Zheng Congjian 鄭從簡

The hall in which the Zhou Counsellor of the Left Zheng Congjian lived was often disturbed, so had a shaman inspect it. He was told: “There are corpses lying there, one surnamed Zong, and his wife surnamed Kou, beneath the hall’s foundations.” When questioned further they said: “The gentleman is seated over our gate, and is often affected as we come and go. The gentleman is then unhappy. We do not mean for this to happen.” He dug into the ground for three chi (c.99cm), and indeed found old bones, with an inscription that matched what he had been told. He transferred and reburied them, after which the incidents ceased.

From Chaoyeqianzai.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 329.2611:

鄭從簡

周左司員外郎鄭從簡。所居廳事常不寧。令巫者視之。曰。有伏尸。姓宗。妻姓寇。在廳基之下。使問之曰。君坐我門上。我出入常值君。君自不嘉。非我之為也。掘地三尺。果得舊骸。有銘如其言。移出改葬。於是遂絕。出朝野僉載

Fali the Priest 道人法力

Fali, a priest of the Guangzhou Xianming Temple, once went to the toilet around dawn, and saw a spirit in the doorway. In form it looked like a Kunlun (i.e., a dark-skinned person),[1] its eyes were both entirely yellow, and it was quite naked and unclothed. Fali, who had always possessed great strength, immediately tied it to a column in the hall. He lashed it with a crop until it fell silent, then locked it up with iron manacles and watched to see whether or not it could change shape and escape. When the sun faded to dusk, the spirit disappeared from sight.

From Shuyiji.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 327.2595:

道人法力

廣州顯明寺道人法力。向晨詣廁。于戶中遇一鬼。狀若崑崙。兩目盡黃。裸身無衣。法力素有膂力。便縛着堂柱。以杖鞭之。終無聲。乃以鐵鎖縛之。觀其能變去否。日已昏暗。失鬼所在。出述異記

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[1] Here, Kunlun 崑崙 seems likely to refer to Pulo Condore Island, or other southern regions, and dark-skinned people asssociated with these, rather than to the Karakorum mountains. Kunlunguo 崑崙國 may refer to Java, Sumatra, or the region. or as a general reference to islands in the southern seas, natives of which may be termed Kunlunzi 崑崙子 or Kunlunnu 崑崙奴, extended to people with dark skin.

Xiao Mohou 蕭摩侯

In the final years of Empress Dowager Hu (d. 528 CE), in the Later Wei, a family member of the Zezhou peasant soldier Xiao Mohou had washed a yellow jacket and dried it in a courtyard tree, then forgot to bring it in at dusk. In the middle of the night, Mohou and his family arose to see the garment moving in the wind as if there were a person there. Thinking it was a sneak thief, he took up a knife, went forward and struck out, but then saw that it was just clothing. From then on, he felt terror both at home and outside.

After several days had passed, twenty horsemen suddenly appeared, all wearing military attire. They came straight to the house, raised a banner and brandished rods, approaching him and launching an attack, beating him in six or seven places. The family were terrified, and did not know how to resist them. Someone suggested: “According to the apothecaries, burning a black ram’s horn will stop spirits.” They then fetched one from the slaughterhouse and burned it, along with other suitable items. When the strangers returned, they held their noses and said: “We don’t know what this family have been burning to raise such a stink!” They hurriedly turned around and never returned again.

From Wuxingji.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 327.2595:

蕭摩侯

後魏胡太后末年。澤州田參軍蕭摩候家人。浣一黃衫。晒之庭樹。日暮忘收。夜半。摩侯家起出。見此衣為風所動。彷彿類人。謂是竊盜。持刀往擊。就視乃是衣。自此之後。內外恐懼。更數日。忽有二十騎。盡為戎服。直造其家。揚旗舉杖。往來掩襲。前後六七處。家人惶懼。不知何方御之。有一人云。按藥方。燒羖羊角。妖自絕。即于屠肆得之。遂燒此等。後來至。掩鼻曰。此家不知燒何物。臭穢如此。翻然回。自此便絕。出五行記

