Summary

This story is a retelling of a Chinese Tang dynasty tale from the classical collection 'Xu Xuanguai Lu.' Akutagawa adapted it for a younger audience in 1920, weaving together themes of wealth, human nature, and filial piety that resonate deeply in both Chinese and Japanese moral traditions. The story is set in Luoyang, the eastern capital of the Tang dynasty, one of the most prosperous cities in the ancient world.