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Literatura
In Search of the Supernatural
Edición BooksWhale en inglés de Gan Bao
Título original: 搜神记
An English edition of a classic Chinese collection of supernatural tales, spirits, omens, and marvels.
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In Search of the Supernatural
In Search of the Supernatural gathers strange tales, spirits, omens, transformations, and marvels from early Chinese literary tradition. This English edition is an AI-assisted, human-reviewed version prepared for clear digital reading.
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搜神记 is an ancient Chinese collection traditionally attributed to Gan Bao, who lived in the fourth century. The Chinese original is public domain because of its age; this English edition is prepared as an AI-assisted, human-reviewed translation.
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In Search of the Supernatural: Sou Shen Ji
Gan Bao
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In Search of the Supernatural: Sou Shen Ji stands as one of the earliest and most enduring collections of strange tales in Chinese literature. Attributed to Gan Bao of the Eastern Jin dynasty, this remarkable work gathers accounts of the uncanny, the marvelous, and the inexplicable—stories that move fluidly between the realms of history, folklore, and imagination. Though composed in a distant age, its themes remain strikingly vivid, inviting modern readers into a world where the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural are porous and alive with meaning.
Gan Bao was not merely a storyteller but also a historian, and this dual identity deeply shapes the character of the text. Rather than presenting his tales as pure fiction, he often frames them as records—incidents observed, reported, or preserved through tradition. This lends the collection a peculiar authority: the reader is not simply entertained but subtly persuaded to consider the possibility that these extraordinary events might indeed have occurred. In this way, Sou Shen Ji occupies a unique space between documentation and invention, reflecting a cultural moment in which the unseen world was regarded as an extension of the visible one.
The stories themselves range widely in tone and subject. Some recount encounters with spirits, ghosts, and immortals; others describe transformations, prophetic dreams, or divine interventions. At times, the supernatural appears benevolent, offering guidance or protection. At other moments, it is unsettling or even terrifying, exposing the fragility of human life and the limits of human understanding. Yet beneath this diversity runs a consistent thread: the belief that the cosmos is animated by forces that respond to moral conduct, emotional intensity, and cosmic order.
This moral dimension is central to the enduring power of the work. Many tales carry implicit lessons about virtue, justice, loyalty, and retribution. The supernatural often acts as a kind of invisible tribunal, rewarding the righteous and punishing the corrupt. In this sense, the collection reflects broader philosophical and religious currents of early medieval China, including Confucian ethics, Daoist cosmology, and emerging Buddhist ideas about karma and the afterlife. The strange is never merely strange; it is meaningful, embedded within a moral and metaphysical framework.
At the same time, Sou Shen Ji delights in the sheer wonder of the unknown. Its narratives are often concise yet evocative, capturing moments of astonishment with a clarity that has allowed them to endure for centuries. The work has influenced countless later writers and has contributed to the rich tradition of Chinese tales of the marvelous, inspiring both literary refinement and popular storytelling.
