Three days later, the bride and bridegroom visited their parents. On the fourth day, the officer said, “Since there is a time limit according to the rites, he should be sent away.” With a golden cup and a small musk bag as gifts, the girl bid farewell to her husband and they parted in tears. In addition, she gave him ten thousand cash and three volumes of pharmaceutical prescriptions, saying, “You can spread beneficence with these.” Again she said, “Ten years from now I will be here to welcome you back.”
The man returned home and was reluctant to marry other girls. He left his relatives and became a Buddhist monk. Among the three volumes of prescriptions he got, one was the Classic of the Pulse, one was the Prescriptions of Decoction, and one was the Prescriptions of Pill. He traveled around with them to cure and save people, and all of them showed marvelous effects. Later, when both his mother and elder brother became old, he returned home, married, and became an official in the court.
(GXSGC, #252. 429–30; FYZL, 75. 2220–21; TPGJ, 295. 2350–51)
6. ZHEN CHONG AND THE LOCAL DEITY
Zhen Chong of Zhongshan State,18 styled Shurang, was appointed magistrate of Yundu.19 When he arrived at Huihuai County,20 a man suddenly came to inform him: “The son of the local deity would like to call on you.” In a moment the visitor arrived, and he was young and handsome.
After they sat down and exchanged greetings, the young deity said, “My father sent me here since he admires your fame and wants to claim ties of kinship with your noble house by giving my younger sister in marriage. For this reason I came to inform you of his wish.”
Zhen was astonished, saying, “I have passed my prime, and besides, I have a wife already. What reason is there for such a proposal?”21
The son of the local deity said again, “My younger sister is young and her beauty is matchless. Certainly she wants to have a good match. How can you refuse?”
Zhen replied, “I am an old man and currently have a wife. How could I allow myself to violate regulations and transgress against propriety?”
They argued back and forth several times, but Zhen did not change his mind at all. The son of the local deity looked angry, saying, “My father will certainly come himself. I’m afraid that you will not be able to go against his will.”
As soon as the young deity left, Zhen saw people wearing kerchiefs and holding whips on both banks of the river. They marched in good order and were followed by many attendants.
Soon, the local deity arrived in person with honor guards before and after him like a hegemon. He rode in a carriage followed by several carriages with dark-green banners and red trim. The girl rode in an open carriage with several dozen silk wind screens, and in front of her were eight maids, all wearing embroidered gowns such as Zhen had never seen.
Then they pitched a tent on the bank next to Zhen and spread a mat. The local deity stepped out of his carriage and sat on a white woolen rug by a low table. He brought with him a jade spittoon and a tortoiseshell towel holder, and he held a white flywhisk in his hand. His daughter, however, was at the east bank, with eunuchs holding white whisks on both sides of the carriage and maids in front. The local deity directed his sixty or so assistant officers to sit in front, then ordered music to be played. All the musical instruments were like colored glaze.
The local deity said to Zhen, “I have a humble daughter, yet she is dear to my heart. Because of your lofty morality and good reputation, I desire to claim ties of kinship with you in marriage. Therefore, I have sent my son to thoroughly express such an intention.”
Zhen replied, “I am old and emaciated; I have a wife, and furthermore, my son has grown up. Even if I covet your honorable offering, I would not venture to accept it.”
The local deity said again, “My daughter has just turned twenty. She is kind, beautiful, and possesses all of the Four Virtues. Now she is on the bank. Don’t make trouble anymore—just go through with the wedding, please!”
Zhen declined him resolutely. Thinking that he might be an evil demon, Zhen drew his sword and laid it on his knees to resist him with death, without talking to him anymore.
The local deity was enraged, so he ordered two three-color striped tigers to be summoned, which opened their crimson mouths, roared as if the earth was splitting, and leaped directly at Zhen. This was repeated several dozen times. Zhen kept up his resistance until dawn.
Unable to do anything with Zhen, the local deity withdrew. He left a pull cart, along with several dozen people, to wait for Zhen.
Therefore, Zhen moved to Huihuai County to live. The cart and the people who waited for Zhen arrived at his door again. Among them, a man wearing a single-layer garment and kerchiefs bowed to him, yet he stopped there and was not able to go forward.
