Love Across the Species Barrier: The Tale of Wu Gong and His Bear Bride

During the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing dynasty, there lived in the inner city of bustling Beijing a man named Wu Gong, who served dutifully as a third-rank imperial guard in the Forbidden City. As part of his official duties, Wu Gong was required to accompany the Emperor whenever he traveled outside the palace grounds, protecting His Majesty as a loyal subject.

One autumn year when the leaves were turning golden, Emperor Kangxi decided to embark on a grand hunting trip to the sprawling Mulan hunting grounds outside of Beijing. As an esteemed imperial guard, Wu Gong was summoned to join the Emperor's hunting retinue. After days of travel, they arrived at the vast hunting grounds filled with wildlife and game for the Emperor to stalk.

On the third day of the hunt, while searching for a stray hunting dog that had chased after a pheasant into the forested hills, Wu Gong lost his footing and tumbled deep into a treacherous ravine shrouded with mist. Laying bloodied and bruised at the bottom of the ravine, Wu Gong believed this would surely be his end.

With no food or water, Wu Gong languished helpless and alone in the darkness of the ravine for three full days, steadily growing weaker. Just when Wu Gong had resigned himself to death's embrace, by chance a female Asiatic black bear passed by the ravine and detected Wu Gong's scent. Trusting her instincts, the she-bear carefully climbed down the steep cliffs of the ravine to investigate. To Wu Gong's shock, instead of mauling him, the bear gently hoisted him onto her back and carried him up to the surface.

Fearing he would be eaten alive, Wu Gong's heart pounded in terror as the bear brought him to her remote mountain cave. But the kindly bear simply foraged fruits and herbs for Wu Gong to regain his strength. Amazingly, she even hauled back wild pigs and sheep she had caught, laying the fresh kills at Wu Gong's feet as an offering of food. The sight of the bloody carcasses initially made Wu Gong turn away in disgust. Sensing his unease, the clever bear thoughtfully cooked the meat over a fire to make it more palatable before presenting it to him again.

As the days passed, Wu Gong gradually overcame his fears, realizing this female bear had selflessly saved and cared for him. An unlikely bond blossomed between man and beast. One day while relieving himself, Wu Gong was surprised to notice the bear intently observing his nakedness with what seemed to be amusement, letting out grunts and snorts. Only then did it dawn on Wu Gong that this was no ordinary bear, but an enchanted creature with human-like intellect and emotions.

Before long, love blossomed across the species barrier and the two unlikely souls became husband and wife. The miraculous bear gave birth to three sons who possessed the strength of bears but the minds of men. Wu Gong was overjoyed to have a family again.

When Wu Gong eventually grew homesick for human company and his old life in Beijing, the protective bear refused to let her beloved husband depart. But their three devoted sons could not deny their father's wishes. They pleaded with their ursine mother to let them carry their father home.

The eldest son, Nuobo, had risen to become an imperial guard just like Wu Gong. Nuobo constructed a large covered carriage and led a procession of horses and guards to retrieve Wu Gong and his wild bear wife from the mountain cave that had been their refuge.

Once back in Beijing, the Wu family embraced the she-bear as one of their own, affectionately calling her Lady Bear. Neighbors were fascinated by the tale of the imperial guard and his animal bride. When guests came calling, Lady Bear would politely cross her front paws and bow in greeting, though she could not speak human words.

Lady Bear happily lived with Wu Gong's family in the capital for over ten years before passing peacefully. Though she was far from an ordinary bear, Lady Bear's love had made her an extraordinary wife.