Chiang-shih

The chiang-shih, the Chinese equivalent of the vampire, is a figure from a rich tradition of belief that combines spiritual and supernatural elements. In Chinese belief, every person has two souls: a higher soul, capable of leaving the body, and a lower soul, called p'ai, that inhabits dead bodies. The creation of the chiang-shih is most often associated with violent death and improper burial. Considered a violent and nocturnal creature, the chiang-shih was the subject of various defensive rituals, including the use of garlic, salt, and noise to protect against its attacks.

The chiang-shih is the Chinese equivalent of the vampire. In Chinese belief, each person has two souls: a higher, more rational one and a lower, non-rational one. The higher soul could leave its dormant body and appear as two bodies wandering near the physical body. It could also enter the body of another person. However, if something happened to the disembodied soul during this journey, the body would also suffer damage. The lower soul, on the other side, was called the p'ai or p'o and inhabited the fetus during pregnancy and often remained within the body of the deceased. It was believed to protect the corpse. If the p'ai was strong enough, it could preserve the dead body and inhabit it for a long time, using it for its own purposes. A body reanimated by the p'ai was called a chiang-shih.Typically, a chiang-shih arose after a particularly violent death, such as suicide—hanging, drowning, or strangulation. It could also result from an improper burial, meaning one that would make the deceased restless if the burial were delayed. A chiang-shih was never seen rising from the grave, so the transformation must have occurred before burial.

The chiang-shih was a nocturnal creature and had difficulty crossing fast-flowing streams. It was said to be particularly brutal, ripping off the head or ripping off limbs of its victims. It was said to have a strong sexual drive, which drove it to attack and rape women. After a period of p'ai growth, the chiang-shih acquired the ability to fly, grew long white hair, and then transformed into a wolf.

People defended themselves against the chiang-shih with garlic or salt. They also defended themselves with noise, because, it was said, it could kill the chiang-shih. Brooms were used to chase the demon back to its resting place, and iron filings, rice, and red peas were also thrown at it. If the chiang-shih could fly or had gray hair, it could only be killed by a bullet or lightning bolt. In such cases, its body was cremated