Zhen stayed there for more than ten days before he dared to leave. He saw two people wearing kerchiefs and holding whips arrive at his home. No more than a few days after he arrived home, his wife became ill and died.22
(GXSGC, #208. 411–13; TPGJ, 318. 2522–23)
7. A GHOST MATCHMAKER
Both Ma Zhongshu and Wang Zhidu were natives of Liaodong Commandery,23 and they were close friends. Zhongshu died first, and the next year he showed up physically and told Zhidu, “Unfortunately I died too early, yet you have always been in my heart. Considering that you don’t have a wife, I should get a wife for you. By the twentieth day of the eleventh month, she will be sent to visit your home. You need only to clean your house, set up a bed and mat, and wait for her.”
On that day, Zhidu secretly cleaned his house, when a strong wind blew and the day became as dark as night. When it was about evening, the wind stopped. Suddenly a red curtain set itself up in the bedroom.
Zhidu opened the curtain and looked inside. He found in the bed a woman who was attractive and dignified. Lying there, she was just able to breathe. All his cousins were startled and terrified; none of them dared to approach her. It was only Zhidu who was able to go see her.
In a short while, the girl got up and sat. Zhidu asked, “Who are you?”
The girl replied, “I am a native of Henan Commandery.24 My father is the governor of Qinghe.25 My wedding is approaching, but I don’t know why I suddenly appeared here.”
Zhidu told her all about the intention of his late friend. The girl said, “It must be Heaven that allows me be your wife.” Thus they became husband and wife.
[The girl’s father] went to visit Zhidu’s home and was greatly delighted. He also thought that it was Heaven who offered his daughter to Zhidu, thus he offered her to him as well. The couple begot a boy, who later became the Governor of Nanjun.26
(GXSGC, #220. 416–17; TPGJ, 322. 2553)
8. THE GIRL ONE SAVED BECOMES HIS WIFE
A man of Qu’e,27 whose name has been forgotten, once returned home from the capital. It was almost dark, yet he was not able to reach his home. Furthermore, it started raining, so he lodged in a large house.
When the rain stopped and the moon was bright, he saw from a distance a woman arriving at the house and staying under the eave, sighing in despair.
Consequently she untied the rope from her waist and hung it on the upper corner of the house, trying to hang herself. It seemed that there was someone on the eave who was pulling the rope.
The man of Qu’e secretly cut the curling rope, and he cut toward the upper part of the house as well. Then he saw a ghost running toward the west.
Toward dawn the girl was just revived, yet she was able to speak. She said, “My home is just ahead, not far from here.” So the man took her home and told her parents what had happened.
Probably it was heavenly fate that made it so. Thereupon the parents married their daughter to him as his wife.
(GXSGC, #188. 406; TPYL, 766. 3401b–02a)
9. THE MARRIAGE THROUGH CATCHING A GHOST
At the end of the Shengping reign period (357–361) of the [Eastern] Jin (317–420) dynasty, an old man of Guzhang County had a daughter who lived with him deep in the mountains.28 Guang of Yuha
ng proposed that the girl become his wife yet was refused.29
Later when the old man contracted an illness and died, his daughter went to the county seat to buy a coffin. Halfway there she met Guang. The girl told him everything. She said, “I am pressed by poverty. If you can go to my home to guard my father’s corpse, when I return I’ll be your wife.” Guang promised her. The girl said, “In our pigpen there is a pig; you may slaughter it to feed the helpers.”
When Guang reached the girl’s home, he heard inside the room only the sounds of clapping and dancing. Guang broke the fence, seeing that many ghosts in the hall were toying with the old man’s corpse in their hands. Guang grabbed a stick, shouted, and entered the gate. All of the ghosts left. Guang guarded the corpse and fetched the pig to slaughter.
When night came, he saw an old ghost who stretched his hand to beg for meat. Thereupon Guang grabbed his arms. The ghost was not able to escape, and Guang held his arms tighter and tighter. He heard from outside the ghosts yelling together, “This old slave is greedy for food, and now he must be very happy.”
Guang told the old ghost, “It must be you who killed the old man. You may return his soul immediately, then I’ll let you go; if you don’t, I’ll never release you.”
