A Xiu’s Collection of Folk Tales

A Xiu, a girl from the water towns of Jiangnan, has been able to hear the whispers of “story sprites” attached to old objects since childhood. These sprites are the spirits of folk legends, growing weaker with every story forgotten. To keep the tales from disappearing, A Xiu sets out on a journey to collect folk stories, carrying a carved wooden box left to her by her grandmother. From misty little towns to ancient roads buried in yellow sand, she meets a white snake who has taken human form, the spirit of Dong Yong who guards a locust tree, a jade rabbit pounding medicine beneath the moon... Each story holds the joys, sorrows, separations, and reunions of human life, as well as wisdom and philosophical insight. As A Xiu gathers stories, she gradually uncovers the mystery of her own origins: her family has guarded the secret of the story sprites for generations, and a dark force bent on erasing all legends is quietly drawing near... This is a story about legacy, warmth, and courage. Within each fantastical or tender folk tale, it reveals the light and shadow of human nature.