This account describes two eerie events witnessed by different people in the same residence. In the first incident, the homeowner sees two bizarre objects that move as if they were alive. In the second, the scholar encounters a funeral scene performed by figures only three inches tall. The focus of the narrative is clearly on the latter, more vivid scene. Although short, the movements and actions of the tiny figures are described as if seen in real life.
In a Western context, such material might have evolved into a fairy tale akin to "The Land of the Little People" (implying a setting filled with tiny inhabitants). Unfortunately, within the cultural setting of Pu Songling's time, the teacher in the story is terrified to the point of crying out, stumbling, and falling by the bed, utterly unable to move from fright.
When commenting on the structure of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Feng Zhenluan remarked: "Although Strange Tales consists of short stories, the prose may not be as elaborate as in longer works. Yet, its narratives are concise and refined, written with a clear, elegant hand. Much like a traveler who, upon ascending one hill, looks toward the next, the text moves forward with small, scenic bridges and winding paths, shallow waters, and sandy shores. Before the previous mountain fades from view, the next one arrives, captivating the senses anew. Although not highly adorned, it never fails to satisfy the reader. And each bridge, each bank, each stretch of water or sand is neither bleak nor deserted. As evening falls, under a flowering canopy, with the tail of a fan gently stirring the air, the twists and turns bring a deep, unspoken joy."
This commentary applies not only to The Haunted Residence but to nearly all the short stories in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
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