Xu Daorao 徐道饒

In the tenth year of the Yuanjia era (433 CE), Xu Daorao suddenly saw a spirit, which told him it was one of his ancestors. At that time it was winter, and the weather was fine and clear. He had previously gathered rice and placed it beneath the roof, and the spirit told him: “You should lay out your rice to dry tomorrow.” Even though the skies were full of rain, and it had not yet cleared up, Rao followed this advice, and the spirit also assisted with the hand-cart.[1] Later on, there was indeed continuous heavy rain. When it was visible to people, the spirit resembled a rhesus monkey. Rao requested talismans from a priest and suspended them at doors and windows. The spirit then gave a great laugh, and said: “You want to stop me with that? I can come and go via the dog flap!” Despite having said this, it no longer entered the house. After several days had passed, it sighed and said: “Your uncle Xu Bao is coming; I should not be seen by him.” The next day he did indeed arrive, and from then the strange events ceased.

From Yiyuan.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 323.2562-63:

Xu Daorao 徐道饒

[2563] 徐道饒。以元嘉十年。忽見一鬼。自言是其先人。于時冬日。天氣清朗。先積稻屋下。云。汝明日可曝穀。天方大雨。未有晴時。饒從其教。鬼亦助輦。後果霖雨。時有見者。形如獼猴。饒就道士請符。懸著窗戶。鬼便大笑。欲以此斷我。我自能從狗竇中入。雖則此語。而不復進。經數日。歎云。徐叔寶來。吾不宜見之。后日果至。於是遂絕。出異苑

[1] This translation was revised with generous help from Ofer Waldman. Thanks Ofer!

Yu Liang 庾亮

Yu Liang[1] was garrison commander for Jingzhou. Liang suddenly saw something in the toilet, which looked somewhat like the exorcist Fang Xiang.[2] It had two entirely red eyes and a bright radiance emerged from its body as it emerged slowly from the dirt. Liang rolled up his sleeves and beat it with his fist. When his hand connected it emitted a sound and sank slowly back into the ground. As a result he was confined to his bed by illness, and subsequently died.

From Zhenyilu.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 321.2545:

庾亮

庾亮鎮荊州。亮登廁。忽見廁中一物。如方相。兩眼盡赤。身有光耀。漸漸從土中出。庾乃攘臂。以拳擊之。應手有聲。縮入地。因而寢疾。遂亡。出甄異錄

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[1] This is Yu Liang 庾亮 (289-340 CE, courtesy name Yuangui 元規, from Yanling 鄢陵, an official and general who served the Jin 晉 court.

[2] Fang Xiang 方相 is a figure from the Shang era (c. 1576-1046 BCE) invoked at funerals and during epidemics to drive away nefarious influences.

Wang Zhongwen 王仲文

Wang Zhongwen served as Registrar of Henan Prefecture, and resided to the north of Koushi County. He set off to return home in response to an auspicious sign. His route took him through an area of marshes and lakes, where he spotted a white dog following behind him. Zhongwen became very fond of it, and wanted to take it home, but it suddenly transformed and took on human shape. Standing six feet tall, and looking like a Fang Xiang mask,[1] with eyes of red flame, grinding teeth and a wagging tongue, it was quite abhorrent. He wanted to attack it, but it repulsed his assault for a time, and tried to get onto the carriage. Zhongwen was terrified, and quickly ordered his servants to beat it, but they were quite unable to do so. He thus dismounted and lashed out alongside his servants, but still could not hold it back. Their combined strength exhausted, they could strike out at it no longer, so gave up and fled. They told others of this, and, gathering ten or more people, wielding blades and clutching torches, they went together to see it, but were no longer able to find the place. After a month and a day, Zhongwen suddenly saw it again. He and his servant fled, but, before they could reach human habitation, he fell over quite dead.

