Women and Men, Love and Power: Parameters of Chinese Fiction and Drama

This study discusses the deviant behavior exhibited by the fox character in Chinese fiction and culture and analyzes the ways in which such behaviors influence the human protagonist. The actions of the protagonist allow the author and reader to consider and critique the lives of people in real life. The study first defines the fox in Chinese literature and then the fox as deviant. Finally the paper focuses on the ways in which deviance affects the individual. The works of Pu Songling, Ji Yun, and He Bang’e form the basis of study throughout. Further studies in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism are recommended. Introduction Foxes in Chinese literature are often portrayed as outsiders and deviants in society. They choose their own lifestyle and do not adhere to a set of social regulations. The human-vulpine relationship explores the realm of the extraordinary, controversial, and taboo, yet these tales can be interpreted as allegories that express common Chinese ideologies. Because they are seen as supernatural beings, the foxes’ interactions with people are considered strange and fantastical. Their marginalized status in literature places them in a compromised position: they have the freedom to pursue a socially unconventional lifestyle, but, when contesting against humans, it is ultimately the action of the human character that decides the outcome of the story. This study examines the way in which the deviant nature of the fox in such stories allows the reader or auditor to reflect on and criticize the lives of ordinary people. Encounters with foxes place protagonists in precarious situations, often bizarre or rolereversing, in which humans must act appropriately to bring back order. Ultimately, fox tales