Original Text
In Weinan County of Shaanxi, the residence of Minister Jiang was haunted by many ghosts and spirits that often bewitched people, so he moved away, leaving only a servant to guard the house; the servant died, and several others who were sent to guard it also died, so the mansion was abandoned. In the countryside, there was a scholar named Tao Wangsan, who was naturally gallant and romantic, fond of inviting courtesans to drink with him, but when the feast was over, he would send them away. His friends deliberately sent a courtesan to his place, and he accepted her with a smile without refusing, yet he remained chaste with her throughout the night. Once, he lodged at Minister Jiang's residence, and a maidservant came to him at night, but Tao firmly refused her advances, unwilling to engage in impropriety, and thus Minister Jiang greatly esteemed him.
Scholar Tao was extremely poor, and his wife had died; his few thatched cottages were unbearably hot in the sweltering summer, so he begged Minister Jiang to lend him an abandoned residence. Minister Jiang, because the abandoned house was haunted by many misfortunes, refused him. Scholar Tao then composed a sequel to the "Treatise on the Non-Existence of Ghosts" and presented it to Minister Jiang, saying, "What can ghosts do to me?" Minister Jiang, seeing his insistence, finally agreed.
Tao Sheng went to sweep the hall. By evening, he placed his books in the room and returned home to fetch something; when he came back, the books were gone. He found this strange, so he lay supine on the bed, calming his mind and waiting for events to unfold. After about the time it takes to eat a meal, he heard footsteps and, glancing sideways, saw two girls emerge from the room, returning the lost books to the desk. One was about twenty years old, the other seventeen or eighteen, both quite beautiful; they hesitated as they approached the bed, exchanging smiles. Tao Sheng lay still without moving. The elder girl raised one foot and kicked Tao Sheng's belly, while the younger covered her mouth and giggled. Tao Sheng felt his heart and mind stirred, as if he could hardly control himself, but he quickly composed himself with stern resolve and ultimately ignored them. The elder girl then came closer, using her left hand to stroke Tao Sheng's beard and her right hand to lightly pat his cheek, producing a faint sound, and the younger laughed even more. Tao Sheng suddenly sat up and shouted, "Ghostly creatures! How dare you be so rude!" The two girls fled in panic. Tao Sheng, fearing he would be tormented by them at night, thought of moving back home, but felt ashamed of his careless words and lack of restraint, so he lit a lamp and read by it. In the darkness, ghostly shadows flickered back and forth, but Tao Sheng did not even glance at them. Near midnight, he extinguished the candle and lay down to sleep. As soon as he closed his eyes, he felt something very fine piercing his nostril, causing an intense itch, and he could not help sneezing loudly; from the darkness came faint laughter. Tao Sheng said nothing, pretending to sleep and waiting for them. After a while, he saw the younger girl twist a strip of paper into a thin cord and, bending like a crane or egret, step lightly and quietly approach. Tao Sheng suddenly leaped up and shouted at her, and she drifted away lightly. When Tao Sheng lay down again, the girl came back to poke his ear. Tao Sheng was tormented by them all night, unable to bear it. Only when the rooster crowed at dawn did things quiet down, and Tao Sheng finally slept soundly, seeing nothing throughout the day. After the sun had passed its zenith, the two girls appeared again, indistinctly. Tao Sheng then prepared his meal by lamplight, intending to stay awake all night. The elder girl gradually approached, bent her arm and leaned on the desk, watching Tao Sheng read, then reached out to cover his book. Tao Sheng, enraged, tried to catch her, but she immediately drifted away. A moment later, she came back to cover the book again. Tao Sheng pressed the book down with his hand and read on. The younger girl then quietly slipped behind him, crossed her hands to cover his eyes, then quickly withdrew, standing at a distance and smiling. Tao Sheng pointed at them and cursed, "Little demons! If I catch you, I'll kill you both!" The girls came closer, unafraid. So Tao Sheng teased them, saying, "I know nothing of the arts of the bedchamber; pestering me is useless." The two girls smiled faintly, turned, and went to the kitchen, where they split firewood and washed rice, lighting a fire to cook for Tao Sheng. Tao Sheng watched them and praised, "Doing this is far better than your idle mischief, isn't it?" Soon, the porridge was cooked, and they vied to set out the ladle, chopsticks, and bowls on the desk. Tao Sheng said, "You have labored for me, which moves me deeply; how can I repay your kindness?" The girls laughed and said, "We have mixed arsenic and poisoned wine into the porridge." Tao Sheng replied, "I have never had any grievance with you; why would you go so far as to harm me?" After finishing the porridge, they refilled his bowl, and the two girls vied to serve him. Tao Sheng was pleased with their behavior and grew accustomed to it.
