Feng Zhenluan, in his "Miscellaneous Notes on Reading Liaozhai", said: “This book recounts many stories from around the mountains and Zichuan County, recording what was seen and heard, occasionally touching upon other provinces. The era described is close to recent times, with slight references to the Ming dynasty.” This gives the stories in "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" a sense of familiarity right from the start.
Pu Songling, having suffered from poor health since childhood, was not only well-versed in the techniques of meditation and breathing exercises, but also practiced them himself. He once wrote: “Sitting cross-legged on the couch to treat old ailments, the newly formed Daoist thoughts are about to turn demonic.” ("In response to Yuanzi’s invitation during Chongyang, which I could not attend, this poem was sent") and “Practicing the art of health by sitting cross-legged, the empty room glows with white light.” ("Quiet Sitting").
Thus, in this short story about a man who, while practicing qigong, falls into a state of deviation, Pu draws on his own experiences. He vividly portrays the process of Tan Jin Xuan losing his soul from multiple sensory perspectives—sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and thought. Without such personal insight, it would likely be difficult to convey the story with such clarity.
Using the human sensory organs as the foundation for the story, "The Person in the Ear" can be seen as a companion piece to "The Words in the Eyes" that follows. However, while the little figure in "The Words in the Eyes" is charming and fairy-tale-like, the person in the ear is “as menacing as a night demon,” making it a true tale of the supernatural.
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