Approaches to Teaching Liaozhai's Tales of the Strange

Essays on classic Chinese stories of the uncanny Since the Qing dynasty, Pu Songling's studio name, Liaozhai, has been shorthand for the Chinese story worlds of the ghostly and fantastic. These "strange" tales feature the supernatural along with oddities of the natural world; the human capacity for obsession, betrayal, and revenge; and the entanglements of family and political life. Intentionally blurring the line between fact and fiction, they critiqued the society of the author's day and continue to engage our imagination in the present. These short, gripping stories fit well in courses in Asian literatures and cultures, comparative literature, and speculative fiction. Part 1, "Materials," describes the author's life as well as the history of the manuscript, its many editions and translations, and its common themes. The essays in part 2, "Approaches," explore the contexts of the work, its adaptations and transformations, and its engagement with topics ranging from race and gender identity to otherworldly spirits and monsters.