向杲字初旦，太原人。與庶兄晟，友于最敦。晟狎一妓，名波斯，有割臂之盟；以其母取直奢，所約不遂。適其母欲從良，願先遣波斯。有莊公子者，素善波斯，請贖為妾。波斯謂母曰：「既願同離水火，是欲出地獄而登天堂也。若妾媵之，相去幾何矣！肯從奴志，向生其可。」母諾之，以意達晟。時晟喪偶未婚，喜，竭貲聘波斯以歸。莊聞，怒奪所好，途中偶逢，大加詬罵。晟不服，遂嗾從人折箠笞之，垂斃，乃去。杲聞奔視，則兄已死。不勝哀憤。具造赴郡。莊廣行賄賂，使其理不得伸。杲隱忿中結，莫可控訴，惟思要路刺殺莊。日懷利刃，伏於山徑之莽。久之，機漸洩。莊知其謀，出則戒備甚嚴；聞汾州有焦桐者，勇而善射，以多金聘為衛。杲無計可施，然猶日伺之。一日，方伏，雨暴作，上下沾濡，寒戰頗苦。既而烈風四塞，冰雹繼至，身忽然痛癢不能復覺。嶺上舊有山神祠，強起奔赴。既入廟，則所識道士在內焉。先是，道士嘗行乞村中，杲輒飯之，道士以故識杲。見杲衣服濡溼，乃以布袍授之，曰：「姑易此。」杲易衣，忍凍蹲若犬，自視，則毛革頓生，身化為虎。道士已失所在。心中驚恨。轉念：得仇人而食其肉，計亦良得。下山伏舊處，見己尸臥叢莽中，始悟前身已死；猶恐葬於烏鳶，時時邏守之。越日，莊始經此，虎暴出，於馬上撲莊落，齕其首，咽之。焦桐返馬而射，中虎腹，蹷然遂斃。杲在錯楚中，恍若夢醒；又經宵，始能行步，厭厭以歸。家人以其連夕不返，方共駭疑，見之，喜相慰問。杲但臥，蹇澀不能語。少間，聞莊信，爭即床頭慶告之。杲乃自言：「虎即我也。」遂述其異。由此傳播。莊子痛父之死甚慘，聞而惡之，因訟杲。官以其事誕而無據，置不理焉。
向杲字初旦，是太原人。他與庶出的哥哥向晟，兄弟感情十分深厚。向晟與一個名叫波斯的妓女相好，兩人曾割傷手臂，立下盟誓。但因為波斯的母親索要的錢太多，他們的約定沒能實現。後來，波斯的母親想脫離妓業，過正常人的生活，願意先替波斯安排好去處。有個莊公子，向來與波斯相好，請求替她贖身，娶來做妾。波斯對母親說：「既然想一同離開這水深火熱的地方，就該是從地獄出去，登上天堂。我若給人做妾，和現在又能相差多少呢！您若肯依我的心願，向生才合適。」母親答應了，把這個意思告訴向晟。當時向晟死了妻子，還沒有再娶，十分高興，拿出全部錢財下聘，把波斯娶回了家。莊公子聽說後，惱怒向晟奪走了自己喜歡的人。一天，他在路上偶然遇見向晟，便大加辱罵。向晟不服，他就唆使隨從折來木棍抽打，打得向晟快要死了，才離去。向杲聽說後奔去探望，哥哥卻已經死了。他悲憤得無法承受，備好訴狀，到郡裡告狀。莊公子到處行賄，使向杲無法伸冤。向杲的憤怒鬱結在心，無處申訴，只想著在路上攔截，刺殺莊公子。每天他都帶著利刃，埋伏在山路旁的草叢裡。時間一長，計劃漸漸洩露。莊公子知道他的打算，出門便嚴加戒備，又聽說汾州有個焦桐，勇敢而且善於射箭，便花重金聘他做護衛。向杲無計可施，卻仍每天守候。一天，他正在埋伏，忽然下起暴雨，渾身溼透，凍得發抖，十分難受。接著，狂風從四面刮來，冰雹也落了下來，他的身體忽然連痛癢都感覺不到了。山嶺上原有一座山神祠，他勉強起身，奔了過去。進了廟，發現一個自己認識的道士正在裡面。先前，道士曾到村裡乞討，向杲每次都給他飯吃，道士因此認識他。看見向杲衣服溼透，道士便遞給他一件布袍，說：「暫且換上這個。」向杲換了衣服，忍著寒冷，像狗一樣蹲著，低頭看自己，忽然長出了一身毛皮，變成了一隻老虎。道士已經不知去了哪裡。他心裡又驚又恨，轉念又想：能抓住仇人，吃他的肉，這倒也是個好辦法。他下山，伏在原先的地方，看見自己的屍體躺在草叢中，才明白原來的身體已經死了。他仍怕屍體被烏鴉和鳶吃掉，不時巡視守護。第二天，莊公子終於經過這裡。老虎猛然撲出，把莊公子從馬上撲下來，咬下他的頭，吞了下去。焦桐掉轉馬頭，放箭射中老虎的肚子，老虎翻倒在地，死了。向杲躺在雜亂的荊棘裡，恍惚像從夢中醒來，又過了一夜，才勉強能夠走動，精神萎靡地回了家。家人因為他接連幾夜沒有回來，正一起驚疑擔憂，看見他，便高興地圍上來安慰詢問。向杲只是躺著，口舌不靈，無法說話。過了不久，家人聽到莊公子的訊息，爭相來到床前，向他道喜。向杲這才說：「那隻老虎就是我。」隨後講述了這件奇事，事情便流傳開來。莊公子的兒子為父親死得如此慘痛而悲傷，聽說後恨上了向杲，便告了他。官員認為這件事荒誕，沒有證據，就擱置不再處理。
向杲字初旦，太原人。与庶兄晟，友于最敦。晟狎一妓，名波斯，有割臂之盟；以其母取直奢，所约不遂。适其母欲从良，愿先遣波斯。有庄公子者，素善波斯，请赎为妾。波斯谓母曰：「既愿同离水火，是欲出地狱而登天堂也。若妾媵之，相去几何矣！肯从奴志，向生其可。」母诺之，以意达晟。时晟丧偶未婚，喜，竭赀聘波斯以归。庄闻，怒夺所好，途中偶逢，大加诟骂。晟不服，遂嗾从人折箠笞之，垂毙，乃去。杲闻奔视，则兄已死。不胜哀愤。具造赴郡。庄广行贿赂，使其理不得伸。杲隐忿中结，莫可控诉，惟思要路刺杀庄。日怀利刃，伏于山径之莽。久之，机渐泄。庄知其谋，出则戒备甚严；闻汾州有焦桐者，勇而善射，以多金聘为卫。杲无计可施，然犹日伺之。一日，方伏，雨暴作，上下沾濡，寒战颇苦。既而烈风四塞，冰雹继至，身忽然痛痒不能复觉。岭上旧有山神祠，强起奔赴。既入庙，则所识道士在内焉。先是，道士尝行乞村中，杲辄饭之，道士以故识杲。见杲衣服濡湿，乃以布袍授之，曰：「姑易此。」杲易衣，忍冻蹲若犬，自视，则毛革顿生，身化为虎。道士已失所在。心中惊恨。转念：得仇人而食其肉，计亦良得。下山伏旧处，见己尸卧丛莽中，始悟前身已死；犹恐葬于乌鸢，时时逻守之。越日，庄始经此，虎暴出，于马上扑庄落，龁其首，咽之。焦桐返马而射，中虎腹，蹷然遂毙。杲在错楚中，恍若梦醒；又经宵，始能行步，厌厌以归。家人以其连夕不返，方共骇疑，见之，喜相慰问。杲但卧，蹇涩不能语。少间，闻庄信，争即床头庆告之。杲乃自言：「虎即我也。」遂述其异。由此传播。庄子痛父之死甚惨，闻而恶之，因讼杲。官以其事诞而无据，置不理焉。
