Pu Songling

5 June 1640 – 25 February 1715

Pu Songling (1640-1715) was a Chinese writer of the early Qing dynasty, best known as the author of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liaozhai Zhiyi), a celebrated collection of nearly five hundred classical-language tales of ghosts, fox spirits, and the supernatural. He spent most of his life as a private tutor in his native Shandong after repeatedly failing the higher imperial examinations.

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Life events

Born in Zichuan, Shandong Province
5 June 1640

Pu Songling was born into a declining merchant-scholar family in Zichuan (in present-day Zibo, Shandong).

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Passed the county-level imperial examination with distinction
1658

At eighteen Pu obtained the xiucai (licentiate) degree, placing first at the county, prefecture, and provincial qualifying levels.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Repeatedly failed the provincial-level juren examinations
c. 1660 – c. 1702

Despite decades of attempts, Pu never passed the provincial examination, a frustration that colored his satirical portrayals of the examination system.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Served as secretary to the magistrate Sun Hui in Baoying
1670 – 1671

Pu spent about a year in Jiangsu as private secretary to his friend Sun Hui, his only extended period away from Shandong.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Became resident tutor to the Bi family of Zichuan
c. 1672 – c. 1709

Pu began roughly three decades of service as tutor and secretary in the household of the wealthy Bi family, which gave him access to a large library.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Completed the main body of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
1679

Pu wrote a preface to Liaozhai Zhiyi in 1679, by which time much of the collection existed, though he continued adding tales for decades; it circulated in manuscript and was first printed in 1766.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Wrote vernacular ballads, plays, and practical handbooks
c. 1690

Alongside his classical tales, Pu produced folk ballads in the local dialect, plays, and reference works for farmers and physicians.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Awarded the honorary title of tribute student (gongsheng)
1711

At the age of 71, Pu finally received the consolation degree of gongsheng in recognition of his long scholarly career.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Died in Zichuan at age 74
25 February 1715

Pu Songling died at his home in Shandong; his Strange Tales was published posthumously and became one of the most beloved works of Chinese fiction.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