Author's own Record by Pu Songling
Pu Songling describes collecting supernatural accounts from friends and shaping them into stories. He recalls childhood illness and poverty, relates his father's dream at his birth, and speculates about a previous existence. Writing late at night by a failing lamp, he laments his lack of recognition.
By Pu Songling · Genre: Personal Essay, Autobiographical Writing · 2,087 words
First lines
"‘Clad in wistaria, girdled with ivy; '[1] thus sang San-lü[2] in his _Dissipation of Grief_.[3] Of ox-headed devils and serpent Gods,[4] he of the long-nails[5] never wearied to tell. Each interprets in his own way the music of heaven; [6] and whether it be discord or not, depends upon antecedent causes.[7] As for me, I cannot, with my poor autumn fire-fly's light, match myself against the hobgoblins of the age.[8] I am but the dust in the sunbeam, a fit laughing-stock for devils.[9] For my talents are not those of Yü Pao,[10] elegant explorer of the records of the Gods; I am rather animated by the Spirit of Su Tung-p‘o,[11] who loved to hear men speak of the supernatural. I get people to commit what they tell me to writing, and subsequently I dress it up in the form of a story; and thus in the lapse of time my friends from all quarters have supplied me with quantities of material, which, from my habit of collecting, has grown into a vast pile.[12]
Genres
- Personal Essay — The author explains his storytelling practice and reflects on his poverty, uncertain fate, and lack of sympathetic readers.
- Autobiographical Writing — He recounts his father's dream at his birth, his childhood illness, and his efforts to earn a livelihood with his pen.
Tags
supernatural accounts · storytelling · poverty · childhood illness · reincarnation · literary recognition
What this Textopian page supports
Author's own Record is listed on Textopian as an essay by Pu Songling, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Essay
- Author: Pu Songling
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Personal Essay, Autobiographical Writing
- Length: 2,087 words
- Structure: 1 section, 34 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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