Xi Fangping

X i Fangping was from Dong'an. His father, named Lian, was a plain and blunt man — honest to a fault, useful for nothing complicated. He had a falling-out with a wealthy neighbor named Yang. Yang died first. Some years later, when Lian was gravely ill and nearly gone, he said to those around him: 'Yang has bribed the underworld guards to beat me.' Soon after, his body swelled red and he died howling. Xi Fangping would not eat. He said: 'My father was a simple man and now a powerful ghost is trampling him. I'll go down there myself and plead his case.' From that day he said nothing more, only sat or stood with a blank look, like a man whose mind has drifted — because it had. His soul had already left the house. Xi Fangping was from Dong'an. His father, Lian, was guileless and slow-witted by nature. He had a quarrel with a rich family in the neighborhood surnamed Yang. Yang died first. Several years later, Lian fell gravely ill and, near death, told those around him: 'Yang has bribed the underworld messengers to beat me.' Soon his body swelled red and he died crying out. Xi was grief-stricken and would not eat. He said: 'My father is plain and simple; now he is being bullied by a powerful ghost. I will go to the underworld and plead his grievance for him.' From then on he spoke no more, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, appearing as if stupefied — for his soul had already departed the body.

When Xi's soul first stepped out of the door it had no idea where to go. He followed the road, asked other travelers for directions, and after a while entered a city. His father had already been locked in the jail. Xi went to the prison gate and from a distance saw his father lying under the eaves, looking wretched. His father raised his eyes, saw his son, and wept. He told him that the jail guards had all taken bribes and were beating him night and day; his shins and thighs were badly broken up. Xi's fury came up fast. He bellowed at the guards: 'If my father has committed a crime, let the law deal with him — who are you dead things to be laying hands on him?' He went out, wrote up a complaint, and when the City God held morning court, he ran in shouting his grievance. When Xi first left, he did not know where to go. He saw travelers on the road and asked for directions to the city. After a short while he entered the city. His father had already been taken into custody in the jail. Xi went to the prison gate and from afar saw his father lying under the eaves, looking extremely wretched. His father looked up and saw his son, and tears streamed down. He said that the jailers had all been bribed and were beating him day and night; his legs and thighs were badly injured. Xi was furious and cursed the jailers loudly: 'If my father has a crime, there is the law to deal with it — how dare you dead demons presume to handle it!' He went out, took up a brush, and wrote a petition. When the City God held morning court, he cried out his grievance and submitted it.

The Yang ghost, frightened, bribed his way through every office inside and out. The City God ruled that what Xi had alleged was unsubstantiated and found against him. Xi had nowhere to put his rage. He walked a hundred-odd li through the dark roads to the prefecture court and filed a complaint against the City God's abuse of his official role. Half a month passed before he got a hearing. The prefecture judge beat Xi and sent the matter back to the City God for re-examination. When Xi returned to the district, he was put in shackles and his grievance remained as stuck as ever. Afraid he would sue again, the City God sent guards to escort him home. The guards dropped him at his door and left. Xi refused to go in. He slipped away to the Hall of Hell and filed a complaint against the greed and cruelty of the district and prefecture officials. Yang was frightened and bribed people inside and out to smooth things over. The City God, finding the allegations unsubstantiated, ruled against Xi. Fuming with no recourse, Xi walked over a hundred li through the underworld roads to the prefecture and filed a complaint against the officials for their private corruption. After half a month's delay, a hearing was held. The prefecture judge beat Xi and returned the case to the City God for re-examination. When Xi arrived back at the district, he was put in irons and his grievance remained unresolved. Afraid he would sue again, the City God dispatched guards to escort him home. The guards departed at the door. Xi refused to enter and slipped away to the Hell Palace, where he filed a complaint against the cruelty and corruption of both the district and prefecture courts.

“He received the strokes and shouted: 'Serves me right — who told me to have no money!'”

