Zhang Gongshi of Anqiu lay ill in bed, when suddenly, a small figure burrowed out from the center of his chest. Barely half a foot tall, it wore a scholar’s cap and robe, humming and murmuring tune-like sounds. It began to sing a piece of Kunqu opera, its pitch crystal clear. The story depicted in the opera was an exact mirror of Zhang’s own life experiences. After singing four full acts, the little figure recited a poem and then vanished into thin air.