From Xusoushenji.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 319.2532:

王仲文

王仲文為河南郡主簿。居緱氏縣北。得休應歸。道經水澤。見後有一白狗。仲文甚愛之。欲便取。忽變如人。長六尺。狀似方相。目赤如火。磋齒嚼舌。甚有憎惡。欲擊之。或却。或欲上車。仲文大怖。便使奴打。不能奈何。因下車。佐奴共又打。亦不禁。並力盡。不能復打。於是捨走。告人家。合十餘人。持刀捉火。自來視之。便不知所在。月餘日。仲文忽復見之。與奴並走。未到人家。伏地俱死。出續搜神記

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[1] This seems likely to refer to a ritual four-eyed mask worn by exorcists heading funeral processions. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangxiangshi, https://dreamingsnowflake2013.tumblr.com/post/151446420249/the-warrior-who-defeats-evil-bangsangshi, http://yokai.com/housoushi/.  

Liu Ta 劉他

Liu Ta, who resided at Xiakou, suddenly saw a spirit, which came to reside at the Liu household. Initially it stayed dark and indistinct, and seemed to look like a person wearing plain white trousers. From then on it came every few days, and then stopped [2531] hiding itself or going away. It enjoyed pilfering food, and, though not causing major problems, made life difficult. At first none dared scold or rebuke it, however. One Ji Yizi, a bullying man who refused to believe in spirits, arrived at the Liu household, and asked his host: “Where’s your family’s ghost? Summon it so I can tell it off for you.” They then heard noises coming from the roofbeams. At that time many guests had gathered there, and all looked up together. A tangle of things were thrown down, hitting Yizi square in the face. When examined, these turned out to be underwear belonging to the ladies of the house. When he continued to act ferociously, they all laughed delightedly at him. Ji, very embarrassed, washed his face and departed.

Someone told Liu: “As this spirit steals food and consumes it, it must have physical form. It should be attacked with poison.” Liu therefore cooked up some yege (冶葛, known as ‘heartbreak grass’ or Gelsemium elegans) in a neighbour’s house and secretly brought back two sheng of its juice. When night fell, he had broom millet cooked and placed on the table, then covered it with a bowl. Later on they heard the spirit arrive from outside, lift the bowl, take the millet and eat it. It then threw the bowl, smashing it, and departed. Before long, they heard the sound of spitting from above, and a ferociously angry beating at the window-frames. Liu prepared himself to fight it but still did not dare to enter the room. By the time of the fourth watch (1-3 am), the matter was at an end.

From Xusoushenji.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 319.2530-31:

劉他

劉他在下口居。忽有一鬼。來住劉家。初因闇。髣髴見形如人。著白布袴。自爾後。數日一來。不復 [2531] 隱形。便不去。喜偷食。不以為患。然且難之。初不敢呵罵。吉翼子者。強梁不信鬼。至劉家。謂主人。卿家鬼何在。喚來。今為卿罵之。即聞屋梁作聲。時大有客。共仰視。便紛紜擲一物下。正著翼子面。視之。乃主人家婦女褻衣。惡猶著焉。衆共大笑為樂。吉大慙。洗面而去。有人語劉。此鬼偷食乃食盡。必有形之物。可以毒藥中之。劉即於他家煮冶葛。取二升汁。密齎還。向夜。令作糜。著於几上。以盆復之。後聞鬼外來。發盆取糜。既吃。擲破甌出去。須臾。聞在屋頭吐。嗔怒非常。便棒打窗戶。劉先以防備。與鬪。亦不敢入戶。至四更中。然後遂絕。出續搜神記

Zhang Yu 張禹

[2518] During the Yongjia era (307-13 CE), the palace guard commander Zhang Yu once travelled through the Great Marsh. The sky had grown dark when he suddenly spotted a mansion with its gates open wide. Yu thus approached and when he arrived before the hall a maid emerged and greeted him. Tu said: “I was passing when the rain started, and would just like to stay over.” The maid entered to report, and soon emerged again, calling Yu forward. He saw a woman, aged around thirty years, seated under a canopy, and waited on by more than twenty maids, their clothing all luminous and beautiful. She asked Yu what he desired. Yu said: “I have my own food, and only need something to drink.” The woman ordered that a shallow pan be brought out and given to him. He therefore kindled a fire to make soup. Despite hearing the water boil, when tried it remained cold.