Gradually they grew more familiar, and Tao Sheng sat together with them, speaking from the heart, asking the two girls their names. The elder one said, "My name is Qiu Rong, and my surname is Qiao; she is Ruan's little Xie." Tao Sheng pressed further about their origins. Little Xie laughed and said, "Foolish young sir, you dare not even reveal yourself fully, yet you ask us about our family background—do you wish to marry us?" Tao Sheng replied solemnly, "Facing two such beauties, how could I not be moved? But a man who absorbs the yin aura of the underworld is sure to die. If you are not pleased to dwell with me, you may leave; if you are pleased to dwell with me, then stay in peace. If you do not love me, why should I defile two lovely maidens? If you do love me, why must you cause a reckless scholar to perish?" The two girls exchanged glances, deeply touched, and from then on they ceased their excessive teasing and pranks, though they would still sometimes slip their hands into Tao Sheng's bosom or pull his trousers down to the ground, but Tao Sheng paid it no heed and did not find it strange.
One day, Scholar Tao had not finished copying his texts when he went out, and upon returning, he saw Xiao Xie leaning over the desk, holding a brush to copy in his stead. When she saw Tao, she threw down the brush and cast a sidelong glance with a smile. Drawing near to look at the characters, though they were written most clumsily, they still formed rows and columns. Tao praised her, saying, "You are a refined person! If you are pleased to copy, I shall teach you how to write." So he took Xiao Xie into his arms, guiding her wrist to teach her the strokes. Qiu Rong entered from outside and, seeing this, immediately changed countenance, as if greatly jealous. Xiao Xie laughed and said, "In my childhood, I once learned writing from my father, but having long ceased, it is now like a dream." Qiu Rong said nothing. Tao understood her thoughts, pretended to know nothing, and lifting her up, handed her a brush, saying, "Let me see if you can write?" Qiu Rong wrote a few characters and stood up, and Tao said, "Qiu Niang truly has fine brush strength!" Only then did Qiu Rong become pleased. Tao then folded two sheets of paper into grids, wrote model characters, and bade the two girls copy together. Tao read by another lamp, secretly glad that each had her own task and would no longer disturb him. When the two girls finished copying, they stood respectfully by the desk, awaiting Tao's judgment. Qiu Rong had never known characters, and her writing was childish and illegible. After the judgment, she felt herself inferior to Xiao Xie and was ashamed. Tao praised and comforted her, and only then did her countenance brighten.
