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The Six Dynasties 101

(24) Chang Hua and the Fox

Chang Hua, styled Mao-hsien, was Minister of Public Works in the time of Emperor Hui [r. 290-307] of the Chin. One day there appeared a speckled fox iii front of the tomb of King Chao of Yen [290-259 B.C.]. It was very old and could transform itself. In this instance it changed into a student who wished to go see Chang Hua.

On the way it inquired of the spirit of the memorial post in front of the tomb, "Judging from my talent and appearance, do you think I am qualified to see Minister Chang?"

"With your extraordinary intelligence, there should be nothing you cannot accomplish," replied the post, "But Chang is very wise and perceptive, and I think he'll be very difficult to ensnare. You will certainly meet with disgrace if you go and probably won't be able to come back. Not only will you lose your virtue attained only with a thousand years' cultivation, but you will involve me in an unpleasant manner as well."

The fox paid no heed but, visiting card in hand, went off to meet with Chang. When Chang saw his youthful elegance, clean and light like jade, and that he was dignified in manner, self-confident and poised, he truly respected him. When they talked about literature, the student's critical acuity became clear. Hua had never heard the like before. Then they talked of the three histories,1 investigated the hundred philosophies, discussed obscure passages in Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu, elucidated the arcane meaning of the Feng and Ya sections of the Shih ching, embraced the ten sages,2 plumbed the three factors,3 probed the eight schools of Confucianism,4

1 The Shih chi, Han shu and Tung-kuan Han-chi (a history of the Later Han compiled by Pan Ku and others, Tung-kuan being the name of the hall where the compilation took place).--Ed.

2 The ten disciples of Confucius: Yen Hui (Tzu-ylian), Min Hsiin (Tzu-ch' ien) , Jan Keng (Po-niu) , Jan Yung (Ch'ung-kung) , Chai Yii (Tzu-wo), Tuan-mu Ssu (Tzu-kung), Jan Ch'iu (Tzu-yu), Chung Yu (Tzu-lu), Yen Yen (Tzu-yu), and Pu Shang (Tzu-hsia).--Ed.

3 Heaven, Earth, and Man.--Ed. u Those related to the names of Tzu-chang, Tzu-ssu, Yen,

102 Classical Chinese Tales i

and examined the five rites.5 Hua was always bested. Sighing, he said, "How could there be a youth like this

in the world? If he is neither a ghost nor goblin, then he is surely a fox!" Chang then stationed men to guard him, even as he was receiving him as his guest.

"You ought to revere the worthy and embrace the masses," said the student, "and treat well the good while pitying the incapable. But instead, you hate others who are learned. Mo-tzu loved all. Would he act like this!" Having finished his speech, he sought to leave, but Hua had already set men at the doors, and he could not get out.

He then addressed Hua once again, "There are men and horsemen stationed at your gates. That must mean you are suspicious of me. I fear that in the future men of the world will keep their tongues to themselves. Wise scholars and clever counselors will glance at your gates but will not come in. I find this possibility deeply regretable for you." Hua did not even reply, but put his men even more on their guard.

In time, Prefect Lei Huan of Feng-ch'eng [modern Nan-ch'ang County, Kiangsi], styled K'ung-chang, a scholar of profound knowledge, came to visit Hua. When Hua told him about the scholar, K'ung-chang said, "if you are suspicious, why not call the hunting dogs to test him?" And so Hua ordered the hunting dogs out for a test.

With no expression of fear whatsoever, the fox said, "I am by nature talented and knowledgeable, but now for some reason you consider me an evil spirit and try to test me with dogs. Even if you should test me, could I be worried?"

When Hua heard this, he became even more angry. "This must truly be an evil genius," he said. "I've heard that forest goblins fear dogs, but that dogs can only detect creatures of up to a few hundred years of age. They cannot discover thousand-year-old spirits. Only by getting a thousand-year-old tree and illuminating the creature with it can its true form be made apparent." "How can we find a thousand-year-old spirit tree?" asked K'ung-chang. "It is said that the memorial post in front of the tomb of King Chao of Yen is already a thousand years old," replied Hua. He then sent someone to chop down the wooden post.

Meng, Ch'i-tiao, Chung-liang, Sun, and Yueh-cheng.--Ed. 5 The rites of sacrifice, marriage, burial, and diplomatic and military protocol.--Ed.

The Six Dynasties 103

When the servant was about to reach the place where the post was, a small child clad in green appeared from nowhere and inquired of the servant, "Why have you come here?" "A youth came to visit Minister Chang," said the servant. "He is of extraordinary talent and has a way with words. The suspicion is that the youth is an evil goblin, and I have been sent to obtain this memorial post with which to illuminate him." "So, the old fox was not so wise after all," said the green-clad one. "He didn't listen to me. Now today his mistake has involved me as well. How can I escape?" He let out a yell and began to cry; then suddenly disappeared. When the servant cut down the post, blood flowed.

He then returned with the tree, whereupon it was ignited and used to illuminate the student. He turned out to be a speckled fox.

"If these two creatures had not happened upon me," said Chang Hua, "They would not have met their match for another thousand years!" They then cooked the fox.

(SSC 18/421; cf. TPKC, 442.11; Pai-hai version in SSHC, p. 90)

Tr. Michael Broschat

Note: See Introduction, Sec. IV, for a discussion of this story. On Chinese legends of fox fairies, see J. J. M. De Groot, The Religious System of China, vol 4 (Leyden, 1901), pp. 188-96; vol. 5 (Leyden, 1907), pp. 576-600; see also Bodde, "Some Chinese Tales of the Supernatural."

At this stage in the development of Chinese folklore, fox fairies are generally regarded as inimical to humans. In later representations, after the T'ang, they tend to become friendly and to appear as females when they take up the human form, often just to seduce men. In their dealings with men, they often desire nothing more than love and affection from them. In fact, they look suspiciously like humans, and it is only their yearning for sexual fulfillment that makes them "foxy."