The Mystical World of In Search of the Supernatural

During China’s turbulent Six Dynasties period (220-589 CE), when political instability contrasted with remarkable cultural flourishing, scholar-official Gan Bao compiled In Search of the Supernatural (Soushen Ji), a groundbreaking collection of supernatural tales and moral exemplars. This compendium represents one of the earliest examples of Chinese zhiguai (“records of the strange”) literature, blending historical accounts with folk narratives to create a vivid tapestry of human virtue interacting with the supernatural realm. The eleventh scroll stands out as particularly rich in narrative sophistication, containing proto-fiction that would influence Chinese literature for centuries.

Legendary Archers and Their Supernatural Feats

The scroll opens with two remarkable stories demonstrating archery skills bordering on the supernatural. In the first account, King Chu encounters a white ape in his royal hunting park that laughs while effortlessly catching arrows shot by his best archers. Only when the legendary archer Yang Youji prepares his bow does the ape recognize true danger, clutching a tree and wailing in terror before the arrow is even loosed.

The companion story features Geng Lei, a master archer of the Warring States period, who demonstrates his ability to make birds fall from the sky by simply plucking his bowstring. When a goose flies overhead, Geng Lei draws and releases an empty bow, whereupon the bird immediately plummets to earth. The original Strategies of the War States provides a rational explanation – the goose was already wounded and startled itself to death – but Gan Bao’s version emphasizes the supernatural aspect, creating a more dramatic narrative.

Moral Exemplars in Extraordinary Circumstances

Beyond archery marvels, the scroll presents numerous stories celebrating Confucian virtues through extraordinary circumstances:

The tale of Wang Xiang lying naked on ice to catch fish for his stepmother illustrates filial piety overcoming physical hardship. Similarly extreme is Guo Ju’s consideration of burying his son to better provide for his elderly mother, though divine intervention ultimately prevents this tragic sacrifice.

Magistrate Lian Fu’s rain prayer shows righteous officials willing to self-immolate for their people’s welfare, while Zhou Chang establishes burial grounds for strangers who died far from home, demonstrating compassion beyond normal civic duty.

The tragic story of the Filial Daughter-in-Law of Donghai, falsely accused and executed, shows how virtue persists beyond death – her unjust execution causes a three-year drought that only ends when her innocence is recognized.

Love and Loyalty Beyond Death

Several stories explore transcendent human connections that defy mortality:

The “Tree of Mutual Longing” tells of lovers separated by death who merge into intertwining trees. On “Husband-Watching Ridge,” a wife’s vigil for her missing spouse turns her into stone, creating a permanent landmark of devotion.

The account of Fan Shi and Zhang Yuanbo demonstrates friendship stronger than death, when Fan Shi dreams of his friend’s passing and immediately travels to handle the funeral arrangements, arriving precisely when needed.

Cultural Impact and Literary Legacy

These narratives served multiple functions in medieval Chinese society. As moral instruction, they reinforced Confucian values through memorable stories rather than abstract philosophy. As entertainment, they provided thrilling supernatural encounters and emotional drama. As historical records, they preserved folk traditions and local legends that might otherwise have been lost.

The collection significantly influenced later Chinese literature, particularly the emerging classical tale (chuanqi) and vernacular story (huaben) traditions. Many motifs first appearing here – the unjustly accused woman causing supernatural retribution, lovers transforming into plants or landscape features – became standard elements in Chinese storytelling.

Modern Relevance and Interpretation

Contemporary readers can appreciate these tales on multiple levels. As early psychological literature, they reveal deep human concerns about morality, mortality, and our relationship with the natural world. The archery stories particularly demonstrate how technical mastery could approach the supernatural in popular imagination.

Modern folklorists recognize these accounts as preserving important elements of early Chinese folk religion and popular beliefs. The recurring theme of virtue influencing natural phenomena reflects a worldview where human morality and cosmic order were intimately connected.

The collection also provides valuable insights into gender roles in early medieval China. While many stories celebrate traditional female virtues like chastity and filial piety, others show women exercising remarkable agency, like the wife of Yue Yangzi who maintains her principles even when confronted by bandits at her husband’s grave.

Conclusion: Windows into a Moral Universe

The eleventh scroll of In Search of the Supernatural offers modern readers a fascinating glimpse into the moral imagination of medieval China. Through its blend of historical anecdote, folk tradition, and literary embellishment, it creates a world where human virtue manifests in supernatural ways, where skill approaches magic, and where love and loyalty transcend death itself. These tales continue to resonate because they address universal human concerns through the particular lens of early Chinese culture, reminding us that our ancestors wrestled with many of the same questions about morality, meaning, and our place in the cosmos that concern us today.