Episodes

  • 063 - The Marriage Lottery

    063 - The Marriage Lottery
    Jan 16 2026
    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (also known as Strange Tales of Liaozhai) is a mesmerizing collection of nearly five hundred supernatural stories penned by the renowned Pu Songling during the early Qing Dynasty. Written in Classical Chinese, this captivating anthology reflects a rich tradition of oral storytelling, where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. Most of these tales were completed around 1679, though Pu may have added more until as late as 1707. The narratives are populated with a diverse cast of characters, including vixen spirits, ghosts, scholars, court officials, Taoist exorcists, and mythical beasts. Often, the moral compass is intriguingly inverted, revealing the author’s critique of society—where bold and trustworthy spirits contrast sharply with the indecisive and easily manipulated humans. Join our Librivox volunteers as they bring to life Volume 1 of Herbert Giles English translation of these timeless and enchanting stories.
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    8 mins
  • 062 - The Husband Punished

    062 - The Husband Punished
    Jan 15 2026
    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (also known as Strange Tales of Liaozhai) is a mesmerizing collection of nearly five hundred supernatural stories penned by the renowned Pu Songling during the early Qing Dynasty. Written in Classical Chinese, this captivating anthology reflects a rich tradition of oral storytelling, where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. Most of these tales were completed around 1679, though Pu may have added more until as late as 1707. The narratives are populated with a diverse cast of characters, including vixen spirits, ghosts, scholars, court officials, Taoist exorcists, and mythical beasts. Often, the moral compass is intriguingly inverted, revealing the author’s critique of society—where bold and trustworthy spirits contrast sharply with the indecisive and easily manipulated humans. Join our Librivox volunteers as they bring to life Volume 1 of Herbert Giles English translation of these timeless and enchanting stories.
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    9 mins
  • 061 - The Gambler's Talisman

    061 - The Gambler's Talisman
    Jan 14 2026
    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (also known as Strange Tales of Liaozhai) is a mesmerizing collection of nearly five hundred supernatural stories penned by the renowned Pu Songling during the early Qing Dynasty. Written in Classical Chinese, this captivating anthology reflects a rich tradition of oral storytelling, where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. Most of these tales were completed around 1679, though Pu may have added more until as late as 1707. The narratives are populated with a diverse cast of characters, including vixen spirits, ghosts, scholars, court officials, Taoist exorcists, and mythical beasts. Often, the moral compass is intriguingly inverted, revealing the author’s critique of society—where bold and trustworthy spirits contrast sharply with the indecisive and easily manipulated humans. Join our Librivox volunteers as they bring to life Volume 1 of Herbert Giles English translation of these timeless and enchanting stories.
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    4 mins
  • 060 - The Thunder God

    060 - The Thunder God
    Jan 13 2026
    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (also known as Strange Tales of Liaozhai) is a mesmerizing collection of nearly five hundred supernatural stories penned by the renowned Pu Songling during the early Qing Dynasty. Written in Classical Chinese, this captivating anthology reflects a rich tradition of oral storytelling, where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. Most of these tales were completed around 1679, though Pu may have added more until as late as 1707. The narratives are populated with a diverse cast of characters, including vixen spirits, ghosts, scholars, court officials, Taoist exorcists, and mythical beasts. Often, the moral compass is intriguingly inverted, revealing the author’s critique of society—where bold and trustworthy spirits contrast sharply with the indecisive and easily manipulated humans. Join our Librivox volunteers as they bring to life Volume 1 of Herbert Giles English translation of these timeless and enchanting stories.
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    8 mins
  • 059 - Foot-ball on the Tung-t'ing Lake

    059 - Foot-ball on the Tung-t'ing Lake
    Jan 12 2026
    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (also known as Strange Tales of Liaozhai) is a mesmerizing collection of nearly five hundred supernatural stories penned by the renowned Pu Songling during the early Qing Dynasty. Written in Classical Chinese, this captivating anthology reflects a rich tradition of oral storytelling, where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. Most of these tales were completed around 1679, though Pu may have added more until as late as 1707. The narratives are populated with a diverse cast of characters, including vixen spirits, ghosts, scholars, court officials, Taoist exorcists, and mythical beasts. Often, the moral compass is intriguingly inverted, revealing the author’s critique of society—where bold and trustworthy spirits contrast sharply with the indecisive and easily manipulated humans. Join our Librivox volunteers as they bring to life Volume 1 of Herbert Giles English translation of these timeless and enchanting stories.
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    8 mins
  • 058 - Country of the Cannibals

    058 - Country of the Cannibals
    Jan 11 2026
    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (also known as Strange Tales of Liaozhai) is a mesmerizing collection of nearly five hundred supernatural stories penned by the renowned Pu Songling during the early Qing Dynasty. Written in Classical Chinese, this captivating anthology reflects a rich tradition of oral storytelling, where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. Most of these tales were completed around 1679, though Pu may have added more until as late as 1707. The narratives are populated with a diverse cast of characters, including vixen spirits, ghosts, scholars, court officials, Taoist exorcists, and mythical beasts. Often, the moral compass is intriguingly inverted, revealing the author’s critique of society—where bold and trustworthy spirits contrast sharply with the indecisive and easily manipulated humans. Join our Librivox volunteers as they bring to life Volume 1 of Herbert Giles English translation of these timeless and enchanting stories.
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    23 mins
  • 057 - Dr Tseng's Dream

    057 - Dr Tseng's Dream
    Jan 10 2026
    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (also known as Strange Tales of Liaozhai) is a mesmerizing collection of nearly five hundred supernatural stories penned by the renowned Pu Songling during the early Qing Dynasty. Written in Classical Chinese, this captivating anthology reflects a rich tradition of oral storytelling, where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. Most of these tales were completed around 1679, though Pu may have added more until as late as 1707. The narratives are populated with a diverse cast of characters, including vixen spirits, ghosts, scholars, court officials, Taoist exorcists, and mythical beasts. Often, the moral compass is intriguingly inverted, revealing the author’s critique of society—where bold and trustworthy spirits contrast sharply with the indecisive and easily manipulated humans. Join our Librivox volunteers as they bring to life Volume 1 of Herbert Giles English translation of these timeless and enchanting stories.
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    17 mins
  • 056 - The Virtuous Daughter-In-Law

    056 - The Virtuous Daughter-In-Law
    Jan 9 2026
    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (also known as Strange Tales of Liaozhai) is a mesmerizing collection of nearly five hundred supernatural stories penned by the renowned Pu Songling during the early Qing Dynasty. Written in Classical Chinese, this captivating anthology reflects a rich tradition of oral storytelling, where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. Most of these tales were completed around 1679, though Pu may have added more until as late as 1707. The narratives are populated with a diverse cast of characters, including vixen spirits, ghosts, scholars, court officials, Taoist exorcists, and mythical beasts. Often, the moral compass is intriguingly inverted, revealing the author’s critique of society—where bold and trustworthy spirits contrast sharply with the indecisive and easily manipulated humans. Join our Librivox volunteers as they bring to life Volume 1 of Herbert Giles English translation of these timeless and enchanting stories.
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    19 mins