A Course Project: 
“Strange Tales from Make-Do Studio”

This project is on the “Strange Tales from Make-Do Studio” by Pu Songling. This novel collection is interesting partly in its way of reflecting the downside of a Imperial society through illustrating the folk custom and people’s life at the time.

 

For example, in “The Cricket”, Pu Songling portrays the significant change in a man’s quality of life related to a victorious cricket. It sounds absurd that a small cricket can wield such a big influence. However, cricket fights were prevalent within the palace, where the royalties belonged. Therefore, by providing exceptional cricket to the court, the man raised his wealth and social status. Through this story, we see how distortion in the power system can lead to an alienation of a normal folk custom among the populace due to the emperor’s personal taste.