The subscription-collecting frog

Overview

Giles’s1880 translation of Pu Songling sets this account amid fundraising for repairs to a God of War temple and a festival of the Frog-God. A magician, speaking as an oracle, demands a substantial pledge from the reluctant merchant Chou. When Chou delays payment, an enormous frog enters his house. It shrinks as his promises increase and becomes fist-sized only when he promises immediate payment in full. He nevertheless sends only part of the money. The narrative connects the visitor with the pledge, without explicitly proving that it is the Frog-God’s own bodily incarnation.

The frog returns and swells until it is buffalo-sized, nearly filling the room. Even after Chou pays the original balance, smaller frogs invade the house and contaminate its domestic spaces. The magician then negotiates a further pledge; the large frog starts leaving as the amount rises, but waits at the door until payment is actually made. It finally shrinks to ordinary size and departs among the others. The changes belong to this one narrated visitor, not a claim that frogs generally alter their size or collect offerings.

The ending turns scrutiny upon the fundraisers themselves. The oracle accuses committee members and the magician of taking money; the magician, still in his ecstatic state, produces his own funds and later pawns clothing to repay the remainder. Two defaulters are subsequently described as ill. These events remain the tale’s supernatural and moral claims, rather than verified causation of disease. Giles’s annotations include sweeping prejudicial assertions about women, religion and Chinese financial conduct; they are not adopted as facts about a population. The story also keeps the merchant Chou distinct from the General Chou named by the oracle.

Origins & earliest records

Pu Songling’s literary collection in Giles’s selected translation.

Records & interpretation

Complete English account and all notes read; full introduction and transcriber notice checked.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio

   Pu Songling; translated and annotated by Herbert A. Giles · 1880

   Volume II, pp.220–225; CXIII, Collecting Subscriptions; electronic notes554–560 and referenced39; complete account and all attached notes read.

Family & connections

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Primary records and illustrations

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Historical literary translationStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio — II, pp.220–225; CXIII, Collecting Subscriptions; electronic notes554–560 and referenced39Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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