculean Strength [ Dali jiangjun (大力將軍)]

221. White Lotus Sect [ Bailian jiao (白蓮教)]

222. Mandarin woman [ Yan shi (顏氏)]

223. Changed into a pig [ Du weng (杜翁)]

224. Mischievous ghosts [ Xiaoxie (小謝)]

225. Ghost of a Hanged Man [ Yi gui (縊鬼)]

226. The Suzhou Painter [ Wumen huagong (吳門畫工)]

227. Holy woman [ Lin shi (林氏)]

228. Mischievous Vixen [ Hu dagu (胡大姑)]

229. Cruel loyalty [ Xihou (細侯)]

230. Three Wolf Stories [ Lang (狼)]

231. Head of a pretty woman [ Meiren shou (美人首)]

232. The reincarnation of a fox [ Liu liangcai (劉亮採)]

233. Coumarin [ Huifang (蕙芳)]

234. The genius of the mountain [ Shan shen (山神)]

235. Vixen sister [ Xiao qi (蕭七)]

236. Two cases of separation in times of trouble [ Luan li (亂離)]

237. Snake breeders [ Huan she (豢蛇)]

238. Duke of Thunder [ Lei gong (雷公)]

239. Miraculous Interventions of Guanyin [ Lingjue (菱角)]

240. Hungry Ghost [ Egui (餓鬼)]

241. Abuse Control Office [ Kaobisi (考弊司)]

242. Duplicate Yama [ Yanluo (閻羅)]

243. Ogres [ Daren (大人)]

244. As an avenging tiger [ Xiang gao (向杲)]

245. Head glued back together? [ Dong gongzi (董公子)]

246. Goupil against foxes [ Zhou san (周三)]

247. Prodigious pigeons [ Ge yi (鴿異)]

248. Righter of grievances from beyond the grave [ Niè zheng (聶政)]

249. The laughing bachelor [ Leng sheng (冷生)]

250. The debauchee built by a fox [ Hu cheng yin (狐懲淫)]

251. Mirage [Shanshi (山市)]

252. The Repentant Shrew [ Jiangcheng (江城)]

253. The Recalcitrant Wife [ Sun sheng (孫生)]

254. Great Turtle Prince [ Badawang (八大王)]

255. Hanged by joke [ Xi yi (戲縊)]

Seventh book

256. “Transformed” [ Luo zu (羅祖)]

