The Painted Skin

"The Painted Skin"
Short story by Pu Songling
19th-century illustration from Xiangzhu liaozhai zhiyi tuyong (Liaozhai Zhiyi with commentary and illustrations; 1886)
Original title畫皮 (Huapi)
TranslatorHerbert Giles (1880)
CountryChina
LanguageChinese
Genre(s)
Publication
Published inStrange Tales from a Chinese Studio
Media typePrint (Book)
Publication date1740
Chronology
 
Qingfeng (青鳳)
 
Jia'er (賈兒)
"The Painted Skin"
Traditional Chinese畫皮
Simplified Chinese画皮
Literal meaning"Painted Skin"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHuàpí
Wade–GilesHua4-p'i2
IPA[xwâpʰǐ]
Wu
RomanizationGhô-bi
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationWaah-pèih
JyutpingWaa6-pei4
Southern Min
Tâi-lôUē-phuê

"The Painted Skin" (Chinese: 畫皮; pinyin: Huàpí) is a short story by the Chinese writer Pu Songling collected in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio in 1740. Literary critics have recognised it as one of the best and best-known entries in Strange Tales; in particular, its textual detail and in-depth characterisation are lauded. "The Painted Skin" has also received numerous adaptations in popular media, especially in film. The story's original title has become a common phrase in Chinese vocabulary, "a synonym for duplicity that wears an outwardly human face but is inwardly demonic".[1]

Set in Shandong, the story revolves around a Chinese scholar, Wang, who becomes infatuated with a demon disguised as a beautiful young maiden. They develop a romantic relationship which goes awry after Wang discovers her true identity. Thereafter, a Taoist priest's skills are put to the task of exorcising the demon; a fight between good and evil ensues.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Luo Hui was invoked but never defined (see the help page).