The Hell King summoned both parties at once for confrontation. The two officials secretly sent messengers to negotiate with Xi and offered a thousand in gold to settle. Xi wouldn't hear it. After a few days the innkeeper where he was lodging warned him: 'You've pushed too hard. They were willing to settle and you wouldn't. I've heard both sides have been sending sealed memorials to the King — things may go badly for you.' Xi, knowing this was secondhand gossip, wasn't fully convinced. Then a man in a black robe came and called him in. The Hell King summoned them immediately for confrontation. The two officials secretly sent intermediaries to speak to Xi and promised a thousand gold to settle the case. Xi refused to listen. After a few days, the innkeeper told him: 'You have pressed too hard. The officials sought settlement and you refused. I have heard that both sides have presented sealed memorials to the King — the matter may turn dangerous.' Xi, hearing this from hearsay, did not fully believe it. Shortly afterward, a man in black robes arrived and summoned him inside.

He mounted the hall. The Hell King's face was dark with anger. He gave Xi no chance to speak and ordered twenty strokes of the rod. Xi shouted: 'What crime have I committed?' The Hell King looked straight through him. Xi took the beating and then called out: 'Serves me right — who told me to have no money!' The King's fury doubled. He ordered Xi placed on the fire bed. Two demons dragged Xi down and he saw on the east side of the hall an iron bed, fire blazing underneath it, the surface glowing red. The demons stripped his clothes, scooped him up, and pressed him face-down and face-up across the metal. The pain was absolute — flesh and bone went black and charred — and yet somehow he could not die. After about an hour the demons said: 'That's enough.' They lifted him off, had him dress, and he was, astonishingly, able to limp back on his feet. He ascended the hall. The Hell King's face showed anger; he gave Xi no room to speak and ordered twenty strokes of the rod. Xi cried out loudly: 'What crime has this subject committed?' The Hell King acted as though he heard nothing. Xi received the beating and then shouted: 'Receiving these strokes is appropriate — who told me to have no money!' The King grew even angrier and ordered Xi placed on the fire bed. Two demons grabbed Xi and dragged him down; he saw on the eastern side of the hall an iron bed with fierce fire burning beneath it, the surface of the bed glowing red throughout. The demons stripped Xi's clothing, scooped him up, laid him on it, and turned and pressed him repeatedly. The pain was extreme; his flesh and bones went black and charred; he suffered without being able to die. After about an hour the demons said: 'That will do.' They helped him up, told him to dress, and he was, fortunately, able to limp and walk.

He came back before the Hell King, who asked: 'Do you dare sue again?' Xi said: 'My great wrong remains unrighted; my will is not dead. To say I won't sue would be to deceive the King. I will absolutely sue.' The King asked what he would say in his complaint. Xi said: 'Everything I have suffered, I will say.' The King's anger flared again. He ordered Xi sawed in half. Two demons dragged him to where two wooden planks leaned against a post eight or nine feet high, both planks dark with congealed blood. They were about to bind him when a shout came from the hall calling Xi back. The King asked once more: 'Do you dare sue?' Xi answered: 'I will.' The King ordered them to take him down and saw him immediately. He returned to the hall. The Hell King again asked: 'Do you dare sue further?' Xi said: 'My great wrong is still unredressed; my heart will not die. To say I would not sue would be to deceive the King. I will certainly sue.' The King asked what his complaint would say. Xi replied: 'Everything my body has suffered, I will speak.' The King's anger again flared; he ordered Xi's body sawed in half. Two demons pulled him away to where a post stood, eight or nine feet high, with two planks against it, both smeared with congealed blood. They were about to bind him when a great call came from the hall summoning Xi back. The Hell King asked again: 'Do you still dare sue?' He answered: 'I will.' The King ordered him taken down and sawed at once.