From that day forward, the two girls took Master Tao as their teacher, scratching his back when he sat and massaging his legs when he lay down; not only did they dare not show him any disrespect, but they vied with each other to win his favor. After a month, Xiao Xie's handwriting became neat and proper, and when Tao occasionally praised her, Qiu Rong was overcome with shame, her rouge and powder mingling with tears that fell in streaks like threads. Tao comforted and coaxed her in every way before she calmed down. He then began to teach them to read, and they proved remarkably quick-witted, needing only one explanation and never asking a second time. They would compete with Tao in reading, often staying up the entire night. Xiao Xie also brought her younger brother San Lang to meet him, and San Lang was accepted as Tao's pupil. San Lang, about fifteen or sixteen years old, had a handsome face and presented a golden Ruyi scepter as a token of his apprenticeship. Tao had him study the same classics as Qiu Rong, and soon the room was filled with the droning sound of recitation, so that Tao unexpectedly found himself running a school for ghosts. Minister Jiang, upon hearing of this, was delighted and regularly sent Tao firewood and rice. After a few months, both Qiu Rong and San Lang could compose poetry, often exchanging verses in response. Xiao Xie secretly urged Tao not to teach Qiu Rong, and Tao agreed; Qiu Rong, in turn, secretly urged Tao not to teach Xiao Xie, and Tao also agreed. One day, Tao was about to set off for the imperial examinations, and the two girls wept as they saw him off. San Lang said, "You could plead illness and avoid this examination. Otherwise, I fear you may encounter danger." Tao considered it shameful to feign illness and so departed on his journey.
Before this, Scholar Tao was fond of writing poems satirizing current affairs, which offended the local magnates, who constantly plotted to slander him. They secretly bribed the education commissioner, falsely accusing Tao of misconduct, and had him thrown into prison. Tao's funds ran out, and he begged for food from fellow inmates, believing he had no hope of survival. Suddenly, a figure drifted in from outside—it was Qiurong. She brought wine and food for Tao, and they wept together in sorrow. Qiurong said, "Sanlang was worried that your journey would be ill-fated, and indeed it has turned out so. Sanlang and I came together; he has gone to the provincial governor's yamen to appeal for justice on your behalf." After saying this, she left, and no one could see her. The next day, when the governor was on his rounds, Sanlang blocked his path to cry out for justice and was taken away. Qiurong returned to the prison to inform Tao, then went back to check on the news, but did not return for three days. Tao, tormented by hunger and anxiety, found each day as long as a year. Suddenly, Xiaoxie arrived, grieving and resentful as if near death, saying, "On her way home, Qiurong passed the City God Temple and was seized by the Black Judge from the western corridor, who forced her to be his concubine. Qiurong refused to submit and is now imprisoned as well. I ran over a hundred li, exhausted from the journey, and when I reached the northern part of the city, I was pierced in the sole of my foot by an old thorn, the pain cutting to my marrow. I fear I cannot come again." She then lifted her foot to show Tao, and blood had soaked her shoes and stockings. Xiaoxie gave Tao three taels of silver and limped away. The governor interrogated Sanlang, and seeing that he had no prior connection to Tao and had filed a complaint on his behalf for no reason, ordered him to be beaten with a board. Sanlang fell to the ground and vanished. The governor found this strange. Examining the complaint, its heartfelt words were deeply moving. He then summoned Tao for a face-to-face interrogation and asked, "What relation is Sanlang to you?" Tao feigned ignorance. The governor thus realized that Tao had been wronged and released him.
When Tao Sheng returned home, he saw no one the entire evening. It was not until deep in the night that Xiao Xie appeared, her expression mournful as she said, "Sanlang is in the provincial governor's yamen, where the god in charge of the office has sent him to the underworld. The King of Hell, because of Sanlang's righteous deeds, has ordered him to be reborn into a wealthy and noble family. Qiu Rong has been imprisoned for a long time. I wrote a petition to present to the City God, but it was suppressed and could not reach him. What is to be done?" Tao Sheng said indignantly, "How dare that old black fiend act thus! Tomorrow I will topple his statue, trample it to dust, and list his crimes to rebuke the City God; if his underlings are so tyrannical, is he not in a drunken stupor?" The two grieved together, and before they knew it, the fourth watch was nearly over. Suddenly Qiu Rong drifted in, and both were overjoyed, eagerly asking what had happened. Qiu Rong wept and said, "This time I have suffered bitterly for your sake! The judge daily pressed me with knives and clubs, but tonight he suddenly released me, saying, 'I have no other intent; I originally loved you, and since you are unwilling, I have not defiled you. I trouble you to tell Tao Qiucao, Master Tao, not to reproach me.'" Tao Sheng felt a slight joy at this and wished to sleep with them, saying, "Today I am willing to die for you." The two maidens said sorrowfully, "Having been enlightened by your teachings before, we have come to understand some principles; how could we bear to kill you out of love?" They firmly refused, yet they bowed their heads and pressed their cheeks together, their affection like that of husband and wife. Because of the trials they had endured, all jealousy between the two maidens had vanished.
