The Haunted Mansion

　　During the rebellion of Xie Qian, the official residences all became bandit strongholds. The home of Wang Qixiang, the Provincial Education Commissioner, was especially crowded with robbers. When the government forces broke into the city and swept away the rabble, corpses filled the steps of the courtyard, and blood flowed all the way to the gate. Commissioner Wang entered the city, carried out the bodies, washed away the blood, and moved in. After that, ghosts often appeared even in broad daylight. At night, will-o'-the-wisps danced under his bed, and ghostly wails came from the corners of the walls.

　　One day, a scholar named Wang Haodi was lodging at Commissioner Wang's home. He heard a small voice under the bed repeatedly calling, "Haodi! Haodi!" Soon the voice grew louder and said, "I died in agony!" Then it wept, and the entire courtyard burst into weeping. Commissioner Wang heard this, took up his sword, and stormed in, shouting arrogantly, "Don't you recognize me, Commissioner Wang?" But all he heard in reply was a chorus of snickering and mocking sneers.

　　Commissioner Wang then arranged for a Water-and-Land Mass, ordering Buddhist monks and Daoist priests to chant repentance rituals and deliver the souls. That night, when they scattered ghost food, they saw will-o'-the-wisps buzzing about, rising from everywhere on the ground.

　　Earlier, a gatekeeper named Wang had fallen gravely ill and had been unconscious for several days. That very night, he suddenly stretched and yawned as if waking up. His wife brought him food. Wang said, "Just now, for some reason, the master distributed food in the courtyard. I joined the crowd and ate. Only after finishing did I come back, so I'm not hungry."

　　From then on, the ghosts and strange events ceased. Could it be that the clanging of cymbals and bells, and the chanting for the hungry ghosts, really had an effect?

　　The Historian of the Strange comments: Evil and monstrous things can only be subdued by virtue. At the time the city fell, Commissioner Wang was at the height of his power and influence. Those who heard his name trembled in fear, yet the ghosts openly mocked him. Perhaps those spirits foresaw that his end would not be good? I hereby inform all great men and honored officials: even showing a human face cannot frighten ghosts—I hope you will not put on a ghostly face to frighten men!



中文如下：

　　鬼哭

　　【原文】

　　谢迁之变，宦第皆为贼窟。王学使七襄之宅，盗聚尤众。城破兵入，扫荡群丑，尸填墀，血至充门而流。公入城，扛尸涤血而居。往往白昼见鬼，夜则床下燐飞，墙角鬼哭。

　　一日，王生皞迪寄宿公家，闻床底小声连呼：“皞迪！皞迪！”已而声渐大，曰：“我死得苦！”因哭，满庭皆哭。公闻，仗剑而入，大言曰：“汝不识我王学院耶？”但闻百声嗤嗤，笑之以鼻。公于是设水陆道场，命释道忏度之。夜抛鬼饭，则见燐火营营，随地皆出。先是，阍人王姓者，疾笃，昏不知人者数日矣。是夕，忽欠伸若醒。妇以食进。王曰：“适主人不知何事，施饭于庭，我亦随众啗啖。食已方归，故不饥耳。”由此鬼怪遂绝。岂钹铙钟鼓，焰口瑜伽，果有益耶？

　　异史氏曰：邪怪之物，唯德可以已之。当陷城之时，王公势正烜赫，闻声者皆股栗，而鬼且揶揄之。想鬼物逆知其不令终耶？普告天下大人先生，出人面犹不可以吓鬼，愿无出鬼面以吓人也！

　　【翻译】

　　谢迁之乱的时候，官员府第都被贼兵占为据点。学使王七襄的宅院中聚集的强盗尤其多。待到官兵破城而入，扫荡搜杀叛乱的人，一时间尸体躺满了院里的台阶，血一直流到了大门外。王七襄进城以后，扛出尸体，扫净血污，住了下来。但宅院里常常大白天就会遇见鬼，一到晚上，床下就磷火纷飞，墙角里鬼的哭声不断。

　　一天，书生王皞迪借住在王家，听见床底下有一个细小的声音连续地呼叫：“皞迪！皞迪！”一会儿，声音越来越大，说：“我死得好苦啊！”于是哭泣了起来，引起了庭院里的一片哭声。王七襄听见了，手持宝剑冲了进来，牛气哄哄地说：“你们不认识我王学院王大人吗？”只听得周围发出一片“嗤嗤”的声音，一齐嘲笑他。王七襄于是开设水陆道场，请来和尚道士念经拜忏、超度亡魂。夜间抛洒鬼饭的时候，只见遍地都冒出了荧荧的磷火。起先，王宅中有个姓王的看门人，病得很重，不省人事已经好几天了。那天晚上，他忽然伸手伸腿的，好像睡了一觉刚刚醒来。他的妻子用食物喂他。姓王的说：“刚才主人不知道为了什么事，在院子里施舍饭食，我也随着大家连吞带咽的。吃完了才回来。所以现在不饿了。”从此以后，鬼怪便不再出现了。难道是和尚道士们奏乐作法，念经超度真的见了效吗？

　　异史氏说：邪魔鬼怪一类的东西，只有用德行可以制服它。当官兵破城的时候，王七襄的权势正显赫无比，一般人听见他的声音都要两腿发抖，而鬼却敢嘲弄他。估计鬼物已经预知他的下场不妙了吧？我在此一并奉告天下的大人先生们：做出人的样子都吓不住鬼，但愿你们不要再装出鬼的面目来吓唬人了！