Original Text
In the third month of the year Guihai, I traveled to Jinan with Gao Jiwen, and we lodged together at an inn. Suddenly, Gao Jiwen fell ill. It happened that Gao Zhenmei also arrived in the prefectural city with Mr. Gao Niandong, so we consulted together on how to treat him. Hearing from Yuan Lingong that the Liang family in the southern suburbs had a fox spirit skilled in medicine, we all went to call upon it.
Madam Liang was a woman of about forty, with a mysterious air that strongly suggested a fox spirit. Entering her chamber, one found an inner room hung with red curtains. Parting the curtains, one saw on the wall an image of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, along with two or three paintings of mounted figures wielding spears, their attendants in chaotic array. Beneath the northern wall stood a table, upon which rested a tiny seat no more than a foot high, covered with a small brocade cushion—this, it was said, was where the immortal sat when he descended. The company lit incense, lined up, and made obeisance with clasped hands. Madam Liang struck a stone chime three times and murmured incantations. After the prayers, she invited everyone to sit on the couch in the outer room. She herself stood beneath the curtain, tidying her hair and resting her chin on her hand as she conversed with the guests, speaking only of the miraculous deeds of the great immortal. A long while passed, and as dusk fell, the guests grew anxious about returning home in the dark and begged Madam Liang to pray once more for the immortal's presence. She again struck the chime and renewed her prayers, then turned and stood beneath the curtain, saying, "The great immortal delights most in nighttime conversation; at other times one seldom encounters him. Last night, a scholar awaiting the examinations brought wine and dishes to drink with the immortal, and the immortal in turn offered fine wine to the scholar. The two composed poems and laughed together, and when they parted, the night was nearly spent." Before she had finished speaking, a faint, rustling sound arose from within the room, like the fluttering and chirping of bats.
As they were all listening intently, suddenly a sound like a massive stone crashing down came from the table, startling everyone. Lady Liang turned around and said, "That nearly frightened me to death!" Immediately, a sigh was heard from the table, the voice of a robust old man. Lady Liang used a palm-leaf fan to cover the small seat, and from that seat a loud voice proclaimed, "What a fateful meeting! What a fateful meeting!" Then it loudly offered a seat, as if bowing in greeting, and asked, "What counsel do you seek from me?" Gao Zhenmei, following the intent of Master Gao Niandong, inquired, "Have you seen the Bodhisattva?" The voice replied, "Traveling to the Southern Sea is a familiar route for me; how could I not see her?" Gao Zhenmei then asked, "Is the King of Hell also replaced?" The answer came, "It is the same as in the mortal world." Gao Zhenmei pressed further, "What is the King of Hell's surname?" The reply was, "His surname is Cao." After these questions, they sought medicine for Gao Jiwen. The voice instructed, "Upon returning, offer a tea sacrifice at night; I have obtained medicine from the Guanyin Bodhisattva to bestow upon you—what ailment could it not cure?" Each of the others also had their queries, and the immortal resolved them all, after which they took their leave and returned home. By the next night, Gao Jiwen's illness had somewhat improved. I then packed my belongings with Gao Zhenmei and set off for home first, leaving no time to visit Lady Liang again.
Commentary
This is a documentary narrative describing the author and his friends' journey to seek a shaman for medicine. It sequentially recounts the reasons for seeking the cure, the shaman's appearance and demeanor, the arrangement of the room, the interview between the shaman and the seekers, the questions and answers between the fox spirit obtained and the author and his friends, and finally the outcome of the quest. The process is narrated in an orderly and unhurried manner, with twists and turns. The exchanges and courtesies between host and guests are leisurely and graceful, vividly present to the eye. To modern readers, the shaman's pretence of spirits and ghosts seems utterly absurd, and Pu Songling and his friends, in their reverent respect, appear foolish beyond measure. However, in those days, Pu Songling and his companions indeed treated this matter with utmost solemnity and earnestness, for they believed!