True TAIWAN Horror story

When it comes to Chinese folklore and bizarre tales, many have heard of the fox spirits, but did you know there’s another mysterious and terrifying entity in southern China called the “Five Spirits”. a.k.a. Wutong? Today, let’s dive into this legend that promises wealth but comes with a chilling curse. The inspiration for this story comes from the Qing Dynasty writer Pu Songling’s Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, specifically the chapter titled “Wutong.” The tale itself is quite fascinating. Let’s retell it for you all to enjoy this wild and eerie piece of folklore together?

Wutong: Wealth and Wickedness Incarnate

The story begins by noting that in the south, the Five Spirits are as infamous as fox spirits are in the north. They have a unique selling point: they bring immense wealth. Sounds tempting, right? But don’t get too excited—there’s a steep price to pay. The Five Spirits are notorious for defiling wives and daughters, said to possess enormous phalluses that leave their victims in utter misery, wishing for death. Even worse, if a woman tries to hang herself to escape, the Five Spirits won’t let her succeed. When these spirits descend upon a household, the men of the family often have no choice but to hide, powerless to resist.

Descriptions of the Five Spirits vary widely in folklore, but one thing is consistent: they appear as five animal-like creatures. As for which five animals they are, opinions differ—some say horses and pigs, others spin more fantastical theories. It’s a mysterious setup that leaves plenty to the imagination.

A Merchant’s Wife’s Nightmare

The protagonist is the wife of a wealthy merchant, surnamed Yan—let’s call her Lady Yan. Lady Yan was a woman of striking beauty, but as the saying goes, a beautiful woman often faces a tragic fate. One night, while her husband was away, an unexpected visitor arrived at their home. This stranger introduced himself to the bewildered Lady Yan, saying, “I’m Silang (Fourth Brother), and I really like you.” With unnatural strength, he assaulted her. The maids and the merchant were informed, but when the merchant learned it was the work of the Five Spirits, he could only shrug helplessly—there was nothing he could do.

A few days later, Silang returned, this time with two brothers he called “Big Brother” and “Third Brother.” After rounds of drinking, the two brothers left, and Silang once again tormented Lady Yan. This went on for two or three months, plunging the entire household into unbearable suffering with no end in sight.

A Hero Emerges

Just when hope seemed lost, the merchant’s cousin, Wansheng, came to visit. Wansheng was a fierce and fearless man, skilled in archery—a true tough guy. That night, unable to sleep, he suddenly heard footsteps in the courtyard. Curiosity piqued, he quietly opened the window and saw a strange man entering Lady Yan’s chambers. Furious, Wansheng thought to himself, “My sister-in-law is cheating on my cousin? I’ll take care of this scoundrel for him!”

Drawing his sword, he stormed into the room. There, he saw the two sitting side by side, a table laden with wine and food before them. His anger flared even more. Without hesitation, he swung his blade at Silang, who, caught off guard and barely reaching for his own sword, took a direct hit to the skull. Blood splattered everywhere (okay, the original text isn’t quite that graphic, but picture the scene—it’s intense!). When Wansheng looked closer, he was stunned: this “lover” was no man but a horse! Talk about a scandal without precedent.

Lady Yan then explained the full story, warning that the Five Spirits might seek revenge and urging Wansheng to hide. Sure enough, moments later, four figures descended from the sky, furious and ready to strike. Wansheng bided his time, then let an arrow fly—“whoosh, thud”—the leader fell. The remaining three, enraged, began searching for the archer. Still hidden, Wansheng faced one head-on and struck again with his blade—Triple kill! Three of the Five Spirits were down, and the last two, witnessing the carnage, fled in terror.

The household was roused, and with candles lit, they discovered the dead were a horse and two pigs. Wansheng’s victory was decisive, and his name soon spread far and wide.

Some time later, a timber merchant, having heard of Wansheng’s heroism, invited him to his home. It turned out the merchant’s unmarried daughter had also caught the eye of a Five Spirit. This one boldly declared, “You’re the one!” and even set a wedding date. With the day approaching and no solution in sight, the merchant turned to Wansheng for help.

The outcome was predictable—Wansheng went on another rampage and slew yet another spirit. After that, tales of the Five Spirits faded into obscurity. It’s said that of the original five, only one remained, likely too scared to ever show its face again.

Another Tale: The Half-Spirit of Wutong

In the next story, our protagonist is surnamed Jin—let’s call him Jinsheng. The story begins on a cold, windy night when Jinsheng crosses paths with an enigmatic woman. At first, he’s wary, fearing she might be part of some scam. But this woman is no ordinary trickster—her figure is graceful, her movements enchanting, and despite his reservations, Jinsheng finds himself unable to resist her allure. From that night on, she visits Jinsheng’s room every evening. One day, he catches her performing strange magic and realizes she’s no mere mortal.

Jinsheng has a niece who’s already married, but unfortunately, she’s caught the eye of one of the Five Spirits—the same lustful, wealth-bringing creatures we’ve met before. Desperate to save her, Jinsheng turns to his extraordinary “girlfriend” for help, begging her to intervene.

Here’s where things get complicated. The woman hesitates. She’s known about the situation all along but has been reluctant to act. Why? Because the Five Spirits are her kin. It turns out she’s no ordinary immortal—she’s the daughter of a river god, and the Wutong are spirits born from the same river. Talk about a family conflict! But Jinsheng’s pleas wear her down, and though she’s torn, she finally agrees to help. Instead of stepping in herself, she sends her maid to deal with the problem.

The Might Maid

Don’t let the title “maid” fool you—this servant is leagues above the troublesome Wutong in power. When she arrives on the scene, she doesn’t mess around. With swift and decisive action, she castrates the offending spirit, sending it fleeing into the shadows, never to be seen again. The difference in their levels is like heaven and earth—one quick move, and the threat is neutralized.

Pu Songling wraps up the tale with a wry observation: he’s not sure who came first or last in this saga of the Five Spirits, but after this encounter, it seems the Wutong might be down to just “half a spirit.” A clever nod, perhaps, to the emasculation of their ranks—both literally and figuratively! What do you think of this twist on the Wutong legend? Let me know your thoughts!