《搜神记》和《聊斋志异》之鬼妻故事比较研究 = A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE GHOST WIFE TALE IN THE SOUSHEN JI AND LIAOZHAI ZHIYI

Abstract

The Soushen Ji is an outstanding literary work of zhiguai novels in the Wei and Jin Dynasties and has exerted an immeasurable influence on later generations. The Liaozhai Zhiyi, which was influenced by the Soushen Ji, also took the lead in the ghost and fox stories of the Qing Dynasty, attracting many literati to imitate it. The Soushen Ji and Liaozhai Zhiyi, have a common theme, that is, the ghost wife. The theme of ghost wife began to develop due to the impact of culture, religion, and social customs during the Wei and Jin Dynasties. The reason why the ghost wife tale is so special is that it breaks the barrier between life and death and provides more possibilities for stories. Therefore, this essay will mainly focus on the ghost wife tales from the Soushen Ji and Liaozhai Zhiyi. First, this paper will analyze and discuss the relevant ghost wife tales in detail, and then try to examine the similarities and differences between the Soushen Ji and Liaozhai Zhiyi from three perspectives: the characters, the narrative structure and method, and the plot pattern. Lastly, this essay will discuss the practical significance behind the ghost wife theme from these two works and then explore the inheritance and innovation of these two texts.