The Self-Punished Murderer by Pu Songling
After killing his wife, Mr. Li takes a butcher’s knife into a temple, cuts off his left ear and hand, and cuts his throat, declaring that the temple spirit is punishing his crimes. The Viceroy subsequently receives permission to strip him of his rank and prosecute him, but the account places him in the underworld by then.
By Pu Songling · Genre: Historical Narrative, Crime, Supernatural · 469 words
First lines
Mr. Li took his doctor's degree late in life.[1] On the 28th of the 9th moon of the 4th year of K‘ang Hsi,[2] he killed his wife. The neighbours reported the murder to the officials, and the high authorities instructed the district magistrate to investigate the case. At this juncture Mr. Li was standing at the door of his residence; and snatching a butcher's knife from a stall hard by, he rushed into the Ch‘êng-huang[3] temple, where, mounting the theatrical stage,[4] he threw himself on his knees, and spoke as follows: -- "The spirit here will punish me. I am not to be prosecuted by evil men who, from party motives, confuse right and wrong. The spirit moves me to cut off an ear. " Thereupon he cut off his left ear and threw it down from the stage. He then said the spirit was going to fine him a hand for cheating people out of their money; and he forthwith chopped off his left hand. Lastly, he cried out that he was to be punished severely for all his many crimes; and immediately cut his own throat. The Viceroy subsequently received the Imperial permission to deprive him of his rank[5] and bring him to trial; but he was then being punished by a higher power in the realms of darkness below. See the _Peking Gazette_.[6]
Genres
- Historical Narrative — The account dates the murder, describes the official response, and cites the Peking Gazette, although a note acknowledges that the cited issue is unidentified.
- Crime — Li’s murder of his wife prompts an investigation and authorization to remove his rank and bring him to trial.
- Supernatural — Li attributes his self-inflicted injuries to a temple spirit, and the narrator concludes that a higher power is punishing him in the underworld.
Tags
murder · self-mutilation · suicide · temple spirits · punishment · criminal prosecution
What this Textopian page supports
The Self-Punished Murderer is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Pu Songling, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Pu Songling
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Narrative, Crime, Supernatural
- Length: 469 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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