The Shui-Mang Plant by Pu Songling
After poisoned tea kills Chu, he returns as a ghost with San-niang, whose spirit he has dragged back from rebirth, to care for his mother. Refusing to secure his own rebirth through a substitute's death, he rescues other victims of the poisonous herb. After his mother's death and his son's marriage, he is appointed Keeper of the Dragons and departs with San-niang.
By Pu Songling · Genre: Ghost Story, Short Story, Moral Tale · 2,168 words
First lines
The _shui-mang_[1] is a poisonous herb. It is a creeper, like the bean, and has a similar red flower. Those who eat of it die, and become _shui-mang_ devils, tradition asserting that such devils are unable to be born again unless they can find some one else who has also eaten of this poison to take their place.[2] These _shui-mang_ devils abound in the province of Hunan, where, by the way, the phrase "same-year man" is applied to those born in the same year, who exchange visits and call each other brother, their children addressing the father's "brother" as uncle. This has now become a regular custom there.[3]
[1]: Probably the _Illicium religiosum_ is meant.
Genres
- Ghost Story — Chu and San-niang return as spirits, live among their families, and intervene in deaths caused by the poisonous herb.
- Short Story — The compact prose narrative follows Chu's poisoning, his return to his household, and his eventual departure with San-niang.
- Moral Tale — Chu refuses to obtain rebirth by sacrificing another person, rescues victims, and receives a divine appointment for his service.
Tags
poisoned tea · ghosts · reincarnation · filial care · spirit marriage
What this Textopian page supports
The Shui-Mang Plant 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: Ghost Story, Short Story, Moral Tale
- Length: 2,168 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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