The old ghost said, “My sons killed the old man.” Then he called his sons, “You may give it back to him.”
Gradually the old man was revived. Accordingly, Guang released the old ghost.
When the girl arrived with a coffin on a cart, they met in astonishment and sorrow. Thereupon Guang took the girl as his wife.
(GXSGC, #93. 379–80; TPGJ, 383. 3052)
10. THE MARRIAGE OF LIFE AND DEATH30
Mazi, the son of the Governor of Guangping Commandery named Feng Xiaojiang,31 once dreamed of a girl around the age of eighteen or nineteen. She said, “I am the daughter of Xu Xuanfang, the previous governor, and unfortunately I died young. It has been four years. I was wrongly killed by a ghost, yet according to the record of my life span, I should live to the age of over eighty. Now I am allowed to revive, return [to the mortal world], and be your wife. Would you like to marry me?”
Mazi dug up the coffin, opened it, and looked inside; the girl had already revived. Thus they became husband and wife.
(GXSGC, #205. 411; TPGJ, 276. 2181–82)
11. MR. XU’S REGRETFUL ENCOUNTER WITH THE CELESTIAL GIRL32
In Jingkou there was once a Mr. Xu,33 whose home was fairly shabby. He often picked up floating firewood by the Yangzi River.
One day, all of a sudden, he saw a row of boats coming, which covered the whole river. The boats directly entered the river mouth and berthed near Xu.
A messenger was sent to him, saying, “Now the celestial girl is going to be the wife of Mr. Xu.”
Xu went into the corner of his house to hide, refusing to come out. His mother, brothers, and sisters all encouraged him; then he came out reluctantly.
Before he reached the boats, the maids were ordered in advance to draw a bath for Mr. Xu in another room. The water was fragrant and could rarely be found in this ordinary world. Xu was given a garment of red silk, yet he only accepted it out of fear. He kneeled down at the end of the bed that night, without the courtesy of greetings and interactions between a man and a woman.
The girl then sent him out.34 Xu gave her back the garments that she had bestowed on him and then withdrew.35
The whole family, young and old, all blamed and abused him severely. Consequently, he died with sighs of regret.
(GXSGC, #206. 411; TPGJ, 292. 2326)
12. DAUGHTER OF THE RIVER GOD
Wu Kan, a minor official of Yangxian County,36 had a master south of the stream. Once when he crossed the river in a short-head boat, he saw a five-colored floating stone in the river. He grabbed it and put it on the head of his bed. When night came, the stone became a girl who said that she was the daughter of the god of the river.
(GXSGC, #166. 400; BTSC, 137. 255b; TPYL, 52. 254b)
13. THE GOLDEN JAR AS A GIFT37
The daughter of Cui Maobo of Qinghe County was betrothed to the son of the Pei family. Before the appointed time for the wedding arrived, the girl suddenly died. Holding a golden jar with the capacity of about two liters, the girl directly arrived and stood in front of Cui’s bed, bestowing the jar upon Cui.
(GXSGC, #185. 406; TPYL, 758. 364b)
14. HUANG YUAN ENCOUNTERS MIAOYIN
During the Han dynasty, Huang Yuan, a native of Taishan Commandery,38 opened his door one morning. Suddenly he saw a black dog sitting outside the door, guarding his home completely like a dog that he raised. Yuan tied the dog with a leash to hunt with his neighbors.
Around sunset, he saw a deer. Then he released the dog. The dog ran very slowly. Yuan ran after it with all his strength, yet could never reach it.
After running for several li, they reached a cave. After entering it for more than a hundred paces, Yuan suddenly saw a smooth thoroughfare where scholar trees and willows were planted on both sides, surrounded by fences. Following the dog, Yuan entered a door where stood several dozen houses with windows, all filled with girls who were beautiful in appearance and wore colorful garments. Some of them were playing zithers, and others were playing chess.
When he arrived at the northern pavilion, there were three rooms with two maids on duty, and they looked as if they were expecting someone. Seeing Yuan, they smiled at each other, saying, “This is Miaoyin’s husband who was led by the black dog.” One of them stayed; the other entered the pavilion.
