Original Text
Old man Du was a native of Yishui in Shandong. One day, after leaving the market, he sat down beneath a wall to wait for his companions. Feeling somewhat weary, he suddenly fell into a dreamlike state, and saw a man holding an official document who seized him and led him away. They arrived at a government office he had never seen before, and a man wearing a ridged cap came out from within—it was Zhang, a man from Qingzhou and an old friend of Du's. Upon seeing Du, Zhang asked in surprise, "Elder brother Du, why have you come here?" Du replied, "I do not know the reason, but there was a document summoning me." Zhang suspected a mistake and offered to check on Du's behalf, instructing him, "Stand here and do not go elsewhere. If you lose your way, it will be difficult to save you." Having said this, he departed. After a long time, Zhang did not return, and only the man holding the document came forward, admitting that he had seized the wrong person and released Du to go home. Du took his leave and set off. On the road, he encountered six or seven young women of captivating beauty, and, feeling drawn to them, he followed behind. Leaving the main road, he hurried along a narrow path, and after a dozen steps, he heard Zhang shouting from behind, "Elder brother Du, where are you going?" Du, infatuated, did not stop. Soon, he saw the women enter a small door, which he recognized as the home of Wang, the wine seller. Unable to resist, he leaned his body through the doorway, and as soon as he glanced inside, he found himself in a pigsty, lying among several young boars. Du suddenly realized he had turned into a pig, and still heard Zhang calling him. Terrified, he quickly struck his head against the wall. Someone exclaimed, "The piglet has gone mad!" Turning his head, he found himself human again. Hastily leaving the place, he saw Zhang waiting for him by the roadside. Zhang scolded him, "I told you not to go elsewhere—why did you not listen? You nearly ruined everything!" Then, taking Du by the hand, he escorted him to the market gate before departing. Du suddenly awoke, still leaning against the wall. When he went to Wang's house to inquire, he learned that a piglet had indeed died from dashing its head against the wall.
Commentary
In the simple resurrection stories of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, the author often uses them to express certain ideas, and this tale is no exception. Old Man Du is mistakenly summoned by the underworld, and while awaiting correction of the error in the nether realm, he disregards warnings, sees "six or seven young maidens with charming countenances," takes delight in them and follows them, then enters "a wine seller's house," whereupon he is reborn as a piglet. Fortunately, he returns in time and is restored to the mortal world. This story thus serves as a metaphor for the need to guard against the seduction and harm of wine and women.