The Country of the Cannibals by Pu Songling
A storm strands the trader Hsü among cave-people, who hold him captive until his cooking earns their favour; he marries a cave-woman but later sails home with one of their three children. That son, Piao, becomes a colonel and undertakes a dangerous voyage to bring his mother, brother and sister to China, reuniting them with Hsü. His brother Pao earns military honours, his sister Yeh helps her husband rise in rank, and their mother fights beside Pao, who petitions for her to receive the title of lady.
By Pu Songling · Genre: Short Story, Fantasy, Adventure · 3,529 words
First lines
Note on the title: The Chinese term -- here translated "Cannibals" -- is a meaningless imitation by two Chinese characters of the Sanscrit _yakcha_, or certain demons who feed upon human flesh.
Genres
- Short Story — A compact prose narrative follows Hsü's captivity, escape and eventual reunion with his wife and children.
- Fantasy — The cave-people's king travels in gusts of wind, and a swimming rescuer pushes Piao's boat across an immense distance overnight.
- Adventure — Storms, captivity, escape and Piao's hazardous rescue voyage drive the family's separation and reunion.
Tags
sea voyages · cave-people · captivity · family reunion · extraordinary strength · military service
What this Textopian page supports
The Country of the Cannibals is listed on Textopian as a short story by Pu Songling, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Pu Songling
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 3,529 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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