The Marriage of the Fox’s Daughter
Yin accepts a challenge to spend a night alone in a house everyone believes is haunted. He lies down on his mat, but footsteps soon approach. An old gentleman arrives and invites him to a wedding taking place that very night.
Yin, a native of Li-ch‘êng, became president of the Board of Civil Office. 54 As a young man, he was very poor but hadA president of the Board of Civil Office, 54 named Yin, and a native of Li-ch‘êng, when a young man, was very badly off, but was endowed with considerable physical courage. Now in his part of the country stood a large property belonging to one of the old county families. It covered several acres, with an unbroken succession of pavilions and verandahs. But ghosts and apparitions were frequently seen there, so it had long remained unoccupied. Grass and weeds had overgrown it, and no one dared enterthere was a large establishment, covering several acres, with an unbroken succession of pavilions and verandahs, and belonging to one of the old county families; but because ghosts and apparitions were frequently seen there, the place had for a long time remained untenanted, and was overgrown with grass and weeds, no one venturing to enter in even in broad daylight. One evening when Yin was carousing with some fellow-students, one of them jokingly said, “If anybody will pass a night in the haunted house, the rest of us will pay for hisstand him a dinner.” Mr. Yin jumped up at this, and cried out, “What is difficult aboutthere difficult in that?” So he took a sleeping-mat and went there. All his companions escorted himSo, taking with him a sleeping-mat, he proceeded thither, escorted by all his companions as far as the door, where they laughed and said, “We will wait here a little while. In case you see anything, shout out to us at once.” “If there are any goblins or foxes,” replied Yin, “I’ll catch them for you.” He then went in, and found the paths hidden by long grass mixedobliterated by long grass, which had sprung up, mingled with weeds of various kinds. It was just the time of the first-quarternewExplanation: The Chinese reference reads 上弦, the first-quarter moon. Only the modernized version clarifies this precise phase; the historical English wording remains in the original. moon, and by its feeble light he was able to make out the door of the house. Feeling his way, he walked on until he reached the back pavilion, and then went up on to the Moon Terrace, which was such a pleasant spot that he determined to stop there. Gazing westwards, he sat for a long time looking at the moon—a single thread of light embracing in its horns the peak of a hill. He heard nothing at all unusual. Laughinghill—without hearing anything at all unusual; so, laughing to himself at the nonsense people talked, he spread his mat upon the floor, put a stone under his head for a pillow, and lay down to sleep. He had watched the Cow-herd and the Lady 55 until they were just disappearing, and was on the point of dropping off, when suddenly he heard footsteps down below coming up the stairs. Pretending to be asleep, he saw a servant enter with a lotus-shaped lantern in his hand. 56 When the servant saw Mr. Yin, he rushed back in a fright and said to someone behind himenter, carrying in his hand a lotus-shaped lantern, 56 who, on observing Mr. Yin, rushed back in a fright, and said to someone behind, “There is a stranger here!” The person behind him asked who it was, but the servant did not know. Then an old gentleman came up, examined Mr. Yin closely andspoken to asked who it was, but the servant did not know; and then up came an old gentleman, who, after examining Mr. Yin closely, said, “It’s the future President: he’s as drunk as can be. We needn’t mind him; besides, he’s a good fellow, and won’t give us any trouble.” So they walked in and opened all the doors. After a while, a great many other people were moving about, and so many lamps were lit thatdoors; and by-and-by there were a great many other people moving about, and quantities of lamps were lighted, till the place was as light as day. About this time Mr. Yin shifted slightly and sneezed. Seeing that he was awake, the old man came forward, fell on his knees and saidslightly changed his position, and sneezed; upon which the old man, perceiving that he was awake, came forward and fell down on his knees, saying, “Sir, I have a daughter who is to be married this very night. We did not expect Your Honour to be here. Please excuse us.It was not anticipated that Your Honour would be here. I pray, therefore, that we may be excused.” Mr. Yin got up and helped the old man rise. He regretted that he had brought no present, as he had not known about the festive occasion.raised the old man, regretting that, in his ignorance of the festive occasion, he had brought with him no present. 