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{{Creature infobox
A '''jiangshi''' is a re-animated corpse in [[Chinese mythology]], similar to [[vampire]]s or [[zombie]]s. The appearance of a jiangshi's varies from unremarkable to horrifying, such as rotting flesh or ''rigor mortis''. Due to their extremely stiff bodies, it has to move around by hopping while keeping its arms stretched out for mobility. Another peculiar feature is its greenish-white skin; this is due to fungus or mould.
 
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|Name = Jiangshi
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|Cultural origin = China
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|Type = Vampiric Undead
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|Similar creatures = [[Vampire]], [[Manananggal]]
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|Image = Jiangshi.jpg
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|Traits = Hops around, Greenish-white skin
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}}
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The '''Jiangshi '''(僵屍 or 殭屍) is a Chinese [[vampire]]/[[zombie]] that's name translates to 'stiff corpse'. It is a horrific creature that usually hops along, and when it comes across a victim it will suck the life force out of them. (In Chinese, qi.)
   
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The Jiangshi has many different names, such as Chiang Shi, Kang Shi and Geungsi.
== Causes ==
 
There are numerous causes for corpses being re-animated, including:
 
* The use of supernatural arts to resurrect the dead
 
* Supernational possession of a dead body
 
* When a person's soul fails to leave the deceased's body
 
* The dead person is not buried after a funeral has been held
 
   
== Counters ==
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== Myths & Legends ==
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They are said to be created when a person's soul (魄 pò) fails to leave the deceased's body. However, some have disputed the comparison of jiang shi with vampires, as jiang shi are usually mindless creatures with no independent thought. One unusual feature of this monster is its greenish-white furry skin, perhaps derived from fungus or mold growing on corpses.
There are many ways to items used to counter jiangshi:
 
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* Mirrors
 
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The Jiangshi is said to be raised by a necromancer, or when the soul of a dead man cannot leave his body due to reasons in life, such as they were a horrible troublemaker, or if they commit suicide. The body looks different due to when they were raised. If they are raised soon after death, their appearance looks almost like a normal human, however if they have decomposed some time before they come to life, they can look horrific and ghastly.
* Items made of wood from a peach tree
 
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* A rooster's call
 
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=== Appearance ===
* Fire
 
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Usually they are described as a pale white colour with furry green hair, moss, or mold growing on their flesh. The Jiangshi also has pale, long white, messy hair atop their heads. They are said to have extremely long tongues and black, sharp fingernails, and they walk along with their arms outstretched.
* Jujube seeds
 
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* Vinegar
 
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=== Creation of Jiangshi ===
* Glutinous rice
 
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The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qing_dynasty Qing Dynasty] scholar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ji_Yun Ji Xiaolan] mentioned in his book ''Yuewei Caotang Biji'' (閱微草堂筆記) that the causes of a corpse being reanimated can be classified in either of two categories: a recently deceased person returning to life, or a corpse that has been buried for a long time but does not decompose. Some causes are described below:
* Azuki beans
 
 
* The use of supernatural arts to resurrect the dead.
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_possession Spirit possession] of a dead body.
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* A corpse absorbs sufficient [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang yang] ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qi qi]'' to return to life.
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* A person's body is governed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hun_and_po three ''huns'' and seven ''pos'']. The Qing Dynasty scholar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_Mei Yuan Mei] wrote in his book ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_Master_Would_Not_Discuss Zi Bu Yu]'' that "A person's ''hun'' is good but his ''po'' is evil, his ''hun'' is intelligent but his ''po'' is not so good". The ''hun'' leaves his body after death but his ''po'' remains and takes control of the body, so the dead person becomes a Jiangshi.
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* The dead person is not buried even after a funeral has been held. The corpse comes to life after it is struck by a bolt of lightning, or when a pregnant cat (or a black cat in some tales) leaps across the coffin.
 
