The Fox's Supernatural Power

君朔The Commercial Press · ChinaOct 2021

3.2

Word count: 54K words
Chapters: 13

Summary

A novel about a fox that uses cunning and trickery to do every kind of misdeed, yet always manages to escape in the end. The plot is wildly absurd, yet it contains truths about human nature and worldly affairs. The author assigns various social roles from human society to different animals, vividly portraying these roles—especially the ugliness and hypocrisy of those in power—while reflecting social reality.

Editor's review

This book centers on a fox who uses cunning and trickery to do every kind of misdeed yet always manages to escape; the plot is wildly absurd and laugh-out-loud funny, and after the laughter comes a taste of human nature and worldly affairs. The author places various roles from human society onto animals, portraying the ugliness and hypocrisy of those in power with particular vividness; the satire hides behind the lively story, offering both the clarity of fable and a mirror to social reality. The language is accessible and the book short, suited to light reading that reveals the warmth and coldness of the world. A few chapters on the commute or before bed both entertain and prompt reflection on the familiar faces in the story. If reading with children, you can pick passages to discuss right and wrong and the means used, but note that the characters' ways are not to be imitated.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who enjoy animal fables and satirical stories
Adults who want to observe human nature and worldly affairs through light stories
Readers interested in Chinese translated works since the Republican era
Commuters in need of short entertainment reading

Not a good fit for

Young children expecting traditional moralizing fairy tales
Readers who prefer serious social analysis over fictional narrative
Readers easily discomforted by cunning plots

Reading tips

Read it as a fable and note which social type each animal character corresponds to.
When the fox escapes, pause and think about what the author is satirizing.
For parent-child reading, have an adult select chapters first, then discuss means and consequences with the child.
One or two chapters at a time is enough; don't chase plot continuity—focus on the allegorical meaning.

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

The Commercial Press is a publisher known for classic works and academic publishing, with titles spanning Eastern philosophy, foreign literature, world history, social culture, and applied psychology. Its list includes classical commentaries such as Zhu Xi's Collected Commentaries on the Analects and Wang Bi's Commentary on the Zhouyi, as well as modern annotated translations like Zhuangzi with Modern Notes and Translation. In foreign literature it offers War and Peace and Crime and Punishment, while in world history it carries Braudel's The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II. Applied psychology is represented by Irvin D. Yalom's Existential Psychotherapy, and ethical texts include a Greek-Chinese-English edition of the Nicomachean Ethics. Its authors and translators include Zhu Xi, Wang Bi, Yalom, Braudel, and translators such as Huang Zheng, Zhang Yiling, Shen Dongyu, and Tang Jialong, balancing the editing of original texts with academic translation.

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FAQ

Is this book suitable as a bedtime story for children?

Not very suitable for young children to read independently. The fox acts through cunning and trickery; though the story is absurd and fun, it lacks clear positive guidance, and children may remember only the means while missing the satire. For parent-child reading, adults should read it first, choose suitable chapters, and discuss right and wrong afterward.

What is the relationship between the animals in the story and real society?

The author places various roles from human society onto animals; the fox's cunning and the other animals' credulity or snobbery all have real-world counterparts. As you read, treat the characters as miniature social identities—especially the portrayal of the hypocrisy of those in power, which is key to understanding the book's satire.

Is there a barrier for someone who has never read fables?

Not much of one. The story moves by plot, the language is accessible, and the absurd parts are actually easy to get into. If new to fables, follow the story first and look back at what it alludes to after finishing a passage; don't chase deep meaning from the start.

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About the author

君朔 Author

Jun Shuo is an author about whom limited public information is currently available; the library holds only one work by this author, titled The Fox's Wiles (Hu Zhi Shen Tong). According to the existing classification, the book falls under parenting, suggesting that the writing may center on parent-child education, children's development, or family upbringing, and is likely aimed at ordinary readers, especially parents. As the author's real name, nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name are not clearly recorded, personal experience and creative background cannot yet be verified, and the available information is insufficient to sketch a biographical outline. Based on the materials at hand, Jun Shuo's writing is represented mainly by this single work, which appears to convey parenting ideas through storytelling, in a style that may be accessible and close to everyday family life, making it easy for parents to read and draw on. The book's specific content, publication details, and public reception are not documented in the library and await further bibliographic information before a fuller introduction can be given.