They went below. The demons clamped two planks around Xi and bound him to the post. The saw came down. He felt his skull beginning to split open from the top — pain beyond any word for it — and yet he bore it and did not cry out. He heard one of the demons say: 'What a man.' The saw ground on down, roaring, until it was level with his chest. Then he heard another demon say: 'This man is truly filial and innocent. Angle the saw a little — don't damage his heart.' He felt the blade curve and wander from its path, and the pain doubled. In a moment his body had split in two. The planks came off and both halves fell. The demons went up to the hall and reported in a loud voice. The order came down: bring him rejoined before the hall. They went below. The demons clamped the two planks around Xi and bound him to the post. The saw descended. He felt his skull gradually splitting open — the pain was unbearable — yet he endured it without crying out. He heard a demon say: 'What a stout fellow!' The saw ground down with a rumbling sound until it reached below the chest. Then he heard another demon say: 'This man is greatly filial and innocent; angle the saw slightly so as not to damage his heart.' He felt the saw blade bend and veer in its path, doubling the pain. In a short while his body had been split in two. The planks were removed and both halves fell. The demons ascended the hall and reported loudly. A command came from the hall ordering him rejoined and brought before the King.

The two demons pushed the halves back together and dragged him forward. Xi felt the saw's seam — one long line of pain threatening to pull apart with every half-step. He stumbled and fell. One of the demons reached into his robe and drew out a silk band, handed it over: 'A gift, for your filial heart.' Xi took it and cinched it around his waist. His whole body immediately felt strong; the pain was gone. He mounted the hall again and lay prostrate. The Hell King asked the same question as before. But Xi, dreading another round of that, answered: 'I will not sue.' The King immediately ordered him sent back to the world of the living. The two guards marched him out through the north gate, pointed out the road home, and turned back. The two demons pushed the halves together and dragged him forward. Xi felt the saw's seam, in great pain as if it might tear open again; after half a step he fell. One demon drew from his waist a silk band and gave it to him, saying: 'This is presented to you in recognition of your filial piety.' Xi received it and bound it around his waist; his whole body immediately felt strong and the pain was entirely gone. He ascended the hall again and prostrated himself. The Hell King asked him the same as before. Xi, fearing another severe torture, answered: 'I will not sue.' The King immediately ordered him sent back to the living world. The two guards led him out through the north gate, pointed out the road home, and turned back.

Xi thought: the underworld courts are even darker than the living ones. But there was no road to the Jade Emperor's ear. The world says that the Lord of Guankou — Erlang — is a kinsman of the Emperor, a god both keen and upright. A complaint to him might actually land. He was pleased to find the two guards already gone and turned south and started running. Two men came after him fast: 'The King suspected you wouldn't go home — and here you are, just as he said.' They hauled him back before the Hell King. Xi reflected that the underworld courts were even murkier than those of the living world. But he had no road by which to reach the Emperor's ears. The world transmits that the Lord of Guankou, Erlang, is a kinsman of the Emperor and is known to be keen and upright — an appeal to him might be efficacious. Xi was quietly glad the two guards had already departed and turned south to run. Two men came chasing after him, saying: 'The King suspected you would not go home — and indeed so.' They seized him and dragged him back before the Hell King.

