Jiangshi(僵尸)

A jiāngshī (simplified Chinese: 僵尸; traditional Chinese: 殭屍; pinyin: jiāngshī; Jyutping: goeng1 si1), commonly known as a Chinese hopping vampire, is an undead creature or reanimated corpse rooted in Chinese legend and folklore. While modern portrayals—largely influenced by Hong Kong cinema—depict it as a stiff, hopping cadaver dressed in Qing dynasty official robes, traditional accounts present a far more terrifying figure. In folklore, the jiangshi may run or even fly if it is old enough or has absorbed enough yang energy. These creatures were once believed to descend from the hills, gliding through the night sky to prey on infants.

The jiangshi has been likened to the vampire of Western and Eastern European myths, but with crucial differences. Rather than drinking blood, it kills by consuming a person’s qi, or life force, although some stories do depict it as man-eating. During daylight hours, it is said to retreat to coffins, caves, or other dark places, emerging only at night to hunt.

One interpretation of the origin of the jiangshi myth comes from historian J.J.M. de Groot, who suggested that the belief arose from a visceral fear of death and decay. In imperial China, the presence of unburied corpses, combined with strict taboos around delayed burials, may have fueled such legends. The concept of qi—the vital energy believed to permeate the universe—offered a mystical explanation for how lifeless bodies might become animated.

Another major influence was the practice of corpse-driving, in which the remains of laborers who had died far from home were transported back to their ancestral villages. These corpses were tied upright between bamboo poles and carried by professionals known as corpse drivers, mostly at night. From a distance, the bobbing motion of the corpses created the eerie illusion of hopping undead, likely reinforcing popular fear and superstition.

Jiangshi stories gave rise to a wave of vampire-themed media, particularly in Hong Kong during the 1980s and 1990s. Films like Mr. Vampire and its sequels blended horror with slapstick comedy, sparking a regional craze that spread to Taiwan, Japan, and beyond. Today, the image of the jiangshi persists not only in movies and literature but also in toys, video games, and even Halloween costumes, maintaining its place as a haunting and iconic figure in East Asian pop culture.