JUDGE LU PAN (REVISED 2025) 

Scholar Zhu Erdan ((courtesy name Xiaoming), who lived in Lingyang, was an easy going, good natured, friendly, handsome young man who was studying diligently for the local exams. But due to his honest nature and slow wit, furthermore, not knowing how to fawn (flatter, toady) on the haughty (arrogant) opulent and influential officials or gentry, he had never attained any academic distinction. 

01-CHU ERHTAN - JP 7

Once a study mate dared him to sneak into the Ten Kings Temple in the middle of the night and carry out the statue of the menacing looking judgement god, Judge Lu Pan. Having successfully completed the dare, Zhu Erdan won a feast from his friend, got very drunk and went home.

02- ENJOYING DRINKING WITH FRIENDS JP  16

The next day, when he remembered what he had done the night before, he felt so bad that he, erroneously, tried to drawn his sorrow by indulging in spirits; while Zhu was having a drink in the pagoda, for it was quiet and peaceful there, especially at night, a gust of wind suddenly broke open the door and in came Judge Lu Pan. Zhu jumped up with his heart pounding in fear of his life, and exclaimed, “I committed a great sacrilege last night. For that, I deserve death. You are here to take my life, aren’t you? “

But the judgement god grimaced then shook his head. “Not necessarily. And I accept your inherent (natural, genuine) invitation, from the heart; I was feeling a bit restless tonight, so I came to share a drink or two with you." Zhu felt relieved and at once set to preparing some drinks; Zhu and the judgement god, hence, drank happily that night, landing an ear to the cacophony of insects and the harmonious sounds of other such nocturnal animals. From then on, Judge Lu visited Zhu frequently. In time they become good friends, so much so that they "sometimes slept together with the soles of their feet touching." However, much to Zhu’s dismay, the judge constantly criticized Zhu's essays for being "good for nothing". 

03- JUDGE LU PAN-  JP 1

One night Zhu was startled awake from his deep sleep, because of an unusual, though somewhat annoying pain emanating (originating) from his chest and gut.  Upon opening his eyes, his gaze sharpened, he was shocked to find Judge Lu Pan there, bent over his stomach and rearranging his internal organs. Naturally, Zhu became hysterical and with a trembling voice, asked for the reason for this perceived injury and harm, begging for Judge Lu to stop.

Judge Lu, however, just smiled and said, “You don't write your essays very well. That's because there is a blind spot in your heart. I’ve replaced it with a good one which I found in the world of the living."

04- JUDGE LU   PAN - JP 7

A few days later, Lu returned to review Zhu's latest essays; putting the papers aside, Lu opined (pronounced) that Zhu will be a successful but not outstanding scholar.  Nevertheless, from then on Zhu did make tremendous progress in his studies and not long afterwards even attained first place in the local exam. In autumn he also passed the national exam. His study and drinking mates, meanwhile, were all very surprised, especially when they learn that it was all due to Judge Lu Pan. 

05- STUDY AND DRINKING BUDDIES JP  7

Naturally they all wanted to meet Judge Lu in person, hoping also to gain some favor; and so, they pestered (pressured) Zhu till he acquiesced to take them along, the next time he would go and have a shared drink with Judge Lu Pan.

06--JUDGE LU  PAN- JP 8

However, upon seeing the green-faced, red-bearded Judge Lu and looking into his blazing eyes, everyone was so terrified that they all took to their’ heals (fled, ran away) in sheer panic.

Zhu, feeling responsible, apologized profusely to Judge Lu for their rudeness, then invited him to have another session of drinking with him at his humble abode. Along the way, pressed to speak about the concern on his mind Zhu finally said, "My wife is a good sort, but, as you shall see presently for yourself, is rather plain looking; now that I have achieved a more prominent position, her unattractive (disagreeable) appearance and clumsy demeanour (image, bearing) has become somewhat a liability; can you do anything about it?" 

07- PLAIN LOOKING WIFE JP 11

Judge Lu was silent for a while, then he smiled and said," It so happens that your wife’s life span is nearing an end, and within three days she shall expire because of a freak accident. But there is an error in the books, she wasn’t supposed to die. I think I have a way to remedy this situation. And since you ask so contritely (almost penitently, ashamedly), I shall, therefore, honor your request."