Xi braced for worse fury. But the King surprised him — his face was calm. He said: 'Your filial devotion is genuine. But your father's wrong — I have already redressed it. He has gone to be reborn into a wealthy family. Why do you still cry out? I will send you back now and give you a thousand-gold fortune and a lifespan of a hundred years. Will that satisfy you?' He had the great register brought out, stamped with a huge seal, and let Xi look at it himself. Xi thanked him and withdrew. Out on the road, a demon turned and cursed him: 'You treacherous scoundrel — kept doubling back and wearing us out! Do it again and we'll throw you in the great millstone and grind you fine!' Xi opened his eyes wide and snapped back: 'My nature endures knives and saws. It does not endure bluster. Go tell the King — if he wants me to go home alone, I'll go. No need for an escort.' He turned and ran back toward the palace. The two demons, alarmed, spoke gently to coax him around. Xi dragged his feet deliberately — a few steps, then sitting down at the roadside. The demons swallowed their anger and said nothing more. After about half a day they reached a village. A door stood half open. The demons led Xi in to sit. Xi planted himself in the doorway. The two demons, catching him off-guard, shoved him through. Xi inwardly expected the King would be even angrier with more terrible consequences; but the King's expression was not severe. He said to Xi: 'Your will is truly filial. But your father's wrong — I have already redressed it for you. He has now been reborn into a wealthy family. Why do you still cry out? Now I will send you home and grant you a thousand-gold estate and a lifespan of a hundred years — is that sufficient for your wish?' He had the registry brought out, pressed with a great seal, and let Xi look at it himself. Xi thanked him and descended. A demon accompanied him out, then on the road cursed him: 'You crafty villain! Kept doubling back to make people run themselves ragged! If you do it again I'll throw you into the great millstone and grind you fine!' Xi opened his eyes wide and rebuked him: 'My nature endures knives and saws; it does not endure bullying. Go back and tell the King — if he lets me go home alone, what need is there for an escort?' He turned to run back. The two demons were frightened and gently persuaded him to return. Xi deliberately walked slowly, resting at the roadside every few steps. The demons suppressed their anger and dared not speak further. After about half a day they reached a village. A door was half open. The demons led Xi inside to sit. Xi sat himself across the doorway threshold. The two demons, catching him off-guard, shoved him through the door.

He jolted awake and looked at himself. He had been born as an infant. In fury he cried and refused to nurse. Three days later the infant died. His soul, restless and unable to forget Erlang, ran off some tens of li when suddenly he saw an approaching procession — feathered canopies, banners and halberds filling the road. He tried to step around it but stumbled into the imperial escort and was seized by the outriders and bound, then dragged to the front of the carriage. Looking up, he saw in the carriage a young man of extraordinary bearing. The young man asked who he was. Xi's grievances were boiling with nowhere to go; and he judged this must be a great official with real power, so he poured out all his suffering in a long account. The man in the carriage ordered his bonds cut and let him walk alongside. He was startled and examined himself — he had already been born as an infant. In rage he cried and refused to nurse; three days later the infant died. His soul drifted, unable to forget Erlang; he ran roughly tens of li when suddenly he saw a feathered canopy approaching, with flags and halberds blocking the road. He tried to step aside but stumbled into the imperial retinue and was seized by the outriders and bound, then dragged to the front of the carriage. Looking up, he saw a young man in the carriage of magnificent and remarkable appearance. He asked Xi who he was. Xi's pent-up grievance had nowhere to come out; thinking this must be a great official who could dispense rewards and punishments, he spoke at length of all his sufferings. The man in the carriage ordered his bonds removed and let him follow the carriage.

After a while they reached a place where a dozen or so officials came out to the road to greet the carriage. The young man spoke with each of them, then pointed to Xi and said to one official: 'This man from below was just on his way to file a complaint. See to it immediately.' Xi asked someone in the entourage and learned for the first time that the young man was the Ninth Prince, son of the Jade Emperor, and the official he had pointed to was Erlang. Xi studied Erlang: tall, heavily bearded — nothing like the images of him in the world's paintings. The Ninth Prince departed. Xi followed Erlang to an official hall, where his father and the Yang man were both present along with the underworld guards. After a short while, a barred wagon rolled in with prisoners inside — the Hell King, the Prefecture Lord, and the City God. A full confrontation was held before the hall. Everything Xi had alleged proved true. The three officials trembled and crouched like cornered rats. Erlang took up his brush and wrote the judgment in a single sitting. It was passed down and read by everyone at the hearing. After a while they arrived at a place where more than ten officials came out to the road to receive him. The young man in the carriage exchanged words with each. Then he pointed to Xi and said to one official: 'This man from below was just going to file a complaint; you should immediately deliberate and decide his case.' Xi asked those in the entourage and only then learned that the one in the carriage was the Ninth Prince, son of the Jade Emperor, and the one indicated was Erlang. Xi looked at Erlang: tall in stature, with a full beard — not at all resembling the images transmitted in the world. The Ninth Prince departed. Xi followed Erlang to an official building where his father and the Yang man were both present together with the underworld guards. Shortly after, prisoners were brought out in a barred carriage — they were the Hell King, the Prefecture Lord, and the City God. A full confrontation was conducted before the hall. Everything Xi had alleged was found accurate. The three officials trembled, crouching like cornered rats. Erlang took up his brush and issued a judgment at once. It was passed down and those present at the hearing all read it.