The woman told him: “I am a dead person, within my tomb mound. I have nobody to share with, only my sense of shame and guilt.” She then began to weep and told Yu: “I am a daughter of the Sun family from Rencheng County, and my father served as Prefectural Chief of Zhongshan. I left to marry into the Li clan of Dunqiu, and bore a son and a daughter. The boy is eleven sui and the girl seven. After my death, the Lis favoured my former maidservant Cheng Gui. Now my son is always beaten, not even sparing his head or face, and pained to the depths of the heart. I wish to kill this maid, but a dead person’s qi force is weak. I have been waiting to find someone on whom I could rely on, and I beg the gentleman to help with the matter. The rewards would be rich.”

Yu said: “Though I cherish Madame’s words, because killing people is a serious matter, I dare not take on this assignment.” The lady replied: “Why would the gentleman be ordered to take up a knife himself? It is only wished that he speak to Li and his family on my behalf, telling them what I have explained. Li will then regret Cheng Gui, and will have to offer prayers to remove this misfortune. The gentleman will then explain that he himself has power to suppress spirits. When Li hears this he will order Cheng Gui to be present for the matter, and I will have the opportunity to kill her.”

Yu made a pledge to her, and set off the next day, telling Li everything he had been told. Li was shocked and terrified, and told Cheng Gui, who was very frightened. They sought help from Yu, but just then he saw the lady Sun coming in from outside, accompanied by more than twenty female attendants. All carried knives and stabbed Cheng Gui, who immediately fell to the floor and died. Before long, Yu passed through the Great Marsh again, and the woman sent her maids out with fifty bolts of zacai coloured silks to reward him.

From Zhiguai.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 318.2517-8:

張禹

[2518] 永嘉中。黃門將張禹。曾行經大澤中。天陰晦。忽見一宅門大開。禹遂前至廳事。有一婢出問之。禹曰。行次遇雨。欲寄宿耳。婢入報之。尋出。呼禹前。見一女子。年三十許。坐帳中。有侍婢二十餘人。衣服皆燦麗。問禹所欲。禹曰。自有飯。唯須飲耳。女敕取鐺與之。因燃火作湯。雖聞沸聲。探之尚冷。女曰。我亡人也。塚墓之間。無以相共。慙愧而已。因歔欷告禹曰。我是任城縣孫家女。父為中山太守。出適頓丘李氏。有一男一女。男年十一。女年七歲。亡後。李氏幸我舊使婢承貴者。今我兒每被捶楚。不避頭面。常痛極心髓。欲殺此婢。然亡人氣弱。須有所憑。託君助濟此事。當厚報君。禹曰。雖念夫人言。緣殺人事大。不敢承命。婦人曰。何緣令君手刃。唯欲因君為我語李氏家。說我告君事狀。李氏念惜承貴。必作禳除。君當語之。自言能為厭斷之法。李氏聞此。必令承貴莅事。我因伺便殺之。禹許諾。及明而出。遂語李氏。具以其言告之。李氏驚愕。以語承貴。大懼。遂求救於禹。既而禹見孫氏自外來。侍婢二十餘人。悉持刀刺承貴。應手仆地而死。未幾。禹復經過澤中。此人遣婢送五十匹雜綵以報禹。出志怪

 

Zhong Yao 鍾繇

Zhong Yao (151-230 CE) suddenly stopped attending the morning court, and his mood and character were quite different to what people had become used to. When a fellow official asked him why this was, he responded: “A woman often comes to me; she has a beauty that is not of the mortal world.” His colleague replied: “This must be a ghost. You should kill it; afterwards it will stay away from your home.” He asked: “How could I intend to slaughter something possessing such a form?” Yuanchang replied: “There is no such problem.” In the end he eagerly called her to him, but could not bear to carry out the plan, so only lightly wounded her. She left immediately, staunching the blood with fresh silk floss, which was scattered along her route. The following day, he sent people to follow these traces. They came to a great tomb. In a coffin lay a woman, her body appearing still to be alive. Wearing a white silk gown and a cinnabar-embroidered waistcoat, there was a wound on one of her thighs, and the waistcoat showed signs of her having wiped away blood. From then the visits ceased.