As predicted, two days later Zhu’s wife was suddenly deceased, after having stepped on a carelessly discarded banana peel on the cobble-stoned garden path; Zhu forestalling her funerary arrangements, allowed her body to (albeit temporarily) lie peacefully in repose on her bed, as if in deep sleep.  A day later, expectantly at dusk, Judge Lu manifested in Zhu’s study carrying with him the decapitated head of a beautiful woman and asked to be taken to Zhu ‘s wife's bed chamber. Once there, Judge Lu without delay, took out a sharp knife and severed her head from the keck then adroitly (proficiently, capably) replaced it with the beautiful woman's head. After careful alignment, he mended the cut with his fingers and placed the head back on the pillow.

In the morning, Zhu’s wife suddenly coming to life, opened her eyes, got up and, remembering nothing, was about to comb her hair, when she suddenly found herself looking at a stranger in the mirror. Zhu told her the whole story of how Judge Lu had changed her head. Zhu then took a closer look at his wife. Ah, she was like an enchanting beauty in a silk painting!

08- BEAUTIFUL GIRL - JP 2

It so happened that, the local Magistrate Wu’s daughter’s corpse, was discovered few days prior; she’d been murdered and decapitated in a meadow (field), among the tall grasses (bullrushes), at the edge of town, some distance away from the Magistrate Wu’s posh dwelling.  Previously, Magistrate Wu had been away on urgent business in the capital, this discovery upon his return, greatly perturbed him. There were no clues as to who her assailant (killer, slayer) might be, but in his grief, Magistrate Wu would not listen to any reason and instead, suspected that his daughter had been secretly abducted and murdered by Zhu's black magic, so he filed suit against Zhu, and Zhu was captured and interrogated.

But due to lack of evidence, the court couldn't pass a sentence and released Zhu temporarily. That night, drinking together at his study, Zhu politely asked Judge Lu, curious now, to learn of the details how he’d procured (come by) his present wife’s head. Nodding in understanding, Judge Lu then succinctly recounted the beautiful girl’s somewhat tragic story:

 She’d once been the beloved daughter of Magistrate Wu and beautiful though she’d been, she had remained single, till passed (her prime,) of marriageable age; because some time ago, both of her fiancés had died, rather ominously, before the appointed matrimonial date. Disheartened, she had from then on refused any would be suitors.  Once during a Lantern Festival, the lovely girl had visited the Chamber of Horrors and had been followed back home by a man who first tried to rape her and then beheaded her. When her corpse had been found, but the culprit was still unknown and at large, the grief-stricken family, prolonging (extending) her funeral (burial), had placed her head next to her body, in the hall. And when Lu had taken the head, Magistrate Wu’s family, for reasons known only to them, had concealed this fact, while they determinedly continued with their search of the culprit that had so brutally slayed (murdered) her.

“Now, I understand, “Zhu nodded, when Lu fell silent. “Still, this has landed me in an inexplicable (bizarre, enigmatic) fix. Though I am temporarily freed from castigation (criticism, scolding) and incarceration (jail, captivity) at present, I suspect Magistrate Wu, in his desperation, will persist (remain, continue) in his adamant course of persecuting me. How can we remedy this?”

"It's quite simple, “said Judge Lu. "Tonight, I'll have the Magistrate Wu's daughter’s spirit explain everything to him (her father) to clear away his suspicion."

09- MAGISTRATE WU-  JP  1

That night, the magistrate had a dream, in which, his daughter appeared before him and said, “I was murdered by that brute Yang Tanien of Suhsi. It had nothing to do with Zhu. Zhu was dissatisfied with his wife's looks, so Judge Lu Pan used my head to replace hers; therefore, my body is deceased (departed), but at least my head now lives on. And in this way, I can exist as the wife of a respectable, gentle, thoughtful Zhu. Please don't make any more trouble or hold anything against him. If you must, go after Yang Tanien and avenge my wrongful death."

