Anaphora: Journal of Language. Literary and Cultural Studies
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026): JULY

Karmic Ideology in Zi Bu Yu

Aiqing Wang (University of Liverpool)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

Zi Bu Yu ‘What the Master Would not Discuss’ or ‘Censored by Confucius’ is a zhiguai ‘strange writing’ anthology compiled during the Qing (1644-1912) era, which concerns supernatural and divine phenomena, occurrences as well as flora and fauna. Zi Bu Yu also pertains to a karmic construct from an ethical-religious perspective by virtue of interconnection to Confucianism and Taoism. Although narratives collected in Zi Bu Yu defy Confucian atheism, they depict well-deserved nemeses manifesting Confucian symmetrical reciprocity. In terms of Taoism, it is embodied by recompenses recounted in Zi Bu Yu, as well as its similitude to the Confucian precept of benevolence. Furthermore, tales cumulated in Zi Bu Yu expound the rationale behind cause and effect as well as reward and punishment, by means of illuminating justifiable and ostensibly unjustifiable karma in a philosophical manner.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ANAPHORA

Publisher

Subject

Arts Humanities Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Anaphora : Journal of Language, Literary and Cultural Studies is a double-blind peer-reviewed journal, open access, and biannual academic journal dedicated to the publications of research in the areas of language, literature, and culture studies. Anaphora: Journal of Language, Literary and Cultural ...