Note 9 — INTRODUCTION.
Herbert Allen Giles translation
This is another hit at the ruling classes. Chi K‘ang, a celebrated musician and alchemist (A.D. 223–262), was sitting one night alone, playing upon his lute, when suddenly a man with a tiny face walked in, and began to stare hard at him, the stranger’s face enlarging all the time. “I’m not going to match myself against a devil!” cried the musician, after a few moments, and instantly blew out the light. return to text