卷一 画壁

《聊斋志异》，简称《聊斋》，又称《鬼狐传》，是清康熙年间蒲松龄所著的奇闻轶事小说。 全书共491篇，内容十分广泛，多谈狐仙、鬼、妖，反映了18世纪中国的社会面貌。 作者也在这本书深刻地描写了狐仙、鬼和妖，而字里行间也透露出鬼比人还要有情义，以此讽刺当时的时代。情节上，《聊斋志异》的故事情节曲折；人物方面，善于塑造人物，通过写景烘托人物；语言方面，善于提炼语言；风格方面，寓浪漫主义色彩。 笔法及内容上，兼具魏晋志怪及唐代传奇之特色。蒲松龄（1640～1715 年），清代文学家，字留仙，一字剑臣，别号柳泉居士，世称聊斋先生，山东淄川（今山东淄博市）人。蒲松龄一生热衷功名，醉心科举，但他除了十九岁时应童子试曾连续考中县、府、道三个第一，补博士弟子员外，以后屡受挫折，一直郁郁不得志。他一面教书，一面应考了四十年，到七十一岁时才援例出贡，补了个岁贡生，四年后便死去了。一生中的坎坷遭遇使蒲松龄对当时政治的黑暗和科举的弊端有了一定的认识。生活的贫困使他对广大劳动人民的生活和思想有了一定的了解和体会。因此，他以自己的切身感受写了不少著作，今存除《聊斋志异》外，还有《聊斋文集》和《诗集》等。

《Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio》, or simply "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio," also known as "Liaozhai" or "Ghost and Fox Stories," is a collection of supernatural tales written by Pu Songling during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. The book consists of 491 stories, covering a wide range of themes, particularly focusing on fox spirits, ghosts, and demons, providing insights into the social landscape of 18th-century China.

The author skillfully portrays fox spirits, ghosts, and demons, revealing a nuanced depiction that suggests supernatural beings possess emotions and virtues, subtly satirizing the society of the time. In terms of plot, the stories in "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" are intricate and varied. The characters are well-developed, with vivid descriptions enhanced by detailed settings. The language is refined and the style carries elements of romanticism.

In both style and content, the work combines the characteristics of supernatural tales from the Wei and Jin dynasties with the features of legendary stories from the Tang Dynasty.
Pu Songling (1640–1715), a literary figure of the Qing Dynasty, known by the courtesy name Liuxian, with the alias Jianchen and the sobriquet Liuquan Jushi, is widely recognized as Mr. Liaozhai. Born in Zichuan (now part of Zibo City, Shandong Province), Pu Songling was passionately devoted to officialdom, ardently pursuing success in the imperial examinations. At nineteen, he achieved consecutive victories in the county, prefectural, and provincial exams, earning the position of assistant at the Hanlin Academy. However, Pu Songling faced numerous setbacks and disappointments despite his early triumphs, enduring a lifelong struggle for recognition.

While concurrently teaching and striving for scholarly achievements for forty years, Pu Songling finally obtained an honorary title at seventy-one, becoming a tribute student. Unfortunately, four years later, he passed away. The vicissitudes of his life allowed Pu Songling to gain insights into the dark aspects of contemporary politics and the shortcomings of the imperial examination system. His firsthand experience of poverty fostered an understanding of the lives and thoughts of the common people. Consequently, he expressed these sentiments through numerous works, with the most renowned being "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" ("聊斋志异"). In addition to this masterpiece, his surviving works include "Collected Stories from a Chinese Studio" ("聊斋文集") and "Collected Poems" ("诗集").