Case file · Witch trials
The cat-spirit sorcery case of 598
In 598 the Sui emperor Wen condemned relatives of the empress after a maid confessed to using a 'cat spirit' to steal wealth and harm the empress, and banned cat-demon and gu sorcery.
598 CE · 34.27, 108.95 · status: official
The account
The case, recorded in the Book of Sui, launched a purge of households accused of keeping cat spirits.