* When a person's soul fails to leave the deceased's body, due to improper death, suicide, or just wanting to cause trouble.<sup>]</sup>
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* A person injured by a Jiangshi is infected with the "Jiangshi Virus" and gradually changes into a Jiangshi over time, as seen in the ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Vampire Mr. Vampire]'' films.
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=== Weaknesses ===
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The Jiangshi may be distracted if small objects are thrown about, in which case, like most vampires, it will stop to count them. Also, they are blind, and if one holds their breath when it passes, they may remain unnoticed.
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Supposedly a 15&nbsp;cm piece of wood nailed to the width of the bottom of the door will stop a Jiangshi from entering.
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* Mirrors: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Shizhen Li Shizhen]'s medical book ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compendium_of_Materia_Medica Bencao Gangmu]'' mentioned, "A mirror is the essence of liquid metal. It is dark on the external but bright inside." (鏡乃金水之精,內明外暗。) Jiangshis are also said to be terrified of their own reflections.
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* Items made of wood from a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach peach] tree: The ''Jingchu Suishi Ji'' (荊楚歲時記) mentioned, "Peach is the essence of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Xing Five Elements]. It can subjugate evil auras and deter evil spirits." (桃者,五行之精,能厭服邪氣,制御百鬼。)
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* A rooster's call: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_Mei Yuan Mei]'s book ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_Master_Would_Not_Discuss Zi Bu Yu]'' mentioned, "Evil spirits withdraw when they hear a rooster's call" (鬼聞雞鳴即縮。), because the rooster's call usually occurs with the rise of the sun.
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujube Jujube] seeds: ''Zi Bu Yu'' mentioned, "Nail seven jujube seeds into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture acupuncture points] on the back of a corpse." (棗核七枚,釘入屍脊背穴。)
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* Fire: ''Zi Bu Yu'' mentioned, "When set on fire, the sound of crackling flames, blood rushes forth and bones cry." (放火燒之,嘖嘖之聲,血湧骨鳴。)
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* Hooves of a black donkey: Mentioned in Zhang Muye's fantasy novel ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Blows_Out_the_Light Ghost Blows Out the Light]''
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* Vinegar: Mentioned by coroners in eastern [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujian Fujian]
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagua Ba gua] sign
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* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching I Ching]''
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* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Dunyi#Tong_Shu Tong Shu]''
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutinous_rice Glutinous rice], rice chaff
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adzuki_bean Adzuki beans]
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handbell Handbell]
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* Thread stained with a concotion of black ink, chicken blood and burnt talisman
 
* Blood of a black dog
 
* Blood of a black dog
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* Stonemason's awl
* Axes
 
* Brooms
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* Axe
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* Broom
[[Category:Chinese Mythology]]
 
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* Holding ones breath
[[Category:Undead]]
 
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* Taoist talisman, stuck on the forehead to immobilise them whilst it is firmly stuck on
[[Category:Mythical Creatures]]
 
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* Dropping a bag of coins can cause the Jiangshi to count the coins.
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==GALLERY==
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<gallery>
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Ddr0ktk-c4a83133-463c-430f-8de9-c830266f9952.png
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Jiangshi.png
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D7bSzpKWsAE2cXC.jpg
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Unnamed (23).jpg
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640 f9c84fd2a3b9c70f4252ecc6390fb102 opt.jpg
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4rzyawc9etv21.png
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Images - 2020-02-23T112059.037.jpg
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Jiang3.jpg
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Images - 2020-02-23T112121.562.jpg
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Images - 2020-02-23T112132.960.jpg
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Images - 2020-02-23T112143.496.jpg
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Images - 2020-02-23T112210.144.jpg
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Hqdefault - 2020-02-23T112226.259.jpg
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JiangShi Group.jpg
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2DDC62DF-B1D4-4023-B46A-73A7E60A3E6B.jpeg
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20200912 151735.jpg
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NightwalkerKingdomHeartsJiangshi.png|A Nightwalker from the game Kingdom Hearts, based on the Jiangshi.
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File:QiqiGenshinImpactJiangshi.png|Qiqi, a zombie from the game Genshin Impact, based on the Jiangshi.
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</gallery>
 
[[Category:Chinese mythology]]
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[[Category:Vampires]]
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[[Category:Zombies]]
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[[Category:Corporeal undead]]
 
[[Category:Chinese creatures]]

Revision as of 16:24, 16 July 2021



The Jiangshi (僵屍 or 殭屍) is a Chinese vampire/zombie that's name translates to 'stiff corpse'. It is a horrific creature that usually hops along, and when it comes across a victim it will suck the life force out of them. (In Chinese, qi.)

The Jiangshi has many different names, such as Chiang Shi, Kang Shi and Geungsi.

