Pu Songling

Writing

Pu Songling

Born January 1, 1640 · Zibo, Shandong Province, China

Died January 1, 1715 · aged 74

No biography available.

Known For

Princess LotusPrincess Lotus · 1992
Princess Lotus
1992
MovieAnimation
This art film is an ink cartoon adapted from the story of the same name in "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio". In the dream, the scholar Dou Xu was invited to a banquet by the queen. At the banquet, he got acquainted with the princess Lotus.
Curious Tales of a TempleCurious Tales of a Temple · 2025
Curious Tales of a Temple
7.62025
MovieDramaComedy
An epic animated fantasy anthology film intertwining six storylines from China's classic supernatural story collection "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" by Pu Songling. The six stories center on Lanruo Temple, an ancient ruin haunted by spirits. Weaving in classic tales like "Taoist from Laoshan Mountain," "Princess Lotus," "Nie Xiaoqian," "The Painted Skin" and "The Daughter of Magistrate Lu." These stories — spanning humans, ghosts and demons — explore love, death and morality against shifting time. The film merges six distinct styles into one anthology. For example, "Taoist from Laoshan Mountain" uses felt-textured animation, while "The Painted Skin" mirrors Song dynasty painting aesthetics.
A Touch of ZenA Touch of Zen · 1970
A Touch of Zen
7.61970
MovieActionAdventure
Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run from corrupt government officials, is joined in her endeavors by skilled Buddhist monks and an unambitious painter named Gu Sheng-zhai.
Painted SkinPainted Skin · 2008
Painted Skin
6.02008
MovieFantasyAction
Painted Skin is based on one of Pu Songling's classic short stories in Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio. Zhou Xun stars as Xiao Wei, a fox spirit that feasts on human hearts in order to maintain her lovely, youthful appearance. When General Wang Sheng (Chen Kun) 'rescues' her from a band of bandits and brings her home, trouble brews as the demon falls in love with the general.
Strange ReportsStrange Reports · 2016
Strange Reports
6.02016
MovieHorrorThriller
Pu Songling, is a social journalist. In the course of his interviews, he often encounters strange stories that he cannot publish in the newspaper, so he sets up his own personal website, called "Liaozhai".
Nie XiaoqianNie Xiaoqian · 2024
Nie Xiaoqian
7.62024
MovieRomanceFantasy
Nie Xiaoqian was betrayed and died with hatred. She turned into a ghost after death and was imprisoned in Lanruo Temple. Ning Sheng went to Capital to take examination and stayed here, and accidentally saved Xiaoqian.
Four MoodsFour Moods · 1970
Four Moods
6.81970
MovieDramaFantasy
Directed by some of most well known Chinese-language directors of the time, the portmanteau film Four Moods was an attempt to alleviate Li Han-hsiang’s financial troubles during the late 1960s. Arguably one of his best works, King Hu’s short Anger is an adaptation of the famous Peking opera San Cha Kou; set to opera instrumentation and stylishly shot, the film deftly captures the tense showdown between political schemers, avengers and vagabonds inside an inn. Li Han-hsiang’s Happiness, inspired by the Strange Tales of Liaozhai, tells a tale of reprieve for a kind-hearted ghost, while Pai Ching-Jui’s Joy and Lee Hsing’s Sadness both explore the fateful encounters between mortal men and ghostly women.
The Fox LoverThe Fox Lover · 2013
The Fox Lover
6.52013
MovieFantasyRomance
When the white fox spirit falls for a naïve mortal girl, his loyalties are tested in the clash between humans and demons.

Filmography

Sort
Curious Tales of a TempleCurious Tales of a Temple · 2025
Curious Tales of a Temple
7.62025
MovieDramaComedy
An epic animated fantasy anthology film intertwining six storylines from China's classic supernatural story collection "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" by Pu Songling. The six stories center on Lanruo Temple, an ancient ruin haunted by spirits. Weaving in classic tales like "Taoist from Laoshan Mountain," "Princess Lotus," "Nie Xiaoqian," "The Painted Skin" and "The Daughter of Magistrate Lu." These stories — spanning humans, ghosts and demons — explore love, death and morality against shifting time. The film merges six distinct styles into one anthology. For example, "Taoist from Laoshan Mountain" uses felt-textured animation, while "The Painted Skin" mirrors Song dynasty painting aesthetics.

Book

The Eye of The Dragon PrincessThe Eye of The Dragon Princess · 2020
The Eye of The Dragon Princess
8.72020
MovieRomanceFantasy
Аnother Pu Songling’s fairytale from classic Liao Zhai collection. Romantic story based on "Dragon Without Eyes" and produced by Dongfang Feiyun. The film is about the daughter of the Dragon King of the East China Sea, Hailanzhu, who comes to earth to spread rain and encounters Lu Haisheng, a magistrate of the Yizhou government, in the Dragon King Temple. Hailanzhu pretended to have amnesia and stayed beside Lu Haisheng to assist in investigating the murder case. In order to get a pair of eyes that won't decay, the villainous forces are eyeing Longanzhu, and they use a series of tricks to cause a deep misunderstanding between the man and the woman, meanwhile, Yuhe of Lu's residence is also jealous of Hailanzhu's arrival, hoping to get rid of her so that she can resume her life and have a chance to be with Lu Haisheng. Will Hailanzhu be able to get her Dragon Eye back? And how will their feelings for each other be broken in the midst of the crisis?

Original Story

Lich Hand to Destroy FlowerLich Hand to Destroy Flower · 2020
Lich Hand to Destroy Flower
2020
Movie
«Jiang Fei» (or Red Concubine) was another fairytale from Pu Songling's «Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio». Young girl is murdered by a vampire, and the police constable Song Yichen investigates the scene of the crime and finds that the deceased has a flower mark on her forehead. When Song Yixin is attacked by a tree spirit, the flower fairy Jiang Fei, who is on duty on earth, saves him and brings him to the Three Heavens. Song Yixin discovers an identical flower mark on the forehead of Aunt Jiang Fei and suspects that she is the real killer. Lei Ning'er, the head of the Demon Hunters Clan, assists Song Yichen in his investigation of the case. Her true identity is that of a tree spirit, and she is doing all this to find her way into the Three Worlds to avenge the murder of her aunt. Lei Ning'er repeatedly frames Concubine Jiang, and even kills Feng Yan, who is in love with Song Yichen, to frame Concubine Jiang.

Original Story