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Volume 1
Índice
Dentro de esta edición
- 01Full text
- 02Preface
- 03Volume 1
- 04Shennong Whips the Hundred Herbs
- 05Chisongzi, Master of Rain
- 06Chijiang Ziyu
- 07Ning Fengzi Burns Himself
- 08Woqian Gathers Medicinal Herbs
- 09Pengzu’s Immortal Chamber
- 10Shimen Commands Fire
- 11Ge You Rides a Wooden Goat
- 12Cui Wenzi Studies Immortality
- 13Guan Xian Fishes
- 14Qin Gao Retrieves a Dragon’s Young
- 15Tao Angong Ascends to Heaven
- 16The Lord Lao of Mount Jiao
- 17Lu Shaoqian Answering the Door
- 18The Eight Elders of Huainan
- 19Liu Gen Summons Ghosts
- 20Wang Qiao’s Flying Shoes
- 21Ji Zixun’s Long Life
- 22The Beggar Boy of Hanyin
- 23Chang Sheng Lives Again
- 24Zuo Ci Displays His Powers
- 25Yu Ji Prays for Rain
- 26Jie Yan Becomes Invisible
- 27Xu Guang Plants Melons
- 28Ge Xuan Works His Magic
- 29Wu Meng Stills the Wind
- 30Yuan Ke Raises Silkworms
- 31Dong Yong and the Weaving Maiden
- 32Lady Gouyi
- 33Du Lanxiang and Zhang Chuan
- 34Xian Chao and the Divine Maiden
- 35Volume 2
- 36The Marquis of Shouguang Subdues Spirits
- 37Fan Ying Quells a Fire
- 38Xu Deng and Zhao Bing
- 39Zhao Bing Crosses the Water
- 40The Frugal Purity of Xu and Zhao
- 41The Lord of the Eastern Sea Bestows a Jacket
- 42Bian Hong Goes Mad
- 43Ju Daolong Tells of Master Huang
- 44Xie Entertains His Guests
- 45The Magic Arts of an Indian Stranger
- 46Fan Xun Keeps Tigers
- 47Jia Peilan Speaks of Palace Customs
- 48Li Shaoweng Summons a Spirit
- 49The Daoist of Yingling Lets the Living See the Dead
- 50Testing a Medium with a White-Headed Goose
- 51The Tomb of Lady Zhu at Shizigang
- 52Xiahou Hong Sees Ghosts
- 53Volume 3
- 54Zhongli Yi Repairs the Temple of Confucius
- 55Duan Yi Seals a Letter in a Bamboo Tube
- 56Zang Zhongying Encounters a Haunting
- 57Qiao Xuan Sees a White Light
- 58Guan Lu on Portents and Spirits
- 59Guan Lu Helps Yan Chao Gain More Years of Life
- 60Guan Lu Divines for the Magistrate of Xindu
- 61Guan Lu Divines the Cause of Lameness
- 62Chunyu Zhi Kills a Rat
- 63Chunyu Zhi Divines a House
- 64Chunyu Zhi Divines Disaster
- 65Chunyu Zhi Divines an Illness
- 66Guo Pu Scatters Beans and Makes Soldiers
- 67Guo Pu Revives a Dead Horse
- 68Guo Pu Divines an Illness
- 69Guo Pu Summons a White Ox
- 70Kui Zhao’s Wooden Tablet
- 71Han You Drives Off a Demon
- 72Yan Qing Wards Off Disaster
- 73Hua Tuo Treats a Sore
- 74Hua Tuo Treats a Throat Illness
- 75Volume 4
- 76The Earl of Wind and the Master of Rain
- 77Zhang Kuan on the Maiden Constellation
- 78The Magistrate of Guantan Blocks the Road
- 79Hu Muban Delivers a Letter
- 80The River Earl Fengyi
- 81The Envoy of Mount Hua
- 82Zhang Pu Casts In His Daughter
- 83Cao Zhu, a Petty Clerk of Jiankang
- 84The Two Women of the Lone Rock Temple at Gongting Lake
- 85The God of Gongting Temple
- 86Guo Pu Divines the Donkey-Rat
- 87Ou Ming Seeks Ruyuan
- 88The Shrine of the Yellow Stone Elder
- 89Fan Daoji
- 90Dai Wenmou Doubts a Spirit
- 91Mi Zhu Encounters a Heavenly Messenger
- 92Yin Zifang Sacrifices to the Stove
- 93Zhang Cheng Sees the Silkworm Goddess
