Are ghost stories real? And why do people write and read ghost stories in early medieval China? Prof. Robert Ford Campany, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair of Humanities, from department of East Asian Studies at Vanderbilt University will shed light on a distinctive Chinese narrative genre called "zhiguai"(志怪) or Chinese strange writings. Prof. Campany is among the first group of scholars to systematically trace, study and theorize this Chinese narrative genre. Recommended readings: Robert Ford Campany, A Garden of Marvels: Tales of Wonder from Early Medieval China, University of Hawaii Press, 2015. (primary text) Robert Ford Campany, Signs from the Unseen Realm: Buddhist Miracle Tales from Early Medieval China, University of Hawaii Press, 2012. Robert Ford Campany, To Live as Long as Heaven and Earth: A Translation and Study of Ge Hong's Traditions of Divine Transcendents, University of California Press, 2002. Robert Ford Campany, Strange Writing: Anomaly Accounts in Early Medieval China, State University of New York Press, 1996. Judith T. Zeitlin, "xiaoshuo" in Franco Marretti ed. The Novel, Vol.1 For aficionados of Classical Chinese language: 中國古代志怪小說選一 中國古代志怪小說選二 This episode is able to be delivered to you in high quality because of Prof. Campany's generous donation to the show. This podcast is sponsored by Riverside, the most efficient platform for video recording and editing for podcasters. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show