57 “Ah, Sir,” replied the old man, “your very presence here will ward off all harmfulnoxious influences; and that is quite enough for us.” He then begged Mr. Yin to help welcome the guests and do him an even greater favour. Mr. Yin readily agreedassist in doing the honours, and thus double the obligation already conferred. Mr. Yin readily assented, and went inside to look at the gorgeous arrangements they had made. A lady met him there, apparently about forty years of age. The old gentleman introduced her as his wife. Mr. Yin had hardly bowed when he heard the sound of flageolets, small flutes,He was here met by a lady, apparently about forty years of age, whom the old gentleman introduced as his wife; and he had hardly made his bow when he heard the sound of flageolets, 58 and someone came hurrying in, saying, “He has come!” The old gentleman flew out to meet the newcomerthis personage, and Mr. Yin also stood up, awaiting his arrival. Before long, a group of people with gauze lanterns ushered in the bridegroom himself. He seemed to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a very refined and pleasingIn no long time, a bevy of people with gauze lanterns ushered in the bridegroom himself, who seemed to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, and of a most refined and prepossessing appearance. The old gentleman asked him to pay his respects first to their worthy guest. When the bridegroom looked towards Mr. Yin, Yinbade him pay his respects first to their worthy guest; and upon his looking towards Mr. Yin, that gentleman came forward to welcome him on behalf of the host. Then followed ceremonies between the old man and his son-in-law; and when these were over, they all sat down to supper. Hosts of serving-maids brought in plentiful wine and meats, with bowls and cups of jade or gold, until the table glittered.waiting-maids brought in profuse quantities of wine and meats, with bowls and cups of jade or gold, till the table glittered again. And when the wine had gone round several times, the old gentleman told one of the maids to summon the bride. This she did, but some time passed and no bride came. So the old man rose, drew aside the curtain and urged the young lady to come out. A number of women escorted the bride out. Her ornaments went tinkle tinkle as she walked along, and sweet perfumes filled the air.rose and drew aside the curtain, pressing the young lady to come forth; whereupon a number of women escorted out the bride, whose ornaments went tinkle tinkle as she walked along, sweet perfumes being all the time diffused around. Her father told her to make the proper salutation, thenafter which she went and sat by her mother. Mr. Yin glanced at her and saw beautiful ornaments made of kingfisher’s feathers on her head. Her beauty surpassedtook a glance at her, and saw that she wore on her head beautiful ornaments made of kingfisher’s feathers, her beauty quite surpassing anything he had ever seen. All this time, they had been drinking wine out of golden goblets big enough to hold several pints. It flashed across Yin’s mind that one of these goblets would be an excellent thing to take back to his companions as prooftime they had been drinking their wine out of golden goblets big enough to hold several pints, when it flashed across him that one of these goblets would be a capital thing to carry back to his companions in evidence of what he had seen. So he hidsecreted it in his sleeve, and, pretending to be tipsy, 59 leaned forward with his head upon the table as if going off to sleep. “The gentleman is drunk,” said the guests. After a while, Mr. Yin heard the bridegroom take his leave. Everyone troopedguests; and by-and-by Mr. Yin heard the bridegroom take his leave, and there was a general trooping downstairs to the tune of a wedding march. When they were all gone the old gentleman collected the goblets, one of which was missing. They hunted high and low but could notmissing, though they hunted high and low to find it. Someone mentioned the sleeping guest, but the old gentleman stopped him at once, afraid that Mr. Yin might hear. Before long,guest; but the old gentleman stopped him at once for fear Mr. Yin should hear, and before long silence reigned throughout. Mr. Yin then arose. It was dark, and he had no light; but he could detect the lingering smell of the food, and the place was filled with the fumes of wine. Faint streaks of light were now appearing in the east. After checking that the goblet was still in his sleeve, he began quietly to leave.now appearing in the east, he began quietly to make a move, having first satisfied himself that the goblet was still in his sleeve. At the door, he found his friends already there. They had feared he might come out after they leftArriving at the door, he found his friends already there; for they had been afraid he might come out after they left, and go in again early in the morning. When he produced the goblet, they were all lost in astonishment. They heard his story and were ready to believe it, knowing that a poor student like Yin was unlikely to own such a valuable piece of gold tableware.goblet they were all lost in astonishment; and on hearing his story, they were fain to believe it, well knowing that a poor student like Yin was not likely to have such a valuable piece of plate in his possession.
