Urban Legends

Jiangshi: The Hopping Vampire of China

Origin: China

The Jiangshi, known as the "hopping vampire," is one of the most eerie and fascinating figures in Chinese folklore. It is a type of reanimated corpse that comes to life after death, cursed to wander the night, seeking to feed on the life force (qi) of the living.

The Jiangshi legend dates back to the Qing Dynasty in the 18th and 19th centuries. In those times, it was believed that if a person died far from home, their family would hire a Taoist priest to bring the body back for proper burial. The priest would often perform a ritual to reanimate the corpse, using a Taoist talisman to guide it back to its final resting place. The reanimated body would "hop" back home, stiff and jerky, as its limbs were locked in rigor mortis.

However, when the ritual failed or the body was not properly laid to rest, the dead returned wrong - no longer human, but a Jiangshi. These creatures were cursed to walk the Earth, hungry for the qi of the living. They were no longer under the control of the priest, and they could not be easily stopped.

The Jiangshi is often described as a pale, decayed corpse dressed in traditional Qing Dynasty robes, with long, tangled hair and a face frozen in a snarl or a death mask. Its eyes are usually wide open, glowing a sickly green. The Jiangshi's movements are rigid and stiff because of its decayed body. Instead of walking, it hops - often described as a hopping corpse, its limbs unable to bend naturally. The hopping is its primary mode of movement, and it can leap unnaturally fast when it senses its prey.

The Jiangshi's hunger for life energy makes it especially dangerous. It will attack the living, draining their qi, sometimes killing them, sometimes leaving them weak and lethargic.

The Jiangshi hunts at night, drawn to areas with warmth and vitality. Its victims are typically individuals who are alone, tired, or weak. When it comes close, a coldness fills the air, and a feeling of dread often overcomes the victim.

If it manages to make contact, it will latch onto the victim's body, sucking the life force from them. In some versions of the legend, the victim's body will also become stiff, and their soul will be trapped inside, turning them into another Jiangshi in the future.

There are several ways to repel or stop a Jiangshi:

Mirrors: The Jiangshi is afraid of its own reflection, and seeing itself in a mirror can confuse and repel it.

Bagua: Taoist symbols, known as Bagua, are commonly used to ward off the creature. A talisman with the Bagua symbol can be placed on the door or window to keep the Jiangshi away.

Sticky Rice: It's believed that sticky rice can absorb dark energies and can be used to create barriers that the Jiangshi cannot cross.

Hold your breath: Because the Jiangshi hunts based on warmth and qi, some folklore suggests that holding your breath and staying still can make you undetectable to the creature.

Sound: The Jiangshi is said to be attracted to sound, so making loud noises can deter it, though this doesn't always work.

Although considered a piece of folklore, some rural communities in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong still hold the belief that Jiangshi can appear at night. Stories of the Jiangshi have been passed down over generations, and some people in remote areas still avoid places like abandoned temples, gravesites, or old mausoleums, fearing they may encounter a Jiangshi.