The Imperial Physician

"The Imperial Physician"
Author Pu Songling
Original title "张鸿渐 (Zhang Hongjian)"
Translator Sidney L. Sondergard (2012)
Country China
Language Chinese
Genre(s)
Published in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
Media type Print (Book)
Publication date 1740
Preceded by "Zhang Hongjian (张鸿渐)"
Followed by "Wang Zian (王子安)"

"The Imperial Physician" (Chinese: 太医; pinyin: Tàiyī) is a short story by the Chinese writer Pu Songling collected in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio in 1740, and translated by Sidney L. Sondergard in 2012.

Plot

Sun Pingshi (孙评事) has devoted all his effort to attaining an imperial degree, so as to honour his deceased mother who was windowed at the age of nineteen, during the Wanli Emperor's reign, and led a life of chastity hereafter.[1] Finally, he earns the highest possible title of jinshi.[1] However, he becomes very sick one day – just a few days short of formally becoming a civil servant. On the verge of death, he beckons for the imperial physician, but by the time of his arrival, Sun has already died, his eyes still open after realising that he would still have failed in honouring his mother, in that he led a life without fame and prestige.[1]

The imperial physician is briefed of the situation, and uses moxibustion to revive Sun.[2] Before leaving, the doctor warns Sun not to consume any tiger or bear meat. Given the scarcity of such meats, though, Sun does not place much significance on the physician's warning.[2] A week later, the crown prince is born and Sun attends the royal banquet held in celebration of the joyous occasion. He enjoys a spread of sumptuous food "sweet and refreshing beyond compare".[2] The next day, he discovers that he had eaten bear meat, and dies soon after.[2]

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

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