Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Dedication v
3. Contents vii
4. Acknowledgments xi
5. Introduction xiii
6. Translators’ Note xvii
7. Chronology of Chinese Dynasties xix
8. Stories to Caution the World
9. Title Page from the 1624 Edition 1
10. Preface to the 1624 Edition 5
11. 1. Yu Boya Smashes His Zither in Gratitude to an Appreciative Friend 7
12. 2. Zhuang Zhou Drums on a Bowl and Attains the Great Dao 21
13. 3. Three Times Wang Anshi Tries to Baffle Academician Su 33
14. 4. In the Hall Halfway-up-the-Hill, the Stubborn One Dies of Grief 50
15. 5. Lü Yu Returns the Silver and Brings about Family Reunion 66
16. 6. Yu Liang Writes Poems and Wins Recognition from the Emperor 79
17. 7. Chen Kechang Becomes an Immortal during the Dragon Boat Festival 98
18. 8. Artisan Cui’s Love Is Cursed in Life and in Death 109
19. 9. “Li the Banished Immortal” Writes in Drunkenness to Impress the Barbarians 124
20. 10. Secretary Qian Leaves Poems on the Swallow Tower 142
21. 11. A Shirt Reunites Magistrate Su with His Family 153
22. 12. A Double Mirror Brings Fan the Loach and His Wife Together Again 186
23. 13. Judge Bao Solves a Case through a Ghost That Appeared Thrice 198
24. 14. A Mangy Priest Exorcises a Den of Ghosts 212
25. 15. Clerk Jin Rewards Xiutong with a Pretty Maidservant 226
26. 16. The Young Lady Gives the Young Man a Gift of Money 250
27. 17. The Luckless Scholar Rises Suddenly in Life 261
28. 18. A Former Protégé Repays His Patron unto the Third Generation 276
29. 19. With a White Falcon, Young Master Cui Brings an Evil Spirit upon Himself 290
30. 20. The Golden Eel Brings Calamity to Officer Ji 304
31. 21. Emperor Taizu Escorts Jinniang on a One-Thousand-Li Journey 319
32. 22. Young Mr. Song Reunites with His Family by Means of a Tattered Felt Hat 341
33. 23. Mr. Le Junior Searches for His Wife at the Risk of His Life 364
34. 24. Yutangchun Reunites with Her Husband in Her Distress 377
35. 25. Squire Gui Repents at the Last Moment 423
36. 26. Scholar Tang Gains a Wife after One Smile 450
37. 27. Fake Immortals Throw Guanghua Temple into an Uproar 463
38. 28. Madam White Is Kept Forever under the Thunder Peak Tower 474
39. 29. Zhang Hao Meets Yingying at Lingering Fragrance Pavilion 506
40. 30. Wu Qing Meets Ai’ai by Golden Bright Pond 519
41. 31. Zhao Chun’er Restores Prosperity to the Cao Farmstead 534
42. 32. Du Shiniang Sinks Her Jewel Box in Anger 547
43. 33. Qiao Yanjie’s Concubine Ruins the Family 566
44. 34. Wang Jiaoluan’s One Hundred Years of Sorrow 582
45. 35. Prefect Kuang Solves the Case of the Dead Baby 607
46. 36. The King of the Honey Locust Grove Assumes Human Shape 622
47. 37. Wan Xiuniang Takes Revenge through Toy Pavilions 635
48. 38. Jiang Shuzhen Dies in Fulfillment of a Love Bird Prophecy 649
49. 39. The Stars of Fortune, Rank, and Longevity Return to Heaven 662
50. 40. An Iron Tree at Jingyang Palace Subdues Demons 673
51. Notes 745