From Youminglu.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 317.2509:

鍾繇

鍾繇忽不復朝會。意性有異於常。寮友問其故。云。常有婦人來。美麗非凡間者。曰。必是鬼物。可殺之。後來止戶外。曰。何以有相殺意。元常曰。無此。慇懃呼入。意亦有不忍。乃微傷之。便出去。以新綿拭血。竟路。明日。使人尋跡。至一大冢。棺中一婦人。形體如生。白練衫。丹繡裲襠。傷一髀。以裲襠中綿拭血。自此便絕。出幽明錄

Wu Tao 鄔濤

Wu Tao was from Runan. He had skill and knowledge of ancient writings and was committed to the arts of the Way. While travelling he stopped temporarily at the Yiwu County guesthouse in Wuzhou. After more than a month, suddenly a girl appeared, with two serving maids arriving at night.[1] One of the maids came forward and told him: “This young lady is surnamed Wang.” That evening she turned and looked at the gentleman. Tao looked at her, and she was extremely beautiful. He thought, ‘this is the daughter of a great noble’, but did not dare speak. The lady Wang smiled, and said: “The esteemed scholar does not value wine or beauty; how can a mere concubine gain his trust?” Tao then rose and bowed to her, saying: “Such lowly scholars would not dare direct their gaze thus.” The lady Wang ordered a maid to bring her clothing and utensils to Tao’s bedchamber, lighting bright candles and laying out wine and food. They drank several rounds, and then lady Wang rose and addressed Tao: “Your servant is a young orphan without anyone to turn to, and would like to serve the gentleman at his pillow and mat. Would that be acceptable?” Tao initially refused in his humility, but then relented and permitted it in his sincerity. The lady Wang departed at dawn and arrived at dusk, and this continued for several months.

Yang Jingxiao, a Daoist of Tao’s acquaintance, visited and stayed at the residence. On seeing that Tao’s countenance had altered, he advised: “The gentleman has been deluded by spirits and demons. This must be broken off, or death will follow.” Tao questioned him about this in alarm, and then related the whole story. Jingxiao told him: “This is a spirit.” He then provided two amulets, one to attach to clothing, and the other to be fixed above the gate. He said: “When this spirit arrives, she will become very angry. Be careful not to speak to her.” Tao accepted these instructions. When the young woman arrived that night, she saw the token above the gate, let fly a string of curses, and departed, saying: “Remove that tomorrow, or suffer great misfortune.” Tao called on Jingxiao the next day and told him all about it. Jingxiao told him: “When she returns tonight, you should sprinkle her with this water on which I have cast a spell. That will surely bring things to an end.” Tao returned carrying the water. That night, when the woman returned, she was extremely sad and angry. Tao then sprinkled her with the water Jingxiao had treated. Her visits then ceased.

From Jiyiji.

[1] With thanks to Ofer Waldman for the improved translation here.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 347.2747:

鄔濤

鄔濤者。汝南人。精習墳典。好道術。旅泊婺州義烏縣館。月餘。忽有一女子。侍二婢夜至。一婢進曰。此王氏小娘子也。今夕顧降於君。濤視之。乃絕色也。謂是豪貴之女。不敢答。王氏笑曰。秀才不以酒色於懷。妾何以奉託。濤乃起拜曰。凡陋之士。非敢是望。王氏令侍婢施服翫於濤寢室。炳以銀燭。又備酒食。飲數巡。王氏起謂濤曰。妾少孤無託。今願事君子枕席。將為可乎。濤遜辭而許。恩意欵洽。而王氏曉去夕至。如此數月。濤所知道士楊景霄至舘訪之。見濤色有異。曰。公為鬼魅所惑。宜斷之。不然死矣。濤聞之驚。以其事具告。景霄曰。此乃鬼也。乃與符二道。一施衣帶。一置門上。曰。此鬼來。當有怨恨。慎勿與語。濤依法受之。女子是夕至。見符門上。大罵而去。曰。來日速除之。不然生禍。濤明日訪景霄。具言之。景霄曰。今夜再來。可以吾呪水洒之。此必絕矣。濤持水歸。至夜。女子復至。悲恚之甚。濤乃以景霄呪水洒之。於是遂絕。出集異記