Pu Songling Criticism
The critical scholarship surrounding Pu Songling's work explores a multitude of layers, from the captivating blend of supernatural figures and historical contexts to the incisive social critiques embedded within his narratives. Pu's major work, Strange Stories, stands as a testament to his mastery of the ch'uan-ch'i genre, where traditional storytelling techniques meet innovative social commentary. Scholars like Martin Buber have highlighted the engaging subject matter and supernatural figures in his stories, whereas Jaroslav Prušek emphasizes their historical context and the seamless fusion of reality with fantasy.
Pu Songling's narratives are known for their duality, contrasting the triumph of good over evil while subtly critiquing the harsh Manchu rule. This dualistic approach is noted in Judith Zeitlin's analysis of the enduring appeal and varied interpretations of his stories. The blend of folklore with sharp social commentary has led some, like Carl Glick, to distinguish Pu's work from mere folk tale retellings, providing entertainment alongside incisive critique.
The vivid realism in his fantastical narratives is a hallmark of Pu's style, skillfully integrating believable details with supernatural elements. This mastery is celebrated by Herbert Giles, who acknowledges Pu's ability to weave complex themes through traditional forms. Despite some Maoist criticism for his non-explicit condemnation of systemic injustices, Pu's nuanced satire and resistance to oppressive regimes are recognized for their subtlety and depth, as noted by Chun-shu Chang and Hsueh-lun Chang.
Pu Songling's influence extends beyond his time, inspiring Chinese writers and theatrical adaptations, thus securing his distinguished place in literary history. Fatima Wu explores how his works continue to captivate audiences by blending folklore with critical insight and using traditional motifs to enrich the intellectual and aesthetic depth of his tales. Through these scholarly perspectives, readers can appreciate the multifaceted brilliance of Pu Songling's contributions to literature.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Sung-Ling, P'U (Literary Criticism (1400-1800))
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Introduction to Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
(summary)
A highly regarded English sinologist, Giles, through his numerous lectures and publications in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, was instrumental in conveying the rich variety of Chinese culture to the English-speaking world. In 1880 Giles translated and published Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, the first and most extensive translation of P'u's Liao-chai chih-i. In the following introduction, originally written in 1908, Giles comments on P'u's stature in Chinese literature. In his text Giles also includes a 1679 essay by P'u and an 1842 essay by T'ang Mênglai.
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Oriental Otherworld
(summary)
In the following excerpt from a review of Chinese Ghost and Love Stories, translated by Rose Quong in 1946, Glick somewhat misleadingly describes this partial collection of Pu's stories as retold folk tales.
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The Examination Syndrome in Liao-chai-chih-yi
(summary)
The following excerpt is taken from a biographical and critical essay relating P'u's stories about civil-service examinations to his own lifelong inability to pass the examination himself. The excerpted portion of the essay discusses examination stories that feature corrupt or incompetent administrators and those that feature retribution on the part of unsuccessful test-takers.
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Foxes in Chinese Supernatural Tales (Part I)
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Wu examines P 'u's innovative use of the images, symbols, themes, and motifs of the traditional Chinese fox tale.
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Obsession
(summary)
In the following excerpt from her book-length study of P 'u's life and works, Zeitlin examines some of Pu's stories within the context of the Chinese cultural construct of obsession. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the development of an obscure or unusual addiction, compulsion, mania, or craving became a fashionable pursuit of the intelligentsia and occasioned many works of literature and art.
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Introduction to Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
(summary)
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Sung-ling, P'u (Short Story Criticism)
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Introduction to Chinese Ghost & Love Stories
(summary)
An Austrian-born Israeli religious and social thinker, Buber is highly regarded for his research of popular myths and legends and, especially, for his translations of traditional Hasidic tales. In the following excerpt from an essay originally published in 1911 as an introduction to his German translation of P 'u 's tales, Buber notes the engaging subject matter and fascinating supernatural figures in Strange Stories.
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P'u Sung-ling and His Work
(summary)
A well-known Czechoslovakian scholar specializing in Oriental studies, Prušek is highly esteemed for his interpretive and investigative treatment of P'u's works and life. In 1962 he translated into his native language several selections from Strange Stories. In the following excerpt from his preface to this collection, Prušek places P'u's stories in their historical context, highlighting several pieces for their fusion of reality, fantasy, and satire.
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P'u Sung-ling and His 'Liao-chai Chih-I'—Literary Imagination and Intellectual Consciousness in Early Ch'ing China
(summary)
In the following essay, the critics provide a thematic overview of P'u's Liaozhai zhiyi.
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The Discourse on the Strange
(summary)
In the following essay, Zeitlin reviews how P'u's Strange Stories has been received over time and comments on the many varied interpretations of the stories.
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Introduction to Chinese Ghost & Love Stories
(summary)
- Further Reading