The Origins Of Sichuan Cuisine

This painting, titled “Storytelling Under the Pine Moon”, illustrates a legendary scene of the famous Qing dynasty writer Pu Songling – renowned for his classic work Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. Under the moonlight, in a serene pine grove, Pu Songling is shown surrounded by attentive listeners – adults and children alike – as he shares fantastical tales and folk legends.
The setting, with its soft night sky and luminous full moon, evokes a magical atmosphere – perfectly in tune with the spirit of Pu Songling’s ghost stories, mythical encounters, and moral fables. The presence of scrolls, fans, and traditional robes emphasizes scholarly life, while the informal and warm gathering reflects the oral tradition and cultural heritage of storytelling in ancient China.