Lian-Ziong Analysis
1. Title: Pu Songling’s “Lian Xiang”: Domestication and the Supernatural World
2. I chose this topic because I am interested in the portrayal of women in Chinese literature.
3. My paper will seek to contribute to this topic by discussing Pu Songling’s portrayal of women as temptresses and servants within the scope of the supernatural world.
4. My paper will seek to examine the competing depiction of women in Pu Songling’s “Lian-Xiang”. It will discuss the difference between Fox and Ghost behavior, and it will highlight the gender relationship within Ancient China. I will show the competing depiction of women in “Lian-Xiang” by comparing and contrasting the Role of Li and Lian-Xiang at the beginning of the story and at the end. Sang’s two lover’s Li and Lian-Xiang are both from the supernatural world. Li is a fox and Lian-Xiang is a ghost. At first, Li’s presence robs Sang of his vitality; however, Sang’s lust for Li makes him unable to let her go, forcing him to the brink of death. Lian-Xiang warns Sang and eventually saves him after his continued disregard for her advice. The women start off as enemies, blaming one another for Sang’s declining health, but end up becoming very intimate. Li is transformed from a cursed fox, into a member of Sang’s household. Both Li and Lian-Xiang seek to become members of the living world. In Pu Songling’s narrative, the uncontrollable and strange become domesticated and ordinary. This story depicts women as seductresses and servants. Similar to the story of “The Magic Sword and the Magic Handbag”, female promiscuity is associated with negative outcomes.
5. …show more content…
Sources
Hammond, Charles E. “THE PERSONIFICATION OF LUST.” Monumenta Serica, vol. 57, 2009, pp. 141–166.
This article discusses the negative effects associated with perusing lust within the context of Ancient Chinese Literature. In particular, it highlights the relationship between Sang’s decline and desperation for
2. I chose this topic because I am interested in the portrayal of women in Chinese literature.
3. My paper will seek to contribute to this topic by discussing Pu Songling’s portrayal of women as temptresses and servants within the scope of the supernatural world.
4. My paper will seek to examine the competing depiction of women in Pu Songling’s “Lian-Xiang”. It will discuss the difference between Fox and Ghost behavior, and it will highlight the gender relationship within Ancient China. I will show the competing depiction of women in “Lian-Xiang” by comparing and contrasting the Role of Li and Lian-Xiang at the beginning of the story and at the end. Sang’s two lover’s Li and Lian-Xiang are both from the supernatural world. Li is a fox and Lian-Xiang is a ghost. At first, Li’s presence robs Sang of his vitality; however, Sang’s lust for Li makes him unable to let her go, forcing him to the brink of death. Lian-Xiang warns Sang and eventually saves him after his continued disregard for her advice. The women start off as enemies, blaming one another for Sang’s declining health, but end up becoming very intimate. Li is transformed from a cursed fox, into a member of Sang’s household. Both Li and Lian-Xiang seek to become members of the living world. In Pu Songling’s narrative, the uncontrollable and strange become domesticated and ordinary. This story depicts women as seductresses and servants. Similar to the story of “The Magic Sword and the Magic Handbag”, female promiscuity is associated with negative outcomes.
5. …show more content…
Sources
Hammond, Charles E. “THE PERSONIFICATION OF LUST.” Monumenta Serica, vol. 57, 2009, pp. 141–166.
This article discusses the negative effects associated with perusing lust within the context of Ancient Chinese Literature. In particular, it highlights the relationship between Sang’s decline and desperation for