257. For a single good deed [ Liu xing (劉姓)]

258. Jealousy conquered [ Shao jiuniang (邵九娘)]

259. A world in the sleeve [ Gong xian (鞏仙)]

260. Two brothers [ Er shang (二商)]

261. Studwork [ Yishui xiucai (沂水秀才)]

262. Ghost of a Hanged Woman [ Mei nü (梅女)]

263. Strange encounter [ Shao xiucai (郭秀才)]

264. The Laughter of the Murdered Monk [ Si seng (死僧)]

265. Promised Parakeet [ Aying (阿英)]

266. The orange tree [ Jushu (橘樹)]

267. Fire letters [ Chi zi (赤字)]

268. A specter avenges the abandonment of his son [ Niu chengzhang (牛成章)]

269. The magic shovel [ Qing'e (青娥)]

270. The Mirror Oracle [ Jing ting (鏡聽)]

271. Rinderpest [ Niuhuang (牛)]

272. Virginal marriage [ Jin gufu (金姑夫)]

273. Twice sub-prefect in Zitong [ Zitong ling (梓潼令)]

274. Specter Saliva [ Gui jin (鬼津)]

275. The Island of Immortals [ Xianren dao (仙人島)]

276. Death of the Underworld Judge [ Yanluo hong (閻羅薨)]

277. The Mad Priest [ Tian daoren (顛道人)]

278. The fabulous destiny of the youngest [ Hu siniang (胡四娘)]

279. Magic sapeque [ Seng shu (僧朮)]

280. The number of life [ Lu shu (祿數)]

281. Physiognomist Predictions [ Liu sheng (柳生)]

282. Judicial error [ Yuan yu (冤獄)]

283. Specter games [ Gui ling (鬼令)]

284. Empress Zhen [ Zhen hou (甄後)]

285. Love of the lute [ Huanniang (宦娘)]

286. Axiu and his double [ Axiu (阿繡)]

287. Eye scar [ Yang bayan (楊疤眼)]

288. The Idiot and His Little Vixen [ Xiaocui (小翠)]

289. The monk who made a fortune [ Jin heshang (金和尚)]

290. The spider, pearl of dragons [ Long xi zhu (龍戲蛛)]

291. The Substitute [ Shang fu (商婦)]

292. Diverted Feast [ Yanluo yan (閻羅宴)]

293. Ghosts at your service [ Yi gui (役鬼)]

294. He who loves well, punishes well [ Xiliu (細柳)]

Eighth book

295. Horse in painting [ Hua ma (畫馬)]

296. Scams [ Juzha (局詐)]

297. Releasing butterflies [ Fang die (放蝶)]

298. A man gives birth to twins [ Nan sheng zi (男生子)]

299. Asine Retributions [ Zhong sheng (鐘生)]

300. The specter of the jealous wife [ Guiqi (鬼妻)]

301. General Huang [ Huang jiangjun (黃將軍)]

302. First elder under three dynasties [ Sanchao yuanlao (三朝元老)]

303. Medical art [ Yishu (醫朮)]

304. Death louse [ Cang shi (藏虱)]

305. Dream of wolves [ Meng lang (夢狼)]

306. Night luminosity [ Ye ming (夜明)]

307. Snow in summer [ Xia xue (夏雪)]

308. Changed into a boy [ Hua nan (化男)]

309. The Vindicator Bird [ Qin xia (禽俠)]

310. The Wild Goose [ Hong (鴻)]

311. Elephants [ Xiang (象)]

312. Strange Corpse [ Fu shi (負屍)]

313. Grievance of a past life [ Zihua heshang (紫花和尚)]

314. Doubling [ Zhou kechang (周克昌)]

315. Marrying the Moon [ Chang'e (嫦娥)]

316. Unrepentant Taoist [ Ju yaoru (鞠樂如)]

317. The Disembodied Friend [ Chu sheng (褚生)]

318. Homes of rebels [ Dao hu (盜戶)]

319. Repentant Thief [ Mou yi (某乙)]

320. The girl with three husbands [ Huo nü (霍女)]

321. Archivist in the Other World [ Siwenlang (司文郎)]

322. Ugly vixen [ Chou hu (醜狐)]

323. Ghost bride [ Lü wubing (呂無病)]

324. Divinatory sapeques [ Qian bu wu (錢卜巫)]

325. Murderous jealousy [ Yao an (姚安)]

326. Vetch Eater [ Cai wei weng (採薇翁)]

327. Vindicators [ Cui meng (崔猛)]

328. The track of the poem [ Shi xian (詩讞)]

