| Abstract |
This paper examines Yu Yue’s Youtai Xian Guan Bi Ji, with a focus on his reception and understanding of both Chinese and foreign strange tales. It analyzes three narrative strategies employed in the text—recording, commentary, and reminiscence—to investigate Yu Yue’s motivations for writing, as well as his continuation and transformation of the traditional zhiguai genre. The study first explores Yu Yue’s reception and documentation of Japanese strange tales, highlighting how he integrates these foreign accounts into his scholarly framework, thereby demonstrating an active process of cultural assimilation and transformation. It then examines how Yu Yue engages with local customs and folk beliefs, showcasing a critical perspective through detailed recording, citation, and commentary. Finally, it discusses how Yu Yue invokes the memories of family and hometown through ghost narratives, expressing deep nostalgia and personal emotions. This paper argues that by employing the strategies of recording foreign anomalies, critiquing local traditions, and reminiscing about kinship, Yu Yue not only preserves the zhiguai literary tradition but also innovates it by incorporating external cultural elements and personal sentiment, thus creating a distinctive narrative style characterized by both innovation and emotional articulation. |
