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Traditional ghost stories, published in 1961 in the People's Republic of China, with a preface explaining the Party view that a belief in ghosts is superstitious ignorance which was acknowledged in ancient times by an enlightened few, and that these examples can be read today as satires on imperialism and capitalism. Once the lecture's over, there are a selection of very short stories, often humorous, in which the living get the better of the dead

“When I was young I studied in the west suburb, with the birds of the forest as my only neighbours. I would open a book and read from beginning to end before going on to another, never simply dipping into the text or stopping halfway. I would sit up all night without a break, forgetting cold and hunger, not bothering to comb my hair or wash my face.”
― Wang Chieh: "Wang Chieh is not Afraid of Ghosts"

“A man who is cowardly at heart and has not emancipated his mind will be afraid of non-existent ghosts and gods.”
― Chi-fang Ho,

“There are no ghosts. Belief in ghosts is a backward idea, a superstition and a sign of cowardice. This is a matter of common sense today among people.”
― Chi-fang Ho