About this book
搜神記 volume 1-3 by Bao Gan (Gan Bao) is a mesmerizing plunge into Sou Shen Ji — an essential 4th-century anthology of Chinese mythology and uncanny folklore.
This audiobook collects compact, vividly told legends of gods, immortals, strange beasts, and miracle-workers: Shennong’s herbal wonders, Peng Zu’s longevity, rain-masters, alchemists, and myriad transformations that blur the line between human and spirit. Compiled during the Jin dynasty, Bao Gan’s Sou Shen Ji crystallized oral traditions into pithy, haunting vignettes that shaped later Daoist lore, popular belief, and literary imagination. Themes of mortality and immortality, ritual power, the natural world’s hidden agency, and the artistry of concise storytelling run through these volumes. The prose is spare but cinematic, full of sensory detail and symbolic resonance that invites repeated listening.
Perfect for lovers of myths/legends and artful cultural history, this audiobook suits anyone curious about ancient Chinese religion, Daoist practices, or the roots of East Asian supernatural fiction. Listen to experience a cornerstone of classical mythmaking — short, strange tales that linger long after the final chapter.