The title “The Hailstorm God” appears twice in the Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, both recounting the legendary tales of Li Zuoche, the Hailstorm God. One story is in Volume 1, and the other in Volume 12. This repetition suggests that the legends of the Hailstorm God were quite prevalent in Pu Songling’s hometown. This may be related to the region of Zichuan frequently experiencing natural disasters, particularly hailstorms.
Since these are legends, there is a natural emphasis on asserting their authenticity. In both stories, the witnesses to the events are well-known figures from Zichuan. One is Wang Yuncang, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) from the late Ming Dynasty, and the other is Tang Jiwu, a Jinshi contemporary of Pu Songling. By presenting these reputable individuals as witnesses, the stories gain an air of credibility and reliability.
Although this story borrows certain elements from previous narratives—such as the idea of “spare the crops” and “depart with grace, not force,” which clearly inherit themes from the Tang Dynasty legend The Story of Liu Yi, including the dialogue between the Lords of Dongting and Qiantang—it remains a unique and valuable piece of folklore. The depiction of Li Zuoche, the Hailstorm God, as a subordinate deity under Zhang Tianshi (the Daoist Celestial Master) provides rare and precious insights into popular beliefs and folk traditions.
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