A moment later, four maids came out, saying, “Lady Taizhen let us inform Mr. Huang: ‘There is a girl who is not yet fifteen, the age a girl has her hair pinned up, but she is fated to be your wife.’”
When it was dark, they led Yuan into the inner quarter. Inside, there was a hall facing south. In front of the hall there was a pool. In the pool there was a terrace. At each of the four corners of the terrace there was a one-foot-deep cave. Inside the cave, curtains and mats were illuminated by light. Miaoyin was gentle and attractive. Her maids were also beautiful. After the wedding was finished, they feasted and lived together like old friends.
After several days, Yuan intended to return home temporarily to inform his family of what had happened. Miaoyin said, “The ways of human beings and the spirits are different. Intrinsically we could not stay together for long.”
The next day, she untied her jade pendant and gave it to him as a gift, and parted with him. By the steps where they parted, she was in tears. “Since there might be no chance for us to meet again, my love and adoration have become even deeper. If you still miss me, when the first day of the third month comes, you may fast, take a bath, and make sacrificial offerings to me.”
The four maids sent Yuan out the door and saw him off. In half a day he arrived at his home, yet it seemed that he was in a trance. Whenever the appointed time arrived, he often saw a curtained carriage flying in the air.
(GXSGC, #46. 364–65; FYZL, 31. 968–69)
15. THE SILVER CHAIN AS A GIFT
In the third year of the Yixi reign period (405–418) of the Eastern Jin dynasty, Xu Qi, a native of Shanyin,39 went out of his home and saw a girl who was extremely beautiful. Qi untied the silver chain on his arm and gave it to her as a gift. The girl said, “I am so moved that you come to bestow this on me.” Then she gave Qi a green bronze mirror, and consequently they became a couple.40
(GXSGC, #135. 392–93; BTSC, 135. 241b & 136. 246a; TPYL, 812. 3608b)
16. A PINNED PAINTING
At Jiangling, Gu Changkang (348–409) fell in love with a girl.41 After returning home, Changkang missed her endlessly. So he painted a picture of the girl and pinned it to the wall with a hairpin, but the place where the hairpin pierced was exactly her heart.
[At her place] the real girl walked for ten li, then felt a pain in her heart as if it was pierced, and she could not walk forward anymore.42
(GXSGC, #111. 385; TPYL, 741. 3288b)
17. THE GIRL PICKING CHE
STNUTS
Lü Qiu of Dongping Commandery was wealthy and handsome.43 One day when he reached the Qu’e Lake by boat,44 he encountered wind and was not able to go forward.
After mooring beside the wild rice stems, he saw a young girl picking chestnuts on a boat, whose whole body was covered by lotus leaves. Thereupon he asked, “Aren’t you a ghost? Why are your clothes like this?”
The girl looked at him in fear, replying, “Haven’t you heard? ‘Wearing a lotus coat with melilotus girdle, quickly he came and quickly departed’?” 45 Yet she showed fear on her face. Turning over and tidying her boat, she left hesitantly.
Qiu shot her from a distance and then obtained an otter. The boat of the former girl was full of clover fern, white wormwood artemisia, algae, and the like.
Qiu saw an old lady standing on the shore, as if expecting someone. Seeing the boat passing, she asked, “Did you see the girl who was picking chestnuts on the lake?” Qiu replied, “She is not far behind us.” Then he shot the old woman and obtained an old otter.
Those who lived around the lake all said, “On the lake there has been a girl picking chestnuts, whose beauty surpasses that of other girls. Sometimes she went to someone’s home. Those who became her lovers are numerous.”
(GXSGC, #169. 401–02; YWLJ, 82. 405–06)
18. THE SEDUCTION OF A SWAN SPIRIT
In the Yuanxing reign period (402–404) of Emperor An of Jin, a man over twenty had not yet married. But his eyes had never glimpsed beautiful girls, and he had not engaged in immoral conduct.
Once, when the young man was working in the field, he saw an extremely beautiful girl, who said to him, “I heard that you consider yourself a man of Liu Ji’s type;46 have you ever enjoyed meeting a girl in the mulberry?” 47 Then the girl sang a song. The color of the young man’s face slightly changed.
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