Original Text
In Kuaiji there was a temple dedicated to Meigu, the Maiden of Plum Blossoms. The goddess enshrined within was originally of the Ma family, dwelling in Dongguan. Her betrothed died before they could wed, whereupon she vowed never to marry and passed away at the age of thirty. Her kinsmen built a temple in her honor and called her Meigu. In the thirteenth year of the Shunzhi reign, a scholar named Jin from Shangyu passed by while traveling for the examinations and entered the temple to look around, letting his thoughts wander into impropriety. That night, he dreamed a maidservant came to him, saying Meigu invited him. He followed her. Entering the temple, Meigu stood waiting beneath the eaves and said with a smile, "I am truly grateful for your regard, sir. If you do not disdain my plainness, I wish to offer myself as your handmaid." Jin assented eagerly. As she saw him off, Meigu said, "For now, sir, take your leave. When the seat is prepared, I shall welcome you." Upon waking, Jin felt great unease. That same night, the villagers dreamed Meigu said, "Jin of Shangyu is now my husband; you must fashion a statue for him." The next morning, the villagers spoke of it and found they had all shared the same dream. The clan elder, fearing this would defile Meigu's chastity, refused to comply. Soon, the entire household fell ill. The elder, terrified, had a statue placed to the left of Meigu's image. Once it was completed, Jin told his wife, "Meigu has come to fetch me." He donned his robes and died. Jin's wife, enraged at Meigu, went to the temple, pointed at Meigu's statue, and hurled a torrent of foul abuse. She then climbed onto the altar and slapped Meigu's face repeatedly before departing. To this day, the Ma family still refers to Jin as "Uncle Jin, the Groom."
The Chronicler of Strange Tales remarks: To remain chaste and refuse remarriage for the sake of a betrothed husband cannot be deemed unchaste. Yet after being a ghost for several centuries, to suddenly alter one's integrity—how utterly shameless is that? In general, chaste souls and steadfast spirits do not necessarily attach themselves to clay idols; this temple seems to possess some spiritual efficacy, but such startling and extraordinary events are merely the mischief of ghosts and foxes.
Commentary
This passage records an anecdote about the Temple of Maiden Mei in Kuaiji. Originally, Maiden Mei was venerated as a paragon of chastity because, having lost her betrothed before marriage, she vowed never to remarry. Unexpectedly, she suddenly changed her resolve and married a man named Jin from Shangyu. In feudal society, this was an inconceivable act, prompting Pu Songling to lament: "To remain unwed and steadfast cannot be called unchaste. Yet after being a ghost for several centuries, she altered her conduct—how utterly shameless!" However, Feng Zhenluan, a critic of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, believed this story was not merely a record of hearsay but an allegory for those who changed allegiance at the end of the Ming dynasty. He remarked: "Wang Pu and Fan Zhi of the Song, Zhao Mengfu of the Yuan, Wei Su of the Ming, and Qian Qianyi of the late Ming—all are of Maiden Mei's kind."