The Man who was Thrown down a Well
Warned by his dead cousin that he faces hell, Tai resolves to reform, but a jealous neighbour throws him down a well and buries him alive. Underground, he teaches drowned workmen's ghosts Buddhist prayers and receives years of instruction from his dead ancestor. Rescued when the well is repaired, Tai refuses to prosecute his attacker, buries the workmen's bones, passes his examinations and fulfils his ancestor's request for reburial.
By Pu Songling · Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Short Story, Moral Tale · 2,826 words
First lines
Mr. Tai, of An-ch‘ing, was a wild fellow when young. One day as he was returning home tipsy,[1] he met by the way a dead cousin of his named Chi; and having, in his drunken state, quite forgotten that his cousin was dead, he asked him where he was going. "I am already a disembodied spirit," replied Chi; "don't you remember? " Tai was a little disturbed at this; but, being under the influence of liquor, he was not frightened, and inquired of his cousin what he was doing in the realms below. "I am employed as scribe," said Chi, "in the court of the Great King. " "Then you must know all about our happiness and misfortunes to come," cried Tai. "It is my business," answered his cousin, "so of course I know. But I see such an enormous mass that, unless of special reference to myself or family, I take no notice of any of it. Three days ago, by the way, I saw your name in the register. " Tai immediately asked what there was about himself, and his cousin replied, "I will not deceive you; your name was put down for a dark and dismal hell. " Tai was dreadfully alarmed, and at the same time sobered, and entreated his cousin to assist him in some way. "You may try," said Chi, "what merit will do for you as a means of mitigating your punishment; but the register of your sins is as thick as my finger, and nothing short of the most deserving acts will be of any avail. What can a poor fellow like myself do for you? Were you to perform one good act every day, you would not complete the necessary total under a year and more, and it is now too late for that. But henceforth amend your ways, and there may still be a chance of escape for you. " When Tai heard these words he prostrated himself on the ground, imploring his cousin to help him; but, on raising his head, Chi had disappeared; he therefore returned sorrowfully home, and set to work to cleanse his heart and order his behaviour.
Genres
- Supernatural Fiction — Tai converses with dead relatives and drowned workmen, whose ghosts escort him to his ancestor's underground lodging.
- Short Story — A compact prose narrative follows Tai from a warning about punishment through underground confinement to rescue and reburial of the dead.
- Moral Tale — Tai's threatened punishment leads him to reform, teach prayers to suffering ghosts, refuse revenge and honour his promises to the dead.
Tags
ghosts · buried alive · repentance · Buddhist prayer · ancestral burial · examinations
What this Textopian page supports
The Man who was Thrown down a Well is listed on Textopian as a short story by Pu Songling, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Pu Songling
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Supernatural Fiction, Short Story, Moral Tale
- Length: 2,826 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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