Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Vol. 2 (of 2)

In Short

This collection of classic Chinese tales gathers eerie fables, spirit encounters, and moral allegories set against the backdrop of imperial society. Through encounters with scheming officials, generous ghosts, shape-shifting entities, and divine judges, the narrative exposes the fragile boundary between mortal existence and the netherworld. Ordinary scholars, grief-stricken sons, and humble fishermen navigate a cosmos governed by karmic retribution, where earthly injustice finds its ultimate reckoning in the infernal courts. Its enduring appeal lies in its vivid blend of folklore, sharp political satire, and profound reflection on human virtue and fatal flaw.

The Story

The collection unfolds across a series of interconnected journeys through supernatural realms and mortal struggles, tracing humanity's relentless encounter with the unknown. In the initial movements, earthly grievances drive mortals into direct conflict with corrupt authorities and shadowy forces. A devoted brother named Hsiang Kao seeks justice after a wealthy rival murders his sibling, only to find the local magistrate thoroughly bought by bribes. Driven to desperate measures, he takes to hiding in the hills with a blade, determined to exact vengeance himself. Elsewhere, a filial son named Hsi Fang-p'ing descends directly into the underworld after his dying father cries out that a deceased neighbor is bribing hellish wardens to torture him. Venturing through the dark corridors of the subterranean courts, the young man bravely confronts abusive gaolers, exposing how human corruption echoes even within the infernal bureaucracy.

As the narrative broadens, the boundary between ghost and mortal grows fluid. A humble fisherman named Hsü regularly pours wine libations into the river for drowned spirits and forms an unlikely alliance with a phantom named Wang Liu-lang, who drives shoals of fish into Hsü's nets out of gratitude. In another quarter, young scholars pursuing imperial examinations are ensnared by grand illusions, purchasing unearned titles or falling prey to ambitious spirits. Mystical encounters continually reshape human fate: a traveller named Mr. Pai is taken on a vision by a spirit-arrester, peering into an official residence guarded by fierce wolves to discover the predatory reality of corrupt governance. Elsewhere, a giant serpent terrorizes nesting herons for years until the birds return with a colossal Roc that swoops down from the heavens, tearing off the monster's head and shattering temple masonry in a display of divine intervention.

In the final arc, the collection moves deep into the underlying mechanics of fate, judgment, and spiritual transformation. Mortals encounter wandering Taoist masters and mad priests who test their freedom from worldly attachments. A sick man named Mr. Yang meets a mysterious flute-playing priest who throws his money into a river; when Yang reacts with regret, the priest strikes him on the back, calling him a worldly fellow, which instantly clears a physical blockage from his chest. The narrative ultimately culminates in the formidable architecture of the Ten Courts of Hell. Governed by infernal monarchs like Ch'u Ching and Chuan Lun, these subterranean realms subject sinners to severe wards of ice, fire, and blades according to their earthly transgressions. Yet, mercy coexists with punishment: after enduring retribution, souls pass before Mother Mêng to drink the draught of forgetfulness on the Terrace of Oblivion before being reborn into the world via the Wheel of Reincarnation, completing the eternal cycle of cosmic order.

How It Unfolds

Injustice sparks the search Mortal lives are upended by sudden violence, official bribery, and cruel deceit in the earthly realm. When a corrupt magistrate ignores a fatal beating due to heavy bribes, a grieving brother conceals himself with a knife among the hillside bushes, waiting to ambush his sibling's murderer.

Descent into the netherworld Filial devotion and unyielding resolve drive courageous souls beyond the mortal realm into the subterranean halls of justice. Hsi Fang-p'ing discovers his deceased father being systematically abused by gaolers in an underworld prison, prompting him to openly curse and challenge the corrupt infernal officers.

Bonds across the divide Generous acts and simple libations bridge the gap between living men and roaming spirits. A lonely fisherman who regularly shares his nightly wine with drowned souls earns the enduring loyalty of a phantom, who drives abundant shoals of fish straight into his nets evening after evening.

Unmasking earthly corruption Supernatural visions strip away the outer illusions of high social rank and official grandeur. A father visiting a magistrate's official compound during a spectral journey encounters predatory wolves guarding the entrance, exposing the systemic cruelty inherent in imperial governance.