10 -BEAUTIFUL GIRL - JP 5

Sure enough, more indebt investigation revealed that there was an affluent merchant Yang Tanien in Suhsi, with questionable, debauched (wicked, decadent) innate attributes, living in a rather large mansion, in the adjacent town. He had several lucrative medicinal stores, two of which was established in Magistrate Wu’s town. After being captured and interrogated, Yang Tanien admitted to the crime of kidnapping and murdering Miss Wu, after she’d refused all his painstaking efforts to woo her, saying nothing of, his many improper advances disguised as business transactions.

With the case satisfactorily solved, Magistrate Wu brought gifts to Zhu's house to apologize and found Zhu's wife identical to his deceased daughter. He immediately adopted her as his own daughter, and Zhu acknowledged the magistrate as his father-in-law.

11- MAGISTRATE WU-  JP 5

Thirty years passed in a blinking of an eye, and Zhu, who was still happily married, furthermore, had a young son named Wei, was content. One night during a drinking bout (session) with Judge Lu, however, Lu abruptly turning to face him, with a somber look, informed Zhu: "Your life span is almost over dear friend; and unfortunately, you have five more days left to live."

Zhu, at first aghast, exhaled a long slow breath, then asked: "Is there a way out of this?”

Judge Lu frowned and shook his head; he was rather displeased by this request. "One's life is predetermined. How can I, out of personal favor, save someone who is destined to die? Besides, an intelligent person should feel natural to death; why do people celebrate life only and fear death? “

Zhu thought that made a lot of sense, so he went on to prepare for his own funeral. But of course, the story of Zhu and his friendship with Judge Lu, does not end here.

The day after his death, Zhu visited his wife as a ghost and told her that he was now working for the judge Lu. Subsequently, he continued to visit his family regularly and, moreover, taught Wei how to read and write. Some time after Wei's fifteenth birthday, however, Zhu told his wife that he had been assigned to Mount Hua as its "mountain god" and hence, must bid his family, a final farewell.

Years later, Wei, then aged twenty-five, became an "inspecting commissioner”. He was sent to Mount Hua to perform a series of rituals. On his way there, he was met by Zhu, who praised him for his accomplishments. Before disappearing, Zhu handed his son a sword, on whose blade was inscribed: "Be bold, but cautious; round in disposition, square in action." 

Wei eventually fathered five children: Chen, Qian, Mi, Hun, and Shen. In a dream, Zhu told Wei to give the sword to Hun. Wei complied, and Hun then became a celebrated official.

Finally, let conclude this post with the original author Pu Songling’s famed inscription (verses, stanzas) in his postscript: "To chop short the crane's legs and stretch the duck's is the folly of artificiality, but grafting a flower to a tree is a marvel of creativity." 

He, furthermore, added: "Is Master Lu of Lingyang still around? Does his supernatural power still work as of old? I would like nothing more than to serve, whip in hand, as his charioteer."

Fin

PS- This is an intriguing (fascinating) story, just in time for the Hungry Ghost Period and the Halloween. Judge Lu is a short story originally written by Pu Songling (1640- 1715) and first published in 1766 in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. Fortuitously, I chanced upon this remarkable book, and thence (thereafter), these Strange Tales, had made me permanently unafraid of ghosts, goblins and other supernatural phenomenon. 

Dealing with Grief

Dealing with Grief

A loss can be many things, such as loss of ideals, job, house or status. A loss of a being and the resulting grief has to be one of life’s hardest experiences however, that every human without exception sooner or later must undergo. The bereavement period and the steps of grief leading towards recovery may vary for each individual. In this information age there are ample resources that are readily available to all, particularly those that have, albeit temporarily, lost their bearing and are in need of some healing compass. It may be that they are an introvert or a loner who do not wish to share this hard experience with anyone. What needs to be done then?

It’s fair to say that this angst, the depth of sorrow and the length of its endurance is far too complex an emotional journey for it be pigeonholed or categorized. However here are some tell-tale signs of grief. When identified it may help one towards resolution, acceptance then desired inner peace:

It may be that the aggrieved would feel shocked, feel fear. This type of loss can often trigger fears of one’s own mortality, of facing life without that person and the added responsibilities that need handling all by one self. With this feeling of anxiety and fear one could have difficulty in concentrating or one could feel numb, lack energy and motivation or have a hard time feeling any emotions at all. 