It happened that a Taoist priest encountered Tao Sheng on the road, looked at him, and said, "You carry a ghostly aura." Tao Sheng found his words most unusual and told him everything. The Taoist said, "These two ghosts are very good; do not disappoint them." So the Taoist drew two talismans and gave them to Tao Sheng, saying, "Return and give these to the two ghosts, and let them follow their own fortune and fate: if you hear someone outside weeping for a daughter, let them swallow the talisman and rush out quickly; the one who arrives first will be reborn." Tao Sheng bowed in thanks, received the talismans, and went back to instruct the two girls as the Taoist had said. After a month or so, they indeed heard someone weeping for a daughter. The two girls vied to rush out, but Xiao Xie was too hasty and forgot to swallow the talisman. Seeing the funeral carriage approaching, Qiu Rong dashed straight out, entered the coffin, and vanished from sight. Xiao Xie could not get in and returned weeping bitterly. Tao Sheng went out to look and saw it was the wealthy Hao family holding a funeral for their daughter. When the crowd saw a woman enter the coffin, they were startled and suspicious; soon, hearing a sound from within, they set down the coffin, opened it, and found the daughter had revived. They temporarily placed her outside Tao Sheng's house, with family members guarding her. Suddenly the girl opened her eyes and asked about Tao Sheng; Hao pressed her for answers, and she replied, "I am not your daughter," and told the truth. Hao did not quite believe her and wanted to carry her home. The girl refused and instead rushed straight into Tao Sheng's room, lying down on the bed and refusing to rise; only then did Hao accept him as a son-in-law and depart. Tao Sheng approached to look at the girl; though her face was different, her radiant beauty was no less than Qiu Rong's, and his joy exceeded his hopes. They spoke affectionately of past events when suddenly they heard a mournful ghostly wailing—it was Xiao Xie weeping in a corner. Tao Sheng felt great pity for her, took a candle, and went over to console her sorrowful heart. But Xiao Xie wept until her sleeves were soaked, her pain inconsolable, and she only left at dawn. At daybreak, Hao sent maids and old women with dowry gifts, and thus the father-in-law and son-in-law were established. At dusk, the couple entered the bedchamber and again heard Xiao Xie weeping. This continued for six or seven nights, and both husband and wife were so moved by Xiao Xie's bitter cries that they could not consummate their marriage.
Scholar Tao was deeply anxious and utterly at a loss. Qiu Rong said, "That Taoist is an immortal. If you go and plead with him again, perhaps he will take pity and grant you aid." Tao nodded in agreement. He found the Taoist's dwelling, kowtowed and confessed the whole truth. The Taoist insisted that he had no means to restore the dead to life. Tao begged unceasingly. The Taoist smiled and said, "This pedantic scholar is truly persistent! Since there is a destined affinity, let me exhaust my arts." He then followed Tao back, requested a quiet chamber, closed the door, and sat within, warning Tao not to come and inquire. For about ten days, he neither ate nor drank. When Tao stealthily peered in, he saw the Taoist with eyes closed as if asleep. One morning, a young girl lifted the curtain and entered, with bright eyes and gleaming teeth, radiant and dazzling. She smiled slightly and said, "I have been running all night long, utterly exhausted. Harassed by your importunity, I raced a hundred li away and finally found a fine mortal frame; the Taoist brought her along with me. When I see that person, I will deliver it to her." At dusk, Xiao Xie arrived, and the young girl immediately rose and embraced her; the two merged into one, fell to the ground, and lay stiff and motionless. The Taoist came out of the chamber, made a bow, and departed without a word. Tao bowed in thanks and saw him off; when he returned, the girl had already revived. He helped her onto the bed; her breath gradually became even, her limbs gradually softened, but she only clutched her feet and moaned that her toes and thighs ached. It was several days before she could rise.
