The paper covers the problem of genesis and development of Wu-tong as a literary character and an object of worship in Chinese folksy beliefs. In spite of numerous attempts to build up a strictly logical historical pattern of Wu-tong’s cult, the problem is still far from being solved. Pu Song-ling adds his personal attitude towards this hideous object of folksy worship and thus gives the birth to new legends and speculations, though his personal intentions related to a total different sphere of humanities — social satire. Here are some conclusions of the described survey: 1. Wu-tong is mentioned in Tang texts as an inimical to human creature, though specifics about this sort of demon appear only during Song. 2. Wu-tong’s cult of the Ming period presents a total disorderly mix of different independent beliefs, and this chaos only grows in time. 3. In Pu Song-ling’s interpretation Wu-tong’s cult is closely connected with the idea of a turnskin obsession and makes a parallel to the northern cult of Fox, but even