Myths & Legends

They are said to be created when a person's soul (魄 pò) fails to leave the deceased's body. However, some have disputed the comparison of jiang shi with vampires, as jiang shi are usually mindless creatures with no independent thought. One unusual feature of this monster is its greenish-white furry skin, perhaps derived from fungus or mold growing on corpses.

The Jiangshi is said to be raised by a necromancer, or when the soul of a dead man cannot leave his body due to reasons in life, such as they were a horrible troublemaker, or if they commit suicide. The body looks different due to when they were raised. If they are raised soon after death, their appearance looks almost like a normal human, however if they have decomposed some time before they come to life, they can look horrific and ghastly.

Appearance

Usually they are described as a pale white colour with furry green hair, moss, or mold growing on their flesh. The Jiangshi also has pale, long white, messy hair atop their heads. They are said to have extremely long tongues and black, sharp fingernails, and they walk along with their arms outstretched.

Creation of Jiangshi

The Qing Dynasty scholar Ji Xiaolan mentioned in his book Yuewei Caotang Biji (閱微草堂筆記) that the causes of a corpse being reanimated can be classified in either of two categories: a recently deceased person returning to life, or a corpse that has been buried for a long time but does not decompose. Some causes are described below:

  • The use of supernatural arts to resurrect the dead.
  • Spirit possession of a dead body.
  • A corpse absorbs sufficient yang qi to return to life.
  • A person's body is governed by three huns and seven pos. The Qing Dynasty scholar Yuan Mei wrote in his book Zi Bu Yu that "A person's hun is good but his po is evil, his hun is intelligent but his po is not so good". The hun leaves his body after death but his po remains and takes control of the body, so the dead person becomes a Jiangshi.
  • The dead person is not buried even after a funeral has been held. The corpse comes to life after it is struck by a bolt of lightning, or when a pregnant cat (or a black cat in some tales) leaps across the coffin.
  • When a person's soul fails to leave the deceased's body, due to improper death, suicide, or just wanting to cause trouble.]
  • A person injured by a Jiangshi is infected with the "Jiangshi Virus" and gradually changes into a Jiangshi over time, as seen in the Mr. Vampire films.

Weaknesses

The Jiangshi may be distracted if small objects are thrown about, in which case, like most vampires, it will stop to count them. Also, they are blind, and if one holds their breath when it passes, they may remain unnoticed.

Supposedly a 15 cm piece of wood nailed to the width of the bottom of the door will stop a Jiangshi from entering.

  • Mirrors: Li Shizhen's medical book Bencao Gangmu mentioned, "A mirror is the essence of liquid metal. It is dark on the external but bright inside." (鏡乃金水之精,內明外暗。) Jiangshis are also said to be terrified of their own reflections.
  • Items made of wood from a peach tree: The Jingchu Suishi Ji (荊楚歲時記) mentioned, "Peach is the essence of the Five Elements. It can subjugate evil auras and deter evil spirits." (桃者,五行之精,能厭服邪氣,制御百鬼。)
  • A rooster's call: Yuan Mei's book Zi Bu Yu mentioned, "Evil spirits withdraw when they hear a rooster's call" (鬼聞雞鳴即縮。), because the rooster's call usually occurs with the rise of the sun.
  • Jujube seeds: Zi Bu Yu mentioned, "Nail seven jujube seeds into the acupuncture points on the back of a corpse." (棗核七枚,釘入屍脊背穴。)
  • Fire: Zi Bu Yu mentioned, "When set on fire, the sound of crackling flames, blood rushes forth and bones cry." (放火燒之,嘖嘖之聲,血湧骨鳴。)
  • Hooves of a black donkey: Mentioned in Zhang Muye's fantasy novel Ghost Blows Out the Light
  • Vinegar: Mentioned by coroners in eastern Fujian
  • Ba gua sign
  • I Ching
  • Tong Shu
  • Glutinous rice, rice chaff
  • Adzuki beans
  • Handbell
  • Thread stained with a concotion of black ink, chicken blood and burnt talisman
  • Blood of a black dog
  • Stonemason's awl
  • Axe
  • Broom
  • Holding ones breath
  • Taoist talisman, stuck on the forehead to immobilise them whilst it is firmly stuck on
  • Dropping a bag of coins can cause the Jiangshi to count the coins.

GALLERY