- 94The Shrine of Marquis Dai
- 95Liu Qi Becomes a God
- 96Volume 5
- 97Jiang Ziwen Becomes a God
- 98Marquis Jiang Summons Liu Chifu
- 99A Mock Marriage at the Jiangshan Temple
- 100Marquis Jiang and Wu Wangzi
- 101Marquis Jiang Helps Kill a Tiger
- 102The Shrine of Maiden Ding
- 103Wang You and the Aides of Lord Zhao Gongming
- 104Zhou Shi Encounters a Ghostly Official
- 105Zhang Zhu Plants a Plum Tree
- 106The New Well
- 107Volume 6
- 108On Monsters and Portents
- 109On Mountains That Move
- 110Hair on a Turtle, Horns on a Hare
- 111A Horse Turns into a Fox
- 112Men Turn into Yu
- 113The Earth Swells Violently
- 114One Woman Bears Forty Children
- 115A Maid Gives Birth to Dragons
- 116Pengsheng Brings Disaster as a Boar
- 117Snakes Fight
- 118Dragons Fight
- 119Nine Snakes Coil Around a Pillar
- 120A Horse Gives Birth to a Man
- 121A Woman Turns into a Man
- 122A Five-Legged Ox
- 123Giants at Lintao
- 124Dragons Appear in a Well
- 125A Horse Grows Horns
- 126A Dog Grows Horns
- 127A Person Grows Horns
- 128A Dog Mates with a Pig
- 129White-Necked Crows and Black Crows Fight
- 130An Ox’s Feet Grow from Its Back
- 131Snakes Fight Inside and Out
- 132A Rat Dances at the Gate
- 133A Stone Stands Up of Itself
- 134Leaves Eaten into Writing
- 135A Dog in an Official Cap
- 136A Hen Turns into a Rooster
- 137Fan Yanshou Judges a Case
- 138Grass Rains from the Sky
- 139A Felled Sophora Stands Again
- 140Rats’ Nests
- 141A Canine Calamity
- 142A Bird Burns Its Nest
- 143Fish Rain from the Sky
- 144Wood Takes Human Form
- 145A Horse Sprouts Horns
- 146A Swallow Gives Birth to a Sparrow
- 147A Three-Legged Foal
- 148A Dead Tree Stands Up by Itself
- 149A Child Cries in the Womb
- 150The Queen Mother of the West Sends a Proclamation
- 151A Man Turns into a Woman
- 152The Dead Come Back to Life
- 153A Person Is Born with Two Heads
- 154A Three-Legged Crow
- 155The Snake in Deyang Hall
- 156Meat Rains from the Sky
- 157The Adornments of Liang Ji’s Wife
- 158An Ox Gives Birth to a Chicken
- 159The Red Calamity and the Three Sevens
- 160Long Robes and Short Skirts
- 161Husband and Wife Devour Each Other
- 162The Yellow Figure on the Temple Wall
- 163Wood Loses Its Nature
- 164A Hen on the Verge of Becoming a Rooster
- 165A Child Is Born with Two Heads
- 166The Descendant of Liang Boyu
- 167Grass Takes Human Shape
- 168Two Heads on One Body
- 169Sparrows at the Huai Mausoleum
- 170Dirges at Feasts
- 171A Children's Rhyme of the Capital
- 172A Man of the Huan Clan Returns to Life
- 173A Man Turns into a Woman in the Jian'an Era
- 174A Children's Rhyme of Jingzhou
- 175A Tree Bleeds
- 176A Hawk Born in a Magpie's Nest
- 177A Demon Horse
- 178A Swallow Hatches a Giant
- 179Qiao Zhou Writes on a Pillar
- 180Portents of Sun Quan's Death
- 181The Grass Prodigy of Sun Liang
- 182A Great Stone Stands Up of Itself
- 183Chen Jiao Returns to Life
- 184The Dress Regulations After Sun Xiu
- 185Volume 7
- 186The Inscribed Split Stone
- 187Portents of Western Jin's Calamity
- 188Di Utensils and Di Food
- 189Crabs Turned to Rats
- 190The Two Dragons of Taikang
