Chinese Folk-Lore Tales

This collection gathers some of China’s most vivid folk tales, where ordinary townsfolk and officials cross paths with restless spirits, hidden curses, and sudden miracles. The stories reflect a culture that reveres moral integrity, known as Tien‑Li, while also acknowledging the mysterious forces that linger just beyond everyday sight. Listeners will be drawn into a world where the natural and supernatural intertwine, offering both cautionary lessons and moments of wonder.

In the opening tale, the upright mandarin Shih‑Kung witnesses a lone widow cloaked in mourning, yet a violent whirlwind swirls only around her, exposing a flash of crimson beneath her black skirt. Suspicious of her motives, he follows her to a hillside cemetery where she attempts a ritual offering to the dead, only to have the spirit’s fury scatter her tribute. Troubled and seeking answers, the mandarin turns to the City God’s temple, hoping a midnight vision will illuminate the hidden truth behind the strange events.