Some may feel like they are "going crazy". They therefore begin questioning religious beliefs, experience guilt or remorse (feeling guilty about things one did or didn’t say or do).

It’s normal to feel frustrated or misunderstood.

The feeling of sadness, that profound sadness, is probably the most universally experienced symptom of grief. Additionally one could experience wounding feelings of emptiness, despair, yearning, or deep loneliness.

Let us not discount the feeling of anger... Yes anger; even when the loss was nobody’s fault, one may feel angry with oneself, God, the doctors, or even at the deceased for abandoning them. The need to blame someone for the perceived injustice is very real.

Long after the loss, the mind may persist in being confused and muddled way past the initial stages. Or one may feel relief or peace after a loss. Yes, that too is a possibility.

Then the period where disbelief sets in or the time-frame in which the aggrieved can only focus on the manner of loss, focus incessantly on how other died, or the life that was spent together before the loss.

Even those that are blessed with many supportive family members and friends need to be patient in the face of the well-intentioned onslaught of advice or words such as, "Be strong!”, “It’s part of life”, “We all sooner or later undergo this,” or "Yours is not to question The Will of God!" or "Get on with your life!”, “Don’t waste what precious time you have left!” Patience and tolerance is to be exercised here even though all one needs is to be given time and the gentle nudge towards allowing one to have one’s grief to run its natural course.

The hardest to bear will be the milestones, specials markings of time, celebrations and so forth. Time is an effective healer however, the intensity of which, will gradually abate over time. Also, whilst lives are often transformed by grievous loss, it does not necessarily need to be for the worse. Focus instead on dealing effectively and positively with grief as it is essential to one’s recovery process and one’s ability to continue on with a fulfilling life in future.

Physical reactions such as upset stomach or intestinal disturbances like frequent diarrhea are to be expected. Responding to grief may manifest in the form of tightness in one’s throat, heaviness across one’s chest and sudden onset of breathing difficulties, or pain in heart region. Headaches and feeling of vacillating body temperatures, hot or sudden chill could also occur. One may undergo changes in one’s behavior, such as excessive need to sleep or lack of it and then there is that sudden wakefulness at odd hours. One may experience strange dreams or frightening nightmares. During the day one may be perpetually uneasy driving oneself to initiate one project after another or be cast into mere distractions just to avoid handling deep thoughts. Some may deal with it by sitting idly by and with a blank face staring into space and doing nothing for extended periods.

Usually grieving people opt to spend more time alone. They’re drawn to the quiet and in so doing seek safety in the experience. This could be their way of dodging other people and groups; for crowds and any size gatherings make them feel ill at ease. Some however are driven to crowds craving to be in midst of multitudes more than before. Once lost in a crowd however, an odd sensation of jealousy may materialize, being envious of people around who aren’t grieving. Then resentment may set in observing how callously others take so much for granted when nothing should ever be taken for granted. One may become even critical in ways that are uncharacteristic and mean spirited. Fortunately, this shift in character and outlook is usually temporary.

Let us not overlook those supernatural happenings that many may also experience. Such as going about usual routine only to have an auditory or visual experience of the dear departed close by. During meditation or in a dream sequence the departed may offer a special message. Rest assured, these phenomenons are far more common than one might think. Usually this is a person’s way of assimilating advice that the departed person would have given in life but now resides only in that person’s memory.

In summary, a healthy grief has many possible outlets. Some people are naturally more feeling-oriented as they grieve, while others are more cerebral. Some respond outwardly, while others keep it to themselves. Some want to have a close network of friends around them, and others prefer to be independent. Each individual’s experience is unique therefore one should not expect to have a "one-size-fits-all grief". It’s common to feel listless and lifeless, discouraged and sometimes depressed long after this process of grief and many strong emotions can still resurface. But then after a while there comes a time when the pain ceases in intensity, gradual reawakening takes root and then eventually the lost energy is renewed and reinvigorated along with hope and the new transformed life.

It is said that through this process of grief, that one has traversed the difficult path to reach eventual healing. 

Finally, here are some succinct points for overcoming grief:

-Connect with caring and supportive people.

