Are You A Chinese Ghost Expert?
How Many Do You Know?
Have you heard of the Chinese Zombie, also known as 僵尸 (jiāng shī)?
Are you aware of the Chinese Mer-people, referred to as 氐人 (Dī rén)?
Do you know about the Mountain God of Chaos, known as 帝江 (Dì jiāng or Morris in the Shang-Chi movie)?
This Hungry Ghost Month, learn about Chinese ghosts with the guidance of expert and historian Ken Tsai this Hungry Ghost Festival!
僵尸 (jiāng shī):
These undead beings are often depicted in Chinese folklore as stiff corpses that move by hopping with their arms outstretched, seeking to absorb the life force of the living. Their stiff movements come from the idea that their bodies are in a state of rigor mortis, a condition that makes them both terrifying and fascinating in Chinese horror stories and films.
氐人 (Dī rén):
Unlike the mermaids of Western mythology, these beings are more akin to creatures of the deep, often described as having the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish. They are said to dwell in rivers and lakes, emerging only when the water is calm. The 氐人 are not just mythical creatures but also represent a connection to the natural world, embodying the mysterious and often dangerous aspects of water.
帝江 (Dì jiāng or Morris in the Shang-Chi movie):
This legendary figure is often depicted as a faceless, bird-like creature with six legs and four wings. It is said to be a representation of primal chaos, a being that existed before the world was formed. In some versions of the myth, 帝江 is also seen as a benevolent figure, guiding lost travelers through the mountains, though its appearance is far from comforting.
This Hungry Ghost Festival, learn about Chinese ghosts from legend and literature with the guidance of expert and historian Ken Tsai!
It’s 中元节 (Zhōng yuán jié), which is better known as the Hungry Ghost Festival or 七月 (the 7th month), because it’s said that the ghosts are back to the world on the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. During this month, the veil between the living and the dead is believed to be at its thinnest, allowing spirits to roam the earth once more.
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a time to honor and appease these wandering spirits, many of whom are believed to be the souls of those who died tragically or without proper rites. The festival is marked by rituals such as burning joss paper (representing money) and other offerings to ensure that the ghosts are well-fed and entertained during their visit. It’s a tradition that’s steeped in respect for ancestors and a deep understanding of the afterlife in Chinese culture.
Similarities to Other Festivals Around the World
This festival is quite similar in spirit to the Mexican Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), where families honor their deceased loved ones by creating altars and offering food and flowers. In Italy, the Giorno dei Morti (Day of the Dead) involves visiting the graves of deceased family members and offering prayers. In the Philippines, Undás (All Saints’ Day) is a time when families come together to remember their ancestors, often spending the entire day at the cemetery with food, music, and stories.
Even Halloween and All Souls’ Day in Western cultures bear some resemblance to the Hungry Ghost Festival. Both are times when the dead are remembered, and in some traditions, it’s believed that the spirits of the deceased return to the world of the living, much like during 中元节.
This Hungry Ghost Festival, learn about Chinese ghosts from legend and literature with the guidance of expert and historian Ken Tsai!
Let’s listen to the special guest 蔡宗穎 Ken Tsai, an actual ghost expert and historian in Taiwan, share where some of these spooks come from, while drawing unique supernatural mashups of food and spooks… giving “hungry ghost” a whole new meaning!
Ken Tsai is a renowned historian with a deep passion for Chinese folklore and mythology. His work 《宋代讀書人與他們的鬼》has taken him to some of the most haunted places in Taiwan, where he’s studied the local ghost stories and the rituals performed during the Hungry Ghost Festival.
His insights into the world of Chinese ghosts are not just academic; they are also deeply personal, reflecting his own connection to the traditions and beliefs of his ancestors.
