This is a horror story centered around the so-called "reanimated corpse" in folklore.
In Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liaozhai Zhiyi), ghosts can be generally divided into two categories. The first category is the emotional and ethical type, where the ghosts are differentiated by gender, age, and moral character—whether virtuous or wicked—essentially embodying human qualities and retaining all human ethical attributes and emotions. The second category is the death-terror type, representing the complete opposite of human life. These ghosts are terrifying, grotesque, and symbolize death itself, with an irreconcilable enmity toward the living.
The artistic expression of Corpse Reanimation is quite unique within Liaozhai Zhiyi. Apart from one sentence at the beginning and one at the end, the entire story contains no dialogue. The plot is entirely conveyed through the sensations and actions of the peddler (the guest), making it akin to a pantomime. The story engages all of the reader's sensory faculties—sight, hearing, touch, and even thought—to evoke a sense of horror: “Entering the hut, the lamp was dim upon the table,” and “the dim light in front of the bier illuminated the scene clearly,” as seen by the eyes; “the bier emitted a rustling sound,” “the sound of the paper blanket,” “he held his breath and strained to listen,” as heard by the ears; “she blew on them as she had done to the others,” “he felt the corpse approach, blowing repeatedly before leaving,” as felt by the body; and “the guest was greatly terrified, fearing that she would reach him,” “after thinking it over and finding no other solution, he decided it would be better to dress and flee,” as processed by the mind.
During the peddler's struggle to hide under the blanket, holding his breath and listening intently, and in the later chase by the female corpse, the peddler relies entirely on his physical senses and intuition, rather than sight, to perceive the ghost's actions and avoid death. This lack of full knowledge, coupled with the unfamiliarity of the situation, enhances the mystery and terror. The story’s dramatic turns, the carefully cultivated atmosphere, the quickening pace, and vivid language are enough to leave the reader deeply shaken. As Feng Zhenluan once remarked, “Reading this late at night makes one stand frozen in dread.”
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