- 191The Two-Legged Tiger
- 192The Speaking Head of a Dead Ox
- 193Flying Fish at the Armory
- 194Square-Toed Clogs
- 195The Xiezi Knot
- 196The Dance “Peace in the Jin Age”
- 197Felt Headgear
- 198The Song “Breaking Willow Branches”
- 199The Liaodong Horse
- 200Women's Ornaments of War
- 201Tears from the Bells
- 202One Body, Two Sexes
- 203The Girl of Anfeng
- 204The Great Serpent of Linzi
- 205Blood Flowing in Lü County
- 206Lightning Shatters the Stone of the Gaomei Altar
- 207Black Staffs and Stands
- 208Noble Youths Bare Their Bodies
- 209A Floating Stone Comes Ashore
- 210A Lowborn Man Enters the Forbidden Precinct
- 211An Ox That Could Speak
- 212Ruined Sandals Gathering on the Road
- 213Firelight on Halberd Blades
- 214The Maid of Wan Xiang Gives Birth to a Monster
- 215Yan Gen's Maid Gives Birth to Strange Creatures
- 216A Dog Speaks with a Human Voice
- 217The Yan Mouse of Yanling
- 218The Tree of Bitter Venom
- 219A Sow Gives Birth to a Two-Headed Human
- 220Unbleached-Hemp Shirts
- 221Caps Without a Forepiece
- 222Ren Qiao's Wife Gives Birth to Conjoined Daughters
- 223The Wrongful Death of Chunyu Bo
- 224A Cow Bears a Two-Headed Calf
- 225Earthquakes and Upwelling Waters
- 226A Cow Gives Birth to a Monstrous Calf
- 227A Mare Bears a Two-Headed Foal
- 228A Strange Woman of the Early Taixing Era
- 229The Fire at Wuchang
- 230Binding the Hair with Crimson Bags
- 231Flowers Bloom on the Ceremonial Standards
- 232Long-Handled Feather Fans
- 233The Great Serpent of Wuchang
- 234Volume 8
- 235Shun Receives the Jade Calendar
- 236Tang Prays in the Mulberry Grove
- 237Lü Wang Fishes North of the Wei
- 238King Wu Quells the Wind and Waves
- 239Confucius’s Dream at Night
- 240The Red Rainbow Turns to Jade
- 241The Shrine of Chenbao
- 242Xing Shi Zichen Explains the Way of Heaven
- 243Mars Foretells the Future
- 244Dai Yang Dreams of a Spirit
- 245Volume 9
- 246An Old Woman of the Ying Clan Sees a Divine Radiance
- 247Snakes in Feng Gun’s Seal Casket
- 248Zhang Hao Obtains a Golden Seal
- 249The Zhang Family and the Passing of the Hook
- 250He Bigan Receives Tally Slips
- 251Wei Shu Goes to Yewang
- 252Jia Yi and the Ominous Bird
- 253A Dog Mauls a Flock of Geese
- 254Repeated Portents in Gongsun Yuan’s House
- 255The Killing of Zhuge Ke
- 256Deng Xi Shoots a Human Head
- 257Jia Chong Encounters the Lord of the Mansion
- 258Yu Liang Is Punished
- 259Liu Chong’s Army Is Defeated
- 260Volume 10
- 261Empress Deng of Hexi's Dream
- 262Lady Wu's Dream
- 263Cai Mao's Dream
- 264Zhou Lanze's Dream
- 265Lu Fen's Dream
- 266Liu Zhuo's Dream
- 267Liu Ya's Dream
- 268The Dream of Zhang Huan's Wife
- 269Emperor Ling of Han's Dream
- 270Lu Shi's Dream
- 271Xie and Guo Share a Dream
- 272Xu Tai's Dream
- 273Volume 11
- 274Xiong Quzi Shoots a Tiger (with Li Guang Shooting a Tiger)
- 275Yang Youji Shoots an Ape (with Geng Lei Shooting Birds)
- 276Guyezi Slays the Great Turtle
- 277The Tomb of the Three Kings
- 278Jia Yong Loses His Head
- 279Words from a Severed Head
- 280Chang Hong’s Blood Turns to Jade
- 281Dongfang Shuo Dispels an Omen
- 282Liang Fu Prays for Rain
