Classical Fiction · LT602

Tang–Song Tales

Polished classical Chinese novellas featuring intricate plots and romance.

10works

2dynasties

8authors

Tang

618–9079 works
  1. Record of the World Inside the PillowShen JijiScholar Lu yawned, stretched and awoke, finding himself still reclining in the inn, Old Master Lu seated at his side, and the host's millet meal not yet cooked. Lu caressed the pillow and sighed: 'Was it all a dream?' The Daoist master smiled: 'The gratifications of human life are precisely like this!'
  2. Story of Yingying / Encounter with a FairyYuan ZhenAwaiting the moon beneath the western chamber, the doorway stands half open to the wind. Flower shadows sway brushing against the wall, as if my jade lover were arriving. First seduce, then abandon—such is the eternal tragic grievance of devoted women.
  3. Legend of the Curly-Bearded Guest · The Three Heroes of the Dusty RealmDu GuangtingLady Hongfu fled by night to join Li Jing, meeting the Curly-Bearded Guest on the road to swear fraternal vows. Beholding Li Shimin's radiant celestial presence, the Curly-Bearded Guest sighed: 'He is the true Son of Heaven! The Central Plains are not for me.' Giving his entire fortune to Li Jing, he departed to become King of Fuyu—immortalized as the Three Heroes of the Dusty Realm.
  4. Legend of Liu Yi · Delivering the Dragon Princess's LetterLi ChaoweiFailing examinations, Liu Yi met a weeping shepherdess in the wilds: 'I am the daughter of the Dragon King of Dongting, tormented by my husband the Prince of Jing.' Out of righteous chivalry, Liu Yi carried her letter deep into Dongting underwater palace. The Qiantang Dragon Lord roared in fury, rescuing the princess. Rejecting rewards, Liu Yi ultimately wed the grateful Dragon Maiden as immortal companions.
  5. Story of Miss RenShen JijiThough Miss Ren was a fox maiden, she was pure, devoted, and unwavering in marital fidelity. When Zheng was poor, Ren sustained him; when noble Yin assaulted her, Ren resisted to death. Though of beastly origin, her noble integrity puts faithless human scholars to shame!
  6. Story of Li WaBai XingjianWhen the Xingyang scholar fell into beggar's misery, Li Wa saw him and wept: 'That you have come to this, is it not my sin?' Redeeming her own bond, she sheltered him by lamplight, coaching his studies until he passed first place as prefect, and Li Wa was enfeoffed Duchess of Qian—a celebrated triumph of love and redemption.
  7. Story of Huo XiaoyuJiang FangClasping her pale arms and staring into Scholar Li's eyes, Xiaoyu cried: 'I as a woman am ill-fated like this; you as a man are treacherous like that! After I die, I shall become a vengeful ghost, giving your future wives and concubines no peace forever!' Pouring a goblet of wine upon the earth, she collapsed and died.
  8. Tales of Wonder · The Kunlun SlavePei XingThe Kunlun slave Mole carried Scholar Cui and the maiden Hongxiao on his back, leaping across ten tiers of high walls and pavilions swift as a falcon. When armored soldiers encircled them, Mole hurled daggers and soared through empty air over the high ramparts, vanishing without a trace—the archetype of roof-leaping martial masters.
  9. Tales of Wonder · Nie YinniangPei XingNie Yinniang was abducted in youth by a Taoist nun to master swordsmanship, concealing a flying dagger inside her skull, severing heads like grass and morphing into blue smoke. Recognizing governor Liu Changyi as an upright ruler, she defected to his banner, slaying Jingjing'er and vanquishing Kongkong'er before riding away on a white donkey into immortality.

Ming

1368–16441 works
  1. New Tales for the Trimmed Lamp · The Peony LanternQu YouOn Lantern night a maid holding a double-headed peony lantern led the way, as the ghost maiden Fu Liqing wed Scholar Qiao. When the Taoist broke open the coffin, he found Qiao embracing a skeleton in eternal slumber—a legend celebrated across East Asia.