Tests of spiritual detachment Wandering immortals, mad priests, and magical beings confront humans with their hidden greeds and worldly anxieties. An ailing scholar seeking a cure watches a Taoist priest toss his hard-earned money into a river, learning through a sudden physical blow that his sickness stems directly from his material attachments.

Miraculous intervention When earthly or spiritual horrors exceed human capacity, extraordinary beasts and magical feats restore cosmic balance. A pair of grieving herons enlist a giant Roc to swoop down from the skies, destroying a massive nest-robbing serpent and shattering temple masonry.

The wheel of cosmic judgment Every soul eventually stands before the ten subterranean courts to answer for its accumulated sins and virtues. Sinners endure targeted tortures across sixteen distinct infernal wards before passing before Mother Mêng to drink the draught of forgetfulness and enter their next incarnation.

The People

Hsiang Kao seeks vengeance against the wealthy young man who murdered his half-brother Shêng after a dispute over a marriage. Blocked by a corrupt magistrate who accepts bribes to quash the murder charges, Hsiang Kao transforms from a helpless mourner into a relentless assassin who hides daily in the hills with a sharp knife.

Hsi Fang-p'ing wants to rescue his deceased father from being tortured in hell by bribed spirits. Facing cruel underworld gaolers and a rigged infernal system, his filial devotion transforms him into a fearless rebel who willingly leaves his mortal body to challenge demonic authorities in the subterranean courts.

Hsü wants nothing more than a modest catch of fish and quiet companionship during his night shifts along the riverbank. Impeded by poor luck and poverty, his habit of offering wine libations to drowned spirits leads to a transformative friendship with a phantom who assists his daily trade.

Mr. Yang seeks a miraculous cure for a painful physical lump stuck inside his chest. Hindered by his intense obsession with money and material security, his encounter with an enigmatic Taoist priest who throws his cash into a river forces him to confront his worldly mind, ultimately freeing him from his physical suffering.

In Its Own Voice

When a young scholar accidentally wanders into a restricted palace garden and writes verses on a royal item, an attendant warns him of his grave danger.

"This is a handkerchief the princess is constantly using, and you have gone and scribbled all over it; what will become of you now?"

Upon discovering that his deceased father is being systematically mistreated in the underworld prison, a furious son confronts the abusive wardens.

"Out upon you!" cried he; "if my father is guilty he should be punished according to law, and not at the will of a set of scoundrels like you."

After testing a sick man's attachment to his material wealth by throwing his money into the river, a mysterious Taoist priest delivers a harsh spiritual truth.

"Aha!" cried the priest at this; "so you are not indifferent, eh? You’ll find your money all safe on the bank."

What It's Really About

At its core, the work functions as a biting critique of institutional power and human morality, exposing how corruption in the mortal bureaucracy mirrors or distorts divine justice. It investigates the persistent tension between earthly law and cosmic retribution, asking whether true righteousness can ever exist in a world where wealth repeatedly sways magistrates and gaolers alike. Beneath the spectral encounters and folkloric wonder lies an argument for filial piety, spiritual detachment, and karmic accountability. The stories insist that human desires—whether for material gain, revenge, or status—bind individuals to suffering. By setting its characters against the vast backdrop of the Ten Courts of Hell and the Wheel of Reincarnation, the narrative asserts that ultimate justice is inescapable, transcending mortal mortality and earthly deception.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate rich folklore, atmospheric ghost stories, and dark satirical takes on justice will find this volume deeply absorbing. It feels like stepping into a labyrinthine world where the mundane and the miraculous constantly overlap, offering a fascinating window into classic Chinese social life and spiritual philosophy. What stays with you is its vivid moral imagination—from tiny plague-bearing creatures hidden behind ears to the terrifyingly precise tortures of subterranean courts.

However, modern readers should be prepared for certain structural and period difficulties. The narrative style is highly episodic, presenting a vast tapestry of brief tales rather than a single continuous novel. The prose retains 19th-century translation conventions, complete with archaic phrasing, dense footnotes on administrative degrees, and detailed explanations of local customs. Furthermore, the text reflects historical period attitudes, including casual acceptance of official corporal punishment, concubinage, and rigid societal hierarchies. For those willing to navigate these historical artifacts, the collection offers an unforgettable, sweeping journey through the ghostly boundaries of human nature and cosmic law.