向杲字初旦，是太原人。他与庶出的哥哥向晟，兄弟感情十分深厚。向晟与一个名叫波斯的妓女相好，两人曾割伤手臂，立下盟誓。但因为波斯的母亲索要的钱太多，他们的约定没能实现。后来，波斯的母亲想脱离妓业，过正常人的生活，愿意先替波斯安排好去处。有个庄公子，向来与波斯相好，请求替她赎身，娶来做妾。波斯对母亲说：“既然想一同离开这水深火热的地方，就该是从地狱出去，登上天堂。我若给人做妾，和现在又能相差多少呢！您若肯依我的心愿，向生才合适。”母亲答应了，把这个意思告诉向晟。当时向晟死了妻子，还没有再娶，十分高兴，拿出全部钱财下聘，把波斯娶回了家。庄公子听说后，恼怒向晟夺走了自己喜欢的人。一天，他在路上偶然遇见向晟，便大加辱骂。向晟不服，他就唆使随从折来木棍抽打，打得向晟快要死了，才离去。向杲听说后奔去探望，哥哥却已经死了。他悲愤得无法承受，备好诉状，到郡里告状。庄公子到处行贿，使向杲无法伸冤。向杲的愤怒郁结在心，无处申诉，只想着在路上拦截，刺杀庄公子。每天他都带着利刃，埋伏在山路旁的草丛里。时间一长，计划渐渐泄露。庄公子知道他的打算，出门便严加戒备，又听说汾州有个焦桐，勇敢而且善于射箭，便花重金聘他做护卫。向杲无计可施，却仍每天守候。一天，他正在埋伏，忽然下起暴雨，浑身湿透，冻得发抖，十分难受。接着，狂风从四面刮来，冰雹也落了下来，他的身体忽然连痛痒都感觉不到了。山岭上原有一座山神祠，他勉强起身，奔了过去。进了庙，发现一个自己认识的道士正在里面。先前，道士曾到村里乞讨，向杲每次都给他饭吃，道士因此认识他。看见向杲衣服湿透，道士便递给他一件布袍，说：“暂且换上这个。”向杲换了衣服，忍着寒冷，像狗一样蹲着，低头看自己，忽然长出了一身毛皮，变成了一只老虎。道士已经不知去了哪里。他心里又惊又恨，转念又想：能抓住仇人，吃他的肉，这倒也是个好办法。他下山，伏在原先的地方，看见自己的尸体躺在草丛中，才明白原来的身体已经死了。他仍怕尸体被乌鸦和鸢吃掉，不时巡视守护。第二天，庄公子终于经过这里。老虎猛然扑出，把庄公子从马上扑下来，咬下他的头，吞了下去。焦桐掉转马头，放箭射中老虎的肚子，老虎翻倒在地，死了。向杲躺在杂乱的荆棘里，恍惚像从梦中醒来，又过了一夜，才勉强能够走动，精神萎靡地回了家。家人因为他接连几夜没有回来，正一起惊疑担忧，看见他，便高兴地围上来安慰询问。向杲只是躺着，口舌不灵，无法说话。过了不久，家人听到庄公子的消息，争相来到床前，向他道喜。向杲这才说：“那只老虎就是我。”随后讲述了这件奇事，事情便流传开来。庄公子的儿子为父亲死得如此惨痛而悲伤，听说后恨上了向杲，便告了他。官员认为这件事荒诞，没有证据，就搁置不再处理。
Xiang Gao, courtesy name Chudan, was a man of Taiyuan. He and his elder half-brother Sheng, a concubine’s son, were as close as brothers can be. Sheng was intimate with a courtesan named Bosi, and the two had sworn an oath by cutting their arms; but her mother asked too high a price, and their pact came to nothing. It happened that the mother wanted to leave the trade and settle down respectably, and wished to find Bosi a place first. A young gentleman named Zhuang, long a friend of Bosi’s, asked to buy her out as his concubine. Bosi said to her mother, “Since we both want to get out of fire and flood, it should be a climb out of hell into heaven. If I become a concubine, how far is that from where I am now? If you will let me have my way, young Xiang is the one.” The mother agreed and let Sheng know her wishes. Sheng had lost his wife and not married again. He was delighted, spent everything he had on the betrothal gifts, and brought Bosi home. When Zhuang heard, he was furious that the woman he wanted had been taken from him. Meeting Sheng on the road by chance, he cursed him roundly. Sheng would not take it, so Zhuang set his servants on him; they broke off rods and beat him until he was near death, and only then left. Gao heard and ran to see him, but his brother was already dead. Beside himself with grief and rage, he drew up a complaint and took it to the prefecture. Zhuang spread bribes far and wide, and Gao could get no justice. His hidden rage knotted inside him. With nowhere to appeal, he thought only of waylaying