The Shadow Book of Ji Yun

"The Shadow Book of Ji Yun is less well known than the other East Asian classics on this list. It is a one-volume collection of vignettes, notes and anecdotes selected from what is five volumes in the Chinese original. It gives us a glimpse of a perceptive writer, Ji Yun, who lived from 1724-1805, and is a good choice for people who prefer to dip into a book rather than follow a narrative, and for anyone who enjoys getting a feel for a very different time. The Shadow Book is an intriguing, continually surprising read, perhaps because some of the stories feel quite contemporary; for example we read about human female souls who are born into male bodies and male souls who are born into female bodies. Having said that, many of the stories would be narrated differently with today’s sensibilities, such as those about ghosts tricking people into committing suicide, which we might now describe in terms of mental illness. Some of the stories are about ghosts and demons, but it is not a ghost story collection. Ji Yun picks out ideas that he thinks are worthy of consideration. He is always curious, keen to hear alternative opinions and discuss. He constantly seeks knowledge and is interested in the experiences and views of others. The author suggests that we should be skeptical of what we hear but have enough humility to accept that the world contains more than our conceptions allow us to see or imagine. Readers are confronted with other dimensions of reality, but also the reality of being human. Much of Ji Yun’s thinking is about being a decent man. Many of the tales have a moral but there is an openness of thought to the collection which is very refreshing, and he is always willing to reflect. More than one story ponders illusions and the fleeting nature of human relationships. We are cautioned against sharp distinctions — if we insist on such categorical definitions we will see neither others nor ourselves clearly; we will merely see what we want in others, and miss the real person."