Later, Scholar Tao passed the imperial examination and became an official. A man named Cai Zijing, who had passed the same examination as Tao, visited him on business and stayed at his home for several days. When Xiao Xie returned from a neighbor's house, Cai Zijing saw her and hurriedly followed her. Xiao Xie turned aside to avoid him, secretly angered by his frivolous behavior. Cai Zijing said to Tao, "There is something most astonishing—may I tell you?" Tao asked what it was, and Cai replied, "Three years ago, my younger sister died. Two nights after her death, her corpse vanished, and I have been puzzled and anxious ever since. Just now I saw your esteemed wife—how is it that she bears such a striking resemblance to my sister?" Tao smiled and said, "My wife is quite plain; how could she compare with your sister? Yet since we are fellow graduates, our bond is close indeed; I might as well let you meet my wife." Tao then went to the inner chamber and had Xiao Xie put on the burial clothes she had worn at the time of her death. When Cai Zijing saw her, he was greatly startled and said, "She is truly my sister!" With these words, tears streamed down his face. Tao then recounted the whole story from beginning to end. Cai Zijing said joyfully, "My sister is not dead! I must hurry home to comfort our parents!" He then departed. A few days later, Cai Zijing's entire family arrived, and from then on, the two families visited each other just as they did with the Hao family.
The Chronicler of the Strange remarks: A peerless beauty, to obtain even one is a rare fortune—how could one suddenly acquire two? Such a matter occurs but once in a thousand years, and only he who refrains from illicit union with a runaway maiden can encounter it. Was the Taoist an immortal? How else could his arts be so wondrous? If such magic truly existed, even a hideous wretch could form a bond.
Commentary
"Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" contains many stories of two women marrying the same man, a concept modern readers may find hard to comprehend, yet it was commonplace in China's feudal society, sanctioned by the marriage system and celebrated as a romantic ideal among scholar-officials, even Pu Songling himself harbored a certain envy. Thus, in his "Historian of the Strange's Commentary," he wrote: "A peerless beauty is hard enough to find, how could one suddenly obtain two!" Among the tales of two women sharing one husband, "Lianxiang" features a ghost and a fox spirit, "Chen Yunqi" involves two Daoist nuns, "Liancheng" presents two ladies of noble birth, and "Xiao Xie" tells of two female ghosts. What sets "Xiao Xie" apart is that Xiao Xie and Qiurong do not appear one after the other, but simultaneously before the scholar Tao.
Among all the female ghost figures in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Xiao Xie and Qiu Rong are the most sunny, lively, intelligent, and mischievous, brimming with youthful vitality. In their early interactions with Scholar Tao, Xiao Xie and Qiu Rong resemble spirited students or innocent children, carefree and endearing in their playfulness. Though they harbor a hint of jealousy and competitiveness, their behavior is thoroughly childlike. These episodes likely incorporate Pu Songling's own experiences as a long-time private tutor, infusing the narrative with delightful charm. The middle phase introduces social elements, weaving emotional life into a broader societal context. Whether it is Scholar Tao falling into a literary inquisition, Qiu Rong being forced into marriage by the Black Judge of the City God Temple, or Xiao Xie's younger brother Sanlang being unjustly caned, these brief strokes reveal profound truths with incisive critique. The later part depicts Xiao Xie and Qiu Rong returning to life through borrowed corpses, both marrying the same husband. Though this may seem somewhat conventional, the narrative employs two distinct approaches, varied and innovative, making it fresh and engaging, never tiresome to read.