329. The grass of life of deer [ Lu xian cao (鹿銜草)]

330. Small coffins [ Xiao guan (小棺)]

331. Women who fell from the sky [ Xing ziyi (邢子儀)]

332. A strange donkey [ Li sheng (李生)]

333. Wonderful private secretary! [ Lu yaguan (陸押官)]

334. Buddhist hymn [ Jiang taishi (蔣太史)]

335. Previous life [ Shao shimei (邵士梅)]

336. Ophthalmia [ Gu sheng (顧生)]

337. Filial piety, marital loyalty [ Chen xijiu (陳錫九)]

Ninth book

338. The Sticked Shrew [ Shao linzi (邵臨淄)]

339. Examinations and competitions in this world and the next [ Yu qu'e (於去惡)]

340. Burst of laughter [ Kuang sheng (狂生)]

341. Customs of Cheng [ Su (俗)]

342. Vigilant Mirror [ Feng xian (鳳仙)]

343. Lesson in modesty [ Tong ke (佟客)]

344. Returning from Liaoyang [ Liaoyang jun (遼陽軍)]

345. Singer from the heart [ Zhang gongshi (張貢士)]

346. Aimée [ Ainu (愛奴)]

347. Magistrate of castrate-father [ Shanfu zai (單父宰)]

348. Sun Be Saved [ Sun bizhen (孫必振)]

349. Cut up before breakfast [ Yi ren (邑人)]

350. Ingot Mark [ Yuanbao (元寶)]

351. Inkstone [ Yanshi (研石)]

352. Scale of a thousand toises [ Wuyi (武夷)]

353. Big rat [ Dashu (大鼠)]

354. Spared by hail [ Zhang buliang (張不量)]

355. The she-wolf [ Mushu (牧豎)]

356. Wise creditor [ Fu weng (富翁)]

357. Constable Wang [ Wang sima (王司馬)]

358. Summoning the Eastern Peak [ Yue shen (岳神)]

359. Little Vixen [ Xiaomei (小梅)]

360. Aphrodisiac overdose [ Yao seng (藥僧)]

361. The Insight of Censor Yu [ Yu zhongcheng (於中丞)]

362. On duty in the underworld [ Zaoli (皂隸)]

363. The spinner [ Jinü (績女)]

364. The Dutch carpet [ Hongmao an (紅毛氈)]

365. Tripe Nightmare [ Chou chang (抽腸)]

366. Marital attachment [ Zhang hongjian (張鴻漸)]

367. Deadly Bear Meat [ Taiyi (太醫)]

368. Flying Ox [ Niu fei (牛飛)]

369. Haunting of competitions [ Wang zi'an (王子安)]

370. The Cunning of the Cunning [ Diao xing (刁姓)]

371. Peasant woman with fist [ Nongfu (農婦)]

372. Changed into a fox [ Jinling yi (金陵乙)]

373. Paradoxical Verdicts [ Guo an (郭安)]

374. Criminal cases [ Zhe yu (折獄)]

375. The grateful dog [ Yi quan (義犬)]

376. One less weight on the heart [ Yang dahong (楊大洪)]

377. Mount Chaya Cave [ Chaya shandong (查牙山洞)]

378. Island of Immortals [ Anqi dao (安期島)]

379. Strange customs [ Yuan su (沅俗)]

380. Dream Princess [ Yunluo gongzhu (雲蘿公主)]

381. Bird language [ Niao yu (鳥語)]

382. Heavenly Palaces [ Tian gong (天宮)]

383. Ugly, but noble and faithful [ Jiaonü (喬女)]

384. Strange bivalve [ Ge (蛤)]

385. Madam Liu [ Liu furen (劉夫人)]

386. The Fox of Lingxian [ Lingxian hu (陵縣狐)]

Tenth book

387. Wang the peddler [ Wang huolang (王貨郎)]

388. Dragons at the end of their strength [ Pi long (疲龍)]

389. Secrets Disclosed [ Zhen sheng (真生)]

390. Cloth merchant [Bu shang (布商)]

391. Disappeared in the bag! [ Peng erzheng (彭二掙)]

392. Literary divination [ He xian (何仙)]

393. Fragment of a vulpine story [ Niu tongren (牛同人)]

394. The Fairy [ Shennü (神女)]

395. Brotherly Love [ Xiangqun (湘裙)]

396. Three lives of animosity [ San sheng (三生)]

397. Abusive father-in-law [ Changting (長亭)]

398. Infernal Corruptions [ Xi fangping (席方平)]

399. Silverfish [ Suqiu (素秋)]

400. ???? [XXX (賈奉雉)]