The judgment read: 'Regarding the Hell King: endowed with royal rank, receiving the Emperor's grace, he should have remained pure and upright to lead his subordinates, not corrupt so as to draw censure. Yet beneath pennants and halberds he paraded nothing but the grandeur of his rank; voracious as wolf and sheep combined, he soiled the conduct of a royal servant. The axe cuts the wood and the wood is cut ever deeper; the flesh and bones of wives and children are hollowed out to nothing. The whale swallows the fish and the fish swallows the shrimp — even the lives of the smallest creatures deserve pity. Let the waters of the western river be drawn to cleanse his bowels; fire the bed on the eastern wall and bid the gentleman step into his jar. Regarding the City God and the Prefecture Lord: they serve as father-and-mother officials to the common people and as shepherds of the Jade Emperor's flock. Though their positions rank low, those who exhaust themselves in service do not shrink from bowing the head; and even when pressed by powerful superiors, the resolute find a way to stand firm. But these two worked their hawk-hands above and below and showed no thought for the poverty of the people; they spread their cunning schemes in every direction and felt no shame at leaving the ghosts lean. They took bribes and bent the law — truly men's faces with the hearts of beasts. They should be scraped to the marrow as punishment by underworld death; let them be stripped of their skins and given new ones, and reborn of woman again.' 'Examining the Hell King: his position holds the rank of king and he receives the Emperor's grace. He ought to have maintained purity to lead his subordinates and should not have been corrupt so as to invite official reproach. Yet beneath pennants and arms he merely flaunted the grandeur of his rank; rapacious as wolf and sheep, he brought shame to a royal minister's conduct. The axe strikes wood and the wood is cut still deeper; the flesh and bones of wives and children are all hollowed out. The whale swallows the fish, the fish consumes the shrimp — even the faint lives of the smallest creatures deserve compassion. Let the waters of the western river be drawn to wash out his bowels; fire the bed on the eastern wall and bid the gentleman step into the jar. Regarding the City God and the Prefecture Lord: they serve as father-and-mother officials to the people and as shepherds of the Jade Emperor's flock. Although their ranks are below, those who exhaust themselves do not decline to bow their heads; even when pressed by powerful superiors, the resolute will hold firm. Yet these two worked their hawk-like hands above and below, giving no thought for the people's poverty; they sent their crafty corruptions flying in all directions and felt no shame at leaving the ghosts lean. They took bribes and perverted the law — truly men's faces and beasts' hearts. They should be scraped to the marrow of their bones as temporary punishment by underworld death; let their skins be stripped and replaced, and let them be born again of woman.'

'Regarding the underworld guards: already in the ghost-courts, they are no longer human. They should have cultivated virtue at the official gate to work their way back toward a human birth. Instead they raised new waves in the sea of suffering and piled sin upon sin to reach the sky. They swaggered and bullied — dog-faces bringing frost in the sixth month; they rioted and howled — tiger-power blocking every road through the nine districts. They wielded cruelty in the underworld so that all prisoners feared the jailers' names; they assisted corrupt officials in their dark crimes so that all trembled at the name of executioner. They should be chopped into pieces on the execution ground; let their sinews and bones be fished from the cauldron. Regarding Yang: rich but without benevolence, clever but full of deceit. His gold-light covered the ground until Yama's halls were nothing but murk; his money-stench filled the sky until the city of the wrongfully dead saw neither sun nor moon. His lingering wealth could still command ghosts; his great power could reach the gods themselves. The Yang family's estate shall be confiscated in full and awarded to Xi in recognition of his filial piety. Let them be taken at once to the Eastern Sacred Mountain for sentencing.' 'Regarding the underworld jailers: already belonging to the ghost-courts, they are no longer human. They ought to have cultivated virtue at the official gate and worked toward recovering a human birth. Instead they raised waves in the sea of suffering and accumulated sins reaching to heaven. They swaggered and rampaged — dog-faces bringing frost in the sixth month; they rioted and roared — tiger-power cutting off roads through the nine districts. They wielded cruelty in the underworld and all knew the jailers as supreme; they assisted in the dark crimes of corrupt officials so that all feared the executioner. They should be chopped at the four limbs on the execution ground; their sinews and bones should be fished from the cauldron. Regarding Yang: wealthy yet without benevolence, cunning and full of deceit. His gold-light covered the ground and thus in Yama's halls all was murky; his money-stench filled the sky and thus in the city of the wrongfully dead there was neither sun nor moon. His residual wealth could still command ghosts; his great power could reach the gods. The Yang family's estate shall be confiscated in its entirety and awarded to Xi in recompense for Xi's filial piety. Let them be taken immediately to the Eastern Sacred Mountain for sentencing.'

