The Hungry Ghosts of China

During late summer, the Republic of China is a quiet and deserted place. A fission of fear shimmers in the air and an aura of caution envelops the entire country. The beaches and recreation grounds have been abandoned, the roads and pavements are empty, weddings have been postponed, and important business deals rescheduled. Nobody dares to venture out after dark.

The reason for this widespread fear is the commencement of the seventh lunar month. It is the most dangerous time of the whole year. During this month the ghosts of the dead are released from hell to roam the earth once more, and the people of China take it very seriously.

Most of the ghosts are benign, content to visit their living relatives and bring about an uneasy reunion. But a number of malicious ghosts spread terror. These are vengeful spirits, which seek to harm the living; they have no descendants left on earth and often died a lonely death in tragic accidents or in desperate suicides. The souls are unfulfilled and wander in search of other souls, even those still living, to take their place in hell. They are the "hungry ghosts" and the Chinese do their utmost to pacify these malevolent spirits. They leave offerings of moon-cakes, sweet smelling incense, and tempting bowls of traditional foods outside their houses. Paper lanterns are lit and set afloat on rivers to lead the evil spirits away from the land.

The ghosts can take on many forms in order to wander the land unobserved. They are sometimes invisible and can be as light as a filmy cobweb. They can take the form of a bird, wolf, fox, or a tiger padding softly through the darkness.

They adopt the form of a beautiful man or woman ready to seduce an unwary victim. They have been known to possess the body of an individual and cause illness and mental disorder. A particularly vigilant person will notice that the feet of a Chinese ghost never touch the ground.

The fifteenth day of the seventh month is the most perilous day of all. It is the day when the disturbed souls are at their strongest. People are advised to stay indoors, and if they must go out, to keep away from riverbanks where the malevolent spirits gather and where an unsuspecting passerby may have his soul snatched away.

On this day the temples are filled to overflowing with fruits, fish, vegetables, meat and wines. Huge salvation poles are laid down to guide the spirits to the temples and away from where they are likely to do most harm.

On the last day of the seventh month the people of China heave a collective sigh of relief and pick up the threads of their normal lives. A Taoist priest recites a liturgy while holding a "Seven Star Sword" to let the restless spirits know it is time for them to return to the world beyond. The priest closes his ears to the pitiful wails of the wretched ghosts as they are sucked once more into the darkness.

However, not all the "hungry ghosts" are compliant and many remain in the land of the living ignoring all earthbound traditions. Throughout Chinese history there have been many strange incidents involving invisible and elusive spirits. Some of the most bizarre reports center on the activities of ponytail removing poltergeists.

The Qing Dynasty was the last Imperial Dynasty in Chine (A.D.1644-1911). The rulers of the Qing Dynasty at this time were the Manchu. They decreed that all men in China wear their hair braided into a pigtail, or queue, as a form of respect. A report dating from September 12,1844, details an outbreak of pigtail cutting in the city of Taiyuan in the Shanxi Province. Respectable men would have their pigtails cut off in broad daylight while walking in busy streets, at the theater, or in bazaars. The perpetrators were said to vanish into thin air like specters. The Phenomenon caused widespread panic and men fearing attack from behind held their pigtails in front. Soldiers were stationed in the streets and quack doctors sold charms to try and ward off attacks from the delinquent spirits.

Another outbreak occurred in1876 in the Xiamen Province with many actual sightings of the "phantom barbers." The descriptions were many, but often-involved tiny translucent phantoms seemingly made of paper. One can only wonder what a Chinese ghost would want with a stolen pigtail.

The Chinese have a healthy attitude toward ghosts. The acknowledge their existence and strive to live in harmony, two worlds intermingling, with a modicum of respect.