Jiangshi

The Jiangshi, also known as the Chinese hopping vampire or zombie, is a popular figure in Chinese folklore and cinema. Unlike Western vampires, Jiangshi are not typically depicted as having fangs or drinking blood. Instead, they are reanimated corpses that retain their physical form and often exhibit a stiff, upright posture. Their primary characteristic is their ability to hop or jump, propelled by the stiffening of rigor mortis in their limbs.

According to legend, Jiangshi are created when a person dies under specific circumstances, such as a violent death or a burial that was not performed correctly according to traditional customs. They are believed to be sustained by qi, or life force, which they absorb from living beings. This energy is often depicted as being drawn from the breath or vital energy of their victims.

Jiangshi are often portrayed as being blind and relying on scent or the sound of heartbeats to locate prey. They are typically depicted wearing the remnants of their burial clothes. Their appearance can vary, but often includes pale skin, dishevelled hair, and sometimes long fingernails.

In folklore, Jiangshi are vulnerable to certain remedies and methods of deterrence. These often include talismans, peaches, or sticky rice, which are believed to disrupt their reanimated state or absorb their animating force. Taoist priests are frequently depicted as the primary figures who combat Jiangshi. The concept of the Jiangshi has been widely popularized through Hong Kong cinema, leading to a subgenre of horror-comedy films.