- 283He Chang Averts Disaster
- 284Locusts Avoid Xu Xu
- 285The White Tiger Tomb
- 286The Stele of Ge Zuo
- 287Zengzi’s Filial Piety
- 288Zhou Chang Establishes a Grave of Benevolence
- 289Wang Xiang’s Filial Devotion to His Mother
- 290Wang Yan Knocks on the Ice for Fish
- 291Chu Liao Lies on the Ice to Seek Carp
- 292Roasted Grubs
- 293Python Gall
- 294Guo Ju Buries His Son
- 295Liu Yin in Mourning
- 296Yang Boyong Plants Jade
- 297Heng Nong Dreams of a Tiger Biting His Foot
- 298Luo Wei Warms the Bed for His Mother
- 299Wang Pou Guards the Tomb
- 300The White Dove Gentleman
- 301The Filial Widow of Donghai
- 302The Filial Daughter of Jianwei
- 303The Wife of Le Yangzi
- 304Yu Gun Attends His Brother
- 305The Tree of Longing
- 306A Child Conceived by Drinking Water
- 307Ridge of the Waiting Wife
- 308Deng Yuanyi’s Wife Remarries
- 309Yan Zun Solves a Case
- 310A Friend Beyond Death
- 311Volume 12
- 312On the Transformations of the Five Qi
- 313The Fenyang of the Earth
- 314Earth-Dwelling Rhinoceros Dogs
- 315The Mountain Spirit Xilang
- 316The Tiny Qingji of Chiyang
- 317Thunderbolt Falling to Earth
- 318The Head-Flying People
- 319A Man Turns into a Tiger
- 320The Horse-Transformers of the Jiaguo
- 321The Daolao Demon of Linchuan
- 322The Yebird of Yue
- 323The Merfolk of the South Sea
- 324Great Qing and Little Qing
- 325The Mountain-Du of Lujiang
- 326The Yu in the River
- 327The Demon Missiles of Forbidden Water
- 328Alpinia Roots Against Gu Poison
- 329Dog Gu of Poyang
- 330Snake Gu of Yingyang
- 331Volume 13
- 332Liquan Spring
- 333The Giant Spirit Splits Mount Hua
- 334The Cauldrons of Mount Huo
- 335Fire on Mount Fan
- 336Kongdou Spring
- 337The Xiang Cave
- 338The Turtle-Formed City
- 339A City Sinks into a Lake
- 340Mayi
- 341The Ashes of the World’s Cataclysm
- 342The Cinnabar Well
- 343The Leftover Fish of Jiangdong
- 344Peng, Styled Changqing
- 345The Green Fus Bring Money Back
- 346The Wasp That Raises Another’s Young
- 347Wood Borers
- 348The Hedgehog
- 349Fire-Cleansed Cloth
- 350Metal Sun-Mirrors
- 351The Burnt-Tail Qin
- 352The Bamboo of Keting
- 353Volume 14
- 354The Mengshuang Clan
- 355Panhu, Ancestor Dog
- 356The King of Buyeo
- 357Hucang Bears Off an Egg
- 358Ziwen of Gouwutu
- 359King Qing of Qi, Wuye
- 360Yuan, Chieftain of the Qiang
- 361The Dou Family’s Snake
- 362Golden Dragon Pool
- 363The Feather-Robed Man
- 364The Silkworm Maiden in the Horsehide
- 365Chang’e Flies to the Moon
- 366The Emperor’s Daughter Turns into a Plant
- 367The Two Cranes of Lan Rock
- 368The Feather-Robed Woman
- 369Madam Huang Turns into a Giant Turtle
- 370Madam Song Turns into a Soft-Shelled Turtle
- 371Madam Xuan Turns into a Giant Turtle
- 372The Old Man’s Haunting
- 373Volume 15
- 374Wang Daoping's Wife
- 375The Woman of Hejian
- 376Jia Ou
- 377Li E
- 378Shi Xu
- 379He Yu
- 380Dai Yang
- 381Liu Rong and Zhang Ti
- 382The Wife of Ma Shi
- 383Yan Ji
- 384Yang Hu
- 385A Palace Woman of the Western Han
- 386The Living Woman in the Coffin
- 387Du Xi's Maidservant
- 388Consort Feng
- 389The Great Tomb at Guangling
- 390The Tomb of Luan Shu