Later on Mr. Yin took his doctor’s degree, and was appointed magistrate over the district of Fei-ch‘iu, where there was an old-established family of the name of Chu. The head of the family asked him to a banquet in honour of his arrival, and ordered the servants to bring in the large goblets. After some delay a slave-girl came and whispered something to her master. He seemedmaster which seemed to make him very angry. Then the goblets were brought in, and Mr. Yin was invited to drink. He now found that these goblets had precisely the same shape and pattern as the one he had at home. At once, he asked his host where he had had themwere of precisely the same shape and pattern as the one he had at home, and at once begged his host to tell him where he had had these made. “Well,” said Mr. Chu, “there should be eight of them. An ancestor of mine had them made, when he was a minister at the capital, by an experienced craftsmanartificer. They have been handed down in our family from generation to generation, and have been carefully put away for some time. But I thought we would bring them out todaynow been carefully laid by for some time; but I thought we would have them out to-day as a compliment to your Honour. However, there are only seven to be found. None of the servants can have touched them, for the old seals of ten years ago are still upon the box, unbroken. I don’t know what to make of it.” Mr. Yin laughed, and said, “It must have flown away! Still, it is a pity to lose an heirloomheir-loom of that kind; and as I have a very similar one at home, I shall sendtake upon myself to send it to you.” When the banquet was over, Mr. Yin went home, and taking out his own goblet, sent it off to Mr. Chu. Mr. Chu was somewhat surprised to find that it was identical to his own. He hurried to thank the magistrate for his gift and askedThe latter was somewhat surprised to find that it was identical with his own, and hurried away to thank the magistrate for his gift, asking him at the same time how it had come into his possession. Mr. Yin told him the whole story. This proves conclusively that although a fox may obtain a thing, even from many hundreds of miles away, he will not dare to keep it for good.story, which proves conclusively that although a fox may obtain possession of a thing, even at a distance of many hundred miles, he will not venture to keep it altogether. 60
Footnotes
54. One of the “Six Boards” at the capital, equivalent to our own War Office, Board of Works, etc.
55. The Chinese names for two stars: βγ Aquila and α Lyra.
56. Lanterns very prettily made to resemble all kinds of flowers are to be seen at the Chinese New Year.
57. This is, as with us, obligatory on all friends invited to a marriage.
58. The accompaniment of all weddings and funerals in China.
59. The soberest people in the world, among whom habitual drunkennessamongst whom anything like sottishness is comparatively unknown, think it no disgrace, but rather a compliment, to get pleasantly tipsy on festive occasions. People who are physically unable to do so often evencomplimentary, to get pleasantly tipsy on all festive occasions; and people who are physically unable to do so, frequently go so far as to hire substitutes to drink for them. Chinese officialsMandarins especially suffer very much from the custom of being obliged to “take wine” with a large number of guests. For further on this subject, see story LIV, note 292.No. LIV. , note 292 .
60. The wedding-party was, of course, composed entirely of foxes. This animal is believed by the Chinese to be able to take human form at will and to dofoxes; this animal being believed by the Chinese to be capable of appearing at will under the human form, and of doing either good or evil to its friends or foes. These beliefs will feature prominentlyfacts will be prominently brought out in several of the stories to follow.