豔異編 by Shizhen Wang
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So, what exactly is 豔異編? Think of it less as a novel and more as a massive, curated scrapbook. Compiled by the scholar-official Wang Shizhen in the 1500s, it's a huge collection of short narratives—over a thousand entries—pulled from earlier writings and oral traditions. There's no single plot. Instead, you jump from story to story. You'll meet lovers separated by death, cunning animal spirits taking human form, and officials caught in supernatural dilemmas. The settings range from bustling city streets to lonely mountain temples, all painted with a stark, often haunting, clarity.
Why You Should Read It
This book is a direct line to the Ming Dynasty imagination. The stories are raw, unfiltered, and move at a breakneck pace. They don't moralize heavily; they just present these bizarre events as if they could happen to anyone. I love how human emotions—jealousy, longing, curiosity—are the real drivers, even when ghosts or demons are involved. It shows a world where the mystical wasn't separate from daily life but tangled right up in it. Reading it feels like uncovering a secret history of desires and fears.
Final Verdict
Perfect for readers who love myth, folklore, or short fiction with a dark twist. If you enjoy the strange tales of writers like Pu Songling (who came later), this is a fascinating earlier counterpart. It's also great for anyone curious about pre-modern Chinese culture beyond emperors and wars—here, you get the weird, wonderful, and deeply human stories that people told each other. Just be ready for some genuinely eerie moments.
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John White
1 year agoWow.
Patricia Nguyen
1 year agoHaving read this twice, it manages to explain difficult concepts in plain English. I learned so much from this.
Mason Brown
1 year agoLoved it.
Brian Allen
7 months agoTo be perfectly clear, the arguments are well-supported by credible references. I will read more from this author.
Edward Allen
1 year agoNot bad at all.