Zhuang and stabbing him. Every day he carried a sharp knife and lay in wait in the brush beside a mountain path. In time his plan began to leak out. Zhuang learned of it and went out only under heavy guard. Hearing that a man of Fenzhou named Jiao Tong was brave and a fine archer, he hired him at great cost as his bodyguard. Gao had no way to get at him, but still watched for him every day. One day, as he lay in wait, a sudden storm broke. He was soaked from head to foot and shook miserably with cold. Then a fierce wind closed in on every side, hail followed, and all at once he could no longer feel pain or itch in his body. There was an old shrine to the mountain god up on the ridge; he forced himself up and ran to it. Inside the temple was a Daoist he knew. The Daoist had once gone begging in the village, and Gao had always given him a meal; that was how the Daoist knew him. Seeing Gao’s clothes soaked through, he handed him a cloth robe. “Change into this for now,” he said. Gao changed, and crouched like a dog, bearing the cold. Looking down at himself, he saw that fur and hide had sprung up all over him: he had turned into a tiger. The Daoist was nowhere to be seen. Gao was shocked and bitter. Then he thought again: to catch his enemy and eat his flesh — that would be a fine plan after all. He went down the mountain and lay in wait in his old spot. There he saw his own corpse lying in the brush, and only then understood that his former body was dead. Still afraid it would find its grave in crows and kites, he kept watch over it constantly. The next day Zhuang at last came by. The tiger burst out, knocked Zhuang off his horse, bit off his head and swallowed it. Jiao Tong wheeled his horse and shot, hitting the tiger in the belly. It toppled over and died. Gao, lying in the thorny tangle, came to as if waking from a dream. It was another night before he could walk, and he dragged himself home, spent. His family had been alarmed and full of fears, since he had not come back for several nights. When they saw him they were glad and gathered round with comfort and questions. Gao only lay down, too numb and slow to speak. Before long the news about Zhuang came, and they crowded to his bedside to give him the happy tidings. Then Gao said, “The tiger was me,” and told them the whole strange story. From there it spread. Zhuang’s son, grieving at the dreadful way his father had died, heard it and hated Gao for it, and brought a suit against him. The official found the matter absurd and without evidence, and set it aside.