401. The hell of the race for honors

401. The Affair of the Embroidered Slipper [ Yanzhi (胭脂)]

402. Finette [ Axian (阿纖)]

403. Disfigured Face [ Ruiyun (瑞雲)]

404. Big sister [ Qiu daniang (仇大娘)]

405. Cao Cao's Tomb [ Cao Cao zhong (曹操塚)]

406. Thrown into a well [ Longfei xianggong (龍飛相公)]

407. The two daughters-in-law [ Shanhu (珊瑚)]

408. The five penetrators [ Wu tong (五通)]

409. The last of the five penetrators [ You ]

410. Giant turtle [ Shen shi (申氏)]

411. How to regain the husband's favor [ Hengniang (恆娘)]

412. Crazy about peonies [ Ge jin (葛巾)]

Eleventh book

413. Carpenter Feng [ Feng mujiang (馮木匠)]

414. Chrysanthemums [ Huangying (黃英)]

415. Bibliomaniac [ Shu chi (書痴)]

416. Great Saint Equal to Heaven [ Qi tian dasheng (齊天大聖)]

417. Frog Girl [ Qingwa shen (青蛙神)]

418. Subscriptions [ You ]

419. A fabulous game of dice [ Ren xiu (任秀)]

420. Dance Ghost Loves [ Wanxia (晚霞)]

421. Love and poetry [ Bai qiulian (白秋練)]

422. Justice Prince [ Wangzhe (王者)]

423. Terrible Retribution [ Mou jia (某甲)]

424. Three curses of Quzhou [ Quzhou san guai (衢州三怪)]

425. The Demolisher [ Chailou ren (拆樓人)]

426. Giant Scorpion [ Da xie (大蠍)]

427. Married to two Taoist nuns [ Chen yunqi (陳雲犧)]

428. Puns [ Sizhali (司札吏)]

429. Scutigera [ Youting (蚰蜓)]

430. Assistant Instructors [ Sixun (司訓)]

431. Black slaves [ Heigui (黑鬼)]

432. Daughter of Dongting Lake [ Zhicheng (織成)]

433. Crow Robe [ Zhuqing (竹青)]

434. Repentant Jealous [ Duan shi (段氏)]

435. The vixen in the box [ Hu nü (狐女)]

436. Wise Woman [ Zhang shi fu (張氏婦)]

437. The fish friend [ Yu ziyou (於子游)]

438. Male concubine [ Nan qie (男妾)]

439. Child prodigy [ Wang keshou (汪可受)]

440. Young buffalo [ Niudu (牛犢)]

441. Unrepentant Gamblers [ Wang da (王大)]

442. The Innocent [ Yue zhong (樂仲)]

443. Peony and honeysuckle [ Xiangyu (香玉)]

444. Three immortals [ San xian (三仙)]

445. Council of Specters [ Gui li (鬼隸)]

446. False salt workers [ Wang shi (王十)]

447. Coincidences [ Da nan (大男)]

448. From a strange country [ Waiguoren (外國人)]

449. Incest [ Wei gongzi (韋公子)]

450. Passionate about stones [ Shi qingxu (石清虛)]

451. Quarrels of half-brothers [ Zeng youyu (曾友於)]

452. Son of family [ Jiaping gongzi (嘉平公子)]

Twelfth book

453. The two tigers [ Er ban (二班)]

454. The Wolf and the Carter [ Chefu (車夫)]

455. Clairvoyance and poetry [ Ji xian (乩仙)]

456. Devourer of mediocre scholars [ Miao sheng (苗生)]

457. Scorpion Merchant [ Xie ke (蠍客)]

458. Bru changed into a sow [ Du xiaolei (杜小雷)]

459. Grateful wolves [ Mao dafu (毛大福)]

460. Goldfish [ Bao shen (雹神)]

461. Eight jars [ Li bagang (李八缸)]

462. Criminal boatmen [ Laolong hanghu (老龍船戶)]

463. Daughter of the Serpent [ Qingcheng fu (青城婦)]

464. Owl [ Niao (鳥)]

465. Ancient vases [ Gu ping (古瓶)]

466. Tutor in Hell [ Yuan shao xiansheng (元少先生)]

467. Returned from beyond the grave [ Xue weiniang (薛慰娘)]

468. Ghosts of the Lake [ Tian zicheng (田子成)]

469. Boatman's Daughter [ Wang gui'an (王桂庵)]

470. Double Marriage (Continuation of the previous story) [ Jisheng (寄生)]

471. Scriptural improprieties [ Zhou sheng (周生)]

472. Grateful Fox [ Chu suiliang (褚遂良)]

473. Brave veterinarian [ Liu quan (劉全)]

474. Where do hares come from? [ Tu hua tu (土化兔)]

475. Message from birds [ Niao shi (鳥使)]

476. Trapped by a fox [ Ji sheng (姬生)]

477. Retributions [ Guobao (果報)]

478. Prevarications [ Gongsun xia (公孫夏)]

479. Evil epidemic [ Han fang (韓方)]

480. Thunderbolts [ Renzhen (紉針)]

481. Divine Grip [ Huanhou (桓侯)]

482. Daughter of Heaven exiled here below [ Fendie (粉蝶)]

483. Death and rebirth [ Li tansi (李檀斯)]

484. Rejected Husband [ Jinse (錦瑟)]

485. The Taiyuan Affair [ Taiyuan yu (太原獄)]

486. The Trial of Xinzheng [ Xinzheng song (新鄭訟)]

487. Previous life [ Li xiangxian (李象先)]

488. Temporary wife [ Fang wenshu (房文淑)]

489. Good for dogs [ Qin gui (秦檜)]

490. Blue Fears [ Zhedong fang (浙東生)]

491. Vengeful Dragon [ Boxing nü (博興女)]

492. Mandarin worthy of the name? Just one! [ Yi yuan guan (一員官)]

493. Beggar Immortal [ Gaixian (丐汕)]

494. Suborned Bribery [ Renyao (人妖)]

Apocrypha

495. Hibernating snake [ Zhe she (蟄蛇)]

496. A guy from Shanxi [ Jin ren (晉人)]

497. Dragon [ Long (龍)]

498. For the Love of Literary Talent [ Ai cai (愛纔)]

499. Dream of wolves [ Meng lang ]

500. Ten absurdities [ Abao ]

501. Pig snout [ Zhuzui daoren ]

502. Wonderful Pebble [ Zhang mu ]

503. The Persian [ Bosi ren ]

Adaptations

 * Liaozhai Zhiyi has inspired many Chinese film adaptations, including those by King Hu (Painted Skin, A Touch of Zen), Gordon Chan (Painted Skin, Mural), Ching Siu-tung (A Chinese Ghost Story series) and the Taiwanese director Li Han-Hsiang (The Enchanting Shadow).
 * Jonathan D. Spence. The Death of Woman Wang. (New York: Viking Press, 1978). ISBN 0670262323. Uses material from Liaozhai Zhiyi to set the background.