Erlang also addressed Xi's father Lian: 'In recognition of your son's filial devotion and your own essentially honest though overly timid nature, you are granted another thirty-six years of life.' Two attendants were sent to escort them home. Xi copied out the full text of the judgment and father and son read it together on the road. When they arrived, Xi woke first. He told the family to open the coffin and look in on his father — the corpse was cold as ice. They waited all day. Gradually it warmed, and Lian came back to life. When Xi looked for the copied judgment, it was already gone. Erlang also said to Lian, Xi's father: 'In recognition of your son's filial righteousness and your own genuinely honest though overly timid nature, you are hereby granted another thirty-six years of life.' Two persons were sent to escort them home. Xi copied out the text of the judgment, and father and son read it together along the road. When they arrived home, Xi woke first. He told the family to open the coffin and examine his father — the corpse was still cold as ice. They waited all day; it gradually warmed and Lian came back to life. When Xi looked for the copied text, it had already vanished.

From that day the Xi family grew steadily richer. Within three years, fertile fields spread in every direction across the land. The Yang descendants, meanwhile, dwindled away. Their towers, their fields, their houses — everything came into Xi's possession. Some villagers tried to buy pieces of the Yang land. At night a divine figure appeared in their dreams and rebuked them: 'This belongs to the Xi family — what claim have you on it?' At first they shrugged it off. But when they farmed the land, the whole year brought not a single bushel. So they sold it back to Xi. Xi's father lived to past ninety before he died. From then on the Xi family grew more prosperous day by day. Within three years, fertile fields spread across the countryside. The Yang descendants meanwhile declined. Their towers, fields, and properties all came into Xi's possession. Some villagers tried to buy pieces of the land; at night a divine figure appeared in their dreams and rebuked them: 'This is Xi's property — how could you claim it?' At first they did not fully believe it; but then they farmed the land and the whole year yielded not a single measure of grain, so they sold it back to Xi. Xi's father died at over ninety years of age.

The Chronicler of Strange Events says: Everyone talks of the Pure Land, yet when death and life are separated by a world, the mind goes blank — we don't know where we came from, still less where we are going. How much more so for one who dies and dies again, who is born and born again? When loyalty and filial piety have fixed the will, ten thousand calamities cannot move it. Remarkable — Xi Fangping. What a man. The Historian of Strange Events comments: Everyone speaks of the Pure Land, yet between death and life the worlds are separated and all intentions become confused — one does not know whence one came, still less where one goes. How much more so for one who dies and dies again, who is born and again is born? When the will of loyalty and filial piety is set, ten thousand kalpas cannot move it. Extraordinary — Xi Fangping. How magnificent.

席方 The original Chinese · honored as an artifact

席方平，東安人。其父名廉，性戇拙。因與里中富室羊姓有郤，羊先死；數年，廉病垂危，謂人曰：「羊某今賄囑冥使搒我矣。」

Opening lines, classical Chinese · Strange Tales 聊齋誌異 · Pu Songling