◆By Manfield Zhu

　　In China there is a very popularly clas-sic anthology about untrue stories, namely, Liaozhai or Liaozhaizhiyi in Chinese alphabetical phonetic symbols. These characters mean chatting about the ghost-fox fairy-tales in a study or studio. The book written by Pu Songling (1640-1715) in the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911) has been attractive to all the Chinese readers, old and young, boys and girls, since it was presented to the public. Besides the four great well-known novels, The Three Kingdoms, Outlaws of the Marsh, A Dream of Red Mansions and Journey to the West, Pu Songling' book about ghost-fox fairy tales has seemed to be a magic power living in the Chinese people' mind from generation to generation.

　　During my boyhood, my grandmother told me plenty of ghost stories I did not know who had told her. When I grew up I found all the ghost stories from Pu Songling?Liaozhai. Especially a ghost story entitled Painting on the Skin that had left me very deep impression. Even right now I can retell it in detail. All the Chinese people would like to take the ghost story as a typical example to criticize the ghost-like person possessing a beautiful appearance but a cruel heart and crafty mind. In the so-called great proletarian cultural revolution no one did not know a very fashionably revolutionary slogan to reveal your painting-skin.?

　　Pu described a ruthless ghost who could paint beautiful eyes with elegant eyebrows and skillful hands as well as tender feet. Draping over such as a piece of the painted skin, a man will turn a fairy beauty. And then she could perplex or puzzle human beings. Pu created various sorts of ghost figures. He created various figures of monsters and demons representing the evil force or evil people, usually the Chinese people named them Ox-Ghost or Snake-Fairy. Therefore the term beauty-Snake is known almost by everybody, which usually is used to criticize a person who looks pretty like a true beauty but actually he or she is extremely cruel.

　　It' obvious that Pu Songling' ghost stories have spread everywhere or every household. Years ago the commemorative stamps with Pu' ghost tales turned the best seller. At present Pu Songling' hometown has benefited very much from the so-called ghost-fox?writer' reputation. As his native land, Zichuan or Zibo, Shandong Province has been attractive to more and more foreigners?investment. Up to now no ancient Chinese writer could have played such an important role in developing her economy in the province of China.

　　The main reason that the book could attract man' attention was of its close connection with that true social situation. In the feudal society of the Qing Dynasty, venal officials?corruption or bribe widely spread everywhere. There was not any democracy at all, thus all the Chinese people had no right to speak, and nobody dared to criticize any wrong doing from feudal officials at all ranks in the whole society. Therefore the writer had to attack them in an indirect way, that is, in writing some untrue stories to mock，satirize，ridicule，deride or poke fun at them. As a sophisticated sarcastic writer, Pu Songling was a typically representative who was good at writing ironically. In addition, we should point out that Pu' power originated from some Chinese traditional works or local lore. He borrowed some famous classic stories such as his The Peach- Stolen Tale which was handed down from the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220). Pu was good at richening himself by borrowing something traditional.

　　His book about ghost-fax fairy-tales consists 12 volumes with 488 short stories. The Chinese literary mighty giant, Lu Xun (1881-1936) said in his Novelistic Brief History of China: Pu Songling made the highest achievements among all classic fictions in the Chinese ancient literary history. ?The deceased celebrity, writer, poet or playwright Guo Moro highly praised his works. ?Pu Songling is of much higher in writing ghost stories or fairy tales in China. Up to now, no writer might surpass him.?

　　Pu Sonling was born in a poor family. H had had no money enough to publish his book until 1766. At present, there have been more than 30 different kinds of copy of his book both at home and abroad. The world readers of his are distributed over 20 countries or areas. More than 100 plays originating from his fairy tales have been displayed on screen all over the world. Pu Songling has brought great glory to China in literature and art.

　　Right now I would like to tell you one of the Ghost-Fox Fairy-Tales to you from which perhaps you would get a hint about Pu Songling' works. The title is Black Ghosts. Let me translate the tale in English according to the original classic text:

　　The Jiaozhou-Town Magistrate Li bought two black ghosts who were as black as the pitch dark in color. Both of them put on thick leather shoes with sharp daggers beneath used to be walking back and forth along the road, and their daggers were never blunt despite being rubbed. And the magistrate made black ghosts marry prostitutes who gave births in white. The official with his servants flirted with them, considering none of the two babies to be the black ghosts?but others? And the black ghosts did suspect, too. So they killed the babies to be examined for making sure of their judgement. However, they found the babies?bones to be really black in color, which let the ghosts regret terribly. At last the magistrate ordered the two black ghosts to dance face to face. Do you think in which manner both of them were forced to dance?