Chinese Tales of Epidemics: In Search of Hope amid Despair

Abstract

Abstract:Tales (gushi in Chinese, including all narrative genres) are like living fossils—preserving not only historical events in general, but also behaviors and beliefs in specific places and in specific cultural groups. Therefore, Chinese tales of epidemics reveal fundamental beliefs in and life-views toward not only epidemics, but also the meaning of living a life. The three parts in this paper are intended to tell a long story: first providing some basic terms and concepts related to epidemics; second presenting, for the first time in English, seven tales spanning a two-millennia history up to the present day which show the struggles between the human and the god/ghost/wu-shaman of epidemics; and, finally, offering some reflections upon the realities we are facing in the current COVID-19 pandemic.