- 391Volume 16
- 392The Three Plagues
- 393Funeral Songs
- 394Ruan Zhan Meets a Ghostly Visitor
- 395The Ghost in Black with a White Collar
- 396Jiang Ji's Dead Son
- 397The Coffin of the Lord of Guzhu
- 398Wen Xu Dies for His Honor
- 399Wen Ying Moves a Coffin
- 400The Ghost Woman of Huben Pavilion
- 401Cao's Ship
- 402Gounu Sees a Ghost
- 403Marking the Face of a Woman Dead in Childbirth
- 404Shooting Ghosts with Bows and Crossbows
- 405Yang Du Encounters a Ghost
- 406Qin Jubo Fights Ghosts
- 407Three Ghosts Get Drunk
- 408Qian Xiaoxiao
- 409Zong Dingbo Sells a Ghost
- 410Ziyu and Han Zhong
- 411The Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant
- 412Tan Sheng's Ghost Wife
- 413Lu Chong's Marriage in the Netherworld
- 414The Haunting at West Gate Pavilion
- 415Zhong Yao
- 416Volume 17
- 417A Ghost Impersonates Zhang Hanzhi
- 418Fan Dan, Gentleman of Chaste Integrity
- 419Fei Ji Sojourns in Chu
- 420A Ghost Impersonates Yu Dingguo
- 421Zhu Dan’s Attendant Shoots a Singing Cicada
- 422The Cat-Demon in Ni Yansi’s House
- 423The Demon Thing of Dunqiu
- 424Lord Dushuo
- 425The Tall Man in the Thorn Bamboo
- 426The White-Haired Old Man in the Cauldron
- 427The Fuliu Bird
- 428The Oranges of Nankang
- 429Qin Zhan
- 430Volume 18
- 431The Rice Scoop Monster
- 432He Wen Rids a House of Spirits
- 433Duke Qin Battles the Tree Spirit
- 434Huang Zu, Spirit of the Tree
- 435Zhang Liao Cuts Down the Tree Monster
- 436Lu Jingshu Cooks Penghou
- 437A Boat Flies Into the Water
- 438Dong Zhongshu Jests with an Old Fox
- 439Zhang Hua Captures a Fox Spirit
- 440The Old Fox of Wuxing
- 441The Maidservant Fox of Jurong
- 442Liu Bozu and the Fox Spirit
- 443Azi, the Mountain Spirit
- 444Song Daxian Kills a Fox
- 445Zhi Boyi Strikes Down a Demon
- 446Doctor Hu Lectures on the Classics
- 447Xie Kun Captures the Deer Monster
- 448The Pig’s Leg and the Gold Bell
- 449Lord Gaoshan
- 450Tian Yan Kills the Dog Demon
- 451The Old Dog at the Wine Shop
- 452The Clerk in Black Headcloth and White Robe
- 453Li Shujian Is Unmoved by Portents
- 454The Gray Otter Becomes a Woman
- 455Wang Zhounan Overcomes the Rat Monster
- 456The Three Monsters of Anyang Pavilion
- 457Tang Ying Hacks Down Two Monsters
- 458Volume 19
- 459Li Ji Slays the Serpent
- 460The Great Serpents in the Minister’s Residence
- 461Zhang Kuan Fights the Old Serpents
- 462Zhang Fu Encounters a Crocodile Woman
- 463Xie Fei Rids a Shrine of Demons
- 464Confucius on the Five You
- 465Woodlice Escort Their Dead
- 466Di Xi’s Thousand-Day Wine
- 467Chen Zhongju Reads a Man’s Fate
- 468Volume 20
- 469A Sick Dragon Seeks a Healer
- 470Su Yi Helps a Tiger Give Birth
- 471The Black Crane Brings Pearls
- 472A Yellow Bird Repays Kindness
- 473The Marquis of Sui’s Pearl
- 474A Turtle Repays Kong Yu
- 475The Old Woman of Guchao
- 476The Ant King Repays Kindness
- 477A Faithful Dog Saves Its Master
- 478A Swift Dog Saves Its Master
- 479The Mole Cricket Spirit
- 480A Mother Ape Mourns Her Young
- 481Yu Dang Hunts a Deer
- 482The Great Snake of Huating
- 483The Old Woman of Qiongdu
- 484The Woman of Jianye