-Offer support to other loved ones who are grieving also; this is sometimes the best way to overcome personal grief.

-Give yourself enough time. Everyone reacts differently to a loss.

- Allow yourself to feel sadness, anger, or whatever you need to feel. Find healthy ways to share your feelings and express yourself, such as talking with friends or writing in a journal.

-Recognize that your life has changed. You may feel less engaged with work or relationships for some time. This is a natural part of loss and grief.

-Holidays and other important days can be very hard. Consider new traditions or celebrations that support healing.

-Take care of your physical health.

-Be honest with young people about what has happened and about how you feel, and encourage them to share their feelings, too.

-Work through difficult feelings like bitterness and blame. These feelings can make it harder to move forward in your life.

-Make a new beginning. As the feelings of grief become less intense, return to interests and activities you may have dropped and think about trying something new.

-Think about waiting before making major life decisions. You may feel differently as your feelings of grief lose their intensity, and the changes may add to the stress you’re already experiencing.

A Letter to a Dying Man

Bassui wrote the following letter to one of his disciples who was about to die:

"The essence of your mind is not born, so it will never die. It is not an existence, which is perishable. It is not emptiness, which is a mere void. It has neither color nor form. It enjoys no pleasures and suffers no pains."

"I know you are very ill. Like a good Zen student, you are facing that sickness squarely. You may not know exactly who is suffering, but question yourself: What is the essence of this mind? Think only of this. You will need no more. Covet nothing. Your end which is endless is as a snowflake dissolving in the pure air."

(Zen Koan)

                                                               ~~~~~

Nothing is for certain. Nothing lasts forever therefore one must make the most of what one has and truly appreciate life’s precious gifts.

What is life? What is its purpose? Answering these questions might motivate us to live a more meaningful existence and investigate the deeper truths of life. 

The End

JACK O’LANTERN

JACK O’LANTERN

Autumn is the season when trees in preparation for the winter months have one last hurrah. They are decked with brilliant hues of orange and red. The ground carpeted in the same hues rustles underfoot as gentle but cooler breezes buffet the sleeves and gently caress the cheeks of strollers.

With the diminishing daylight and the earth shrouded in darkness carved pumpkins, with ghoulish faces illuminated by candles, make their debut every October on porches and doorsteps all during the Halloween season to uplift our spirits. This long standing practice, whether in Europe or North America, originated with an Irish folktale about a man called Stingy Jack.

Was stingy Jack a good character or not, you may judge for yourself. We all know the Devil stands for something evil, something we should avoid. Perhaps Stingy Jack was pestered by the Devil and he devised this recourse. Anyhow, without further ado let me relate the fable.

Stingy Jack once invited the Devil to have a drink with him but, as Stingy Jack’s name reveals, he had no intention of paying for the drink. With his glib tongue Stingy Jack convinced the Devil to transform himself into a coin with which to pay the bartender for their drinks. But when the Devil turned himself into a glistening gold coin Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross that would prevent the Devil from ever changing back into his original form. Now in an advantageous position to negotiate Jack eventually agreed to free the Devil with the proviso that the Devil would not bother Jack for at least one year and, in the event Jack suddenly dies, the Devil would not claim his soul.

Rather a clever chap, wouldn’t you agree? But he was far from being an angel. He was an unsavory, immoral character after all. The next year, Jack again managed to trick this unbelievably gullible Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not descend until he gave his word not to claim Jack’s soul for another ten years.

Alas, soon after this Jack died. As the myth goes, God refused admittance of such an unsavory character into heaven. The Devil, still miffed by the trick Jack had played on him and, in keeping with his bargain, could not claim his soul nor allow Jack admittance into Hell. He therefore sent Jack packing into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. The ever resourceful Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has ever since been roaming the Earth. Sometime later still it is said that the Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”

Overtime in Ireland and Scotland, people getting creative began carving their own versions of scary images of Jack’s lanterns into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to scare away Stingy Jack and other wondering evil spirits.

With the influx of Irish immigrants in North America this tradition was soon incorporated into new world culture. As pumpkins were sturdier and more readily available they became the star attraction.

Happy Halloween!