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List of 'vampire' and vampire types from around the world China
China is a country rich in legends, superstitions, and customs,
often connected with Buddhist and Taoist lore. The belief in
vampires partially derived from he Chinese belief in two souls. As
explained, each person had a superior or rational soul, and an inferior or
irrational soul. The former soul had the form of the body and upon
separation could appear a its exact double. The superior soul could
leave the sleeping body and wander around. For a short time it could
possess the body of another and speak through it. If accidents
happened to the wandering soul, it would have negative repercussions on
the body. On occasion the superior soul appeared in an animal
form. The inferior soul, called the p'ai, or p'o, was the soul that inhabited the body of a fetus during pregnancy and often lingered in the body after deal, leading to its unnatural preservation. When the p'ai left, the body disintegrated. The p'ai, if strong, preserved and inhabited the body for a long period and could use the body for its own. The body animated by the p'ai was then a vampire but was not normally recognized as a vampire until some action gave it away. However, sometimes the body took on a hideous aspect and assumed a green phosphorescent glow. The vampires of this region seem to originate as a means of explaining problems with death. A vampire arose often following a violent death due to suicide, hanging, drowning, or smothering. It could also apear in a person who had died suddenly, or as a result of improper burial procedures. The dead were thought to become angry and restless if their burial was postponed for a long time after death. Animals, specifically cats, were kept away from the unburied corpse, to prevent them from jumping over it, lest they also become vampires. Garlic, an almost universal medicinal herb, was said to keep vampires away. Salt was believed to have a corrosive effect on the vampire's skin. Vampires were offended by loud noises, and thunder would occasionally kill one. Brooms were handy weapons which a person could literally sweep the vampire back to its resting spot. Direct sunlight and moonlight were kept away from a dead body because the rays were considered capable of supplying the corpse with a supply of yang, a positive force, thereby fortifying the lower soul, which then required human blood to keep the body incorrupt. Iron filings, rice, and red peas created barriers to the entry of the vampire and were often placed around vacant coffins in order to keep a vampire from taking it as a resting place. Hsi-hsue-kuei
The Chinese name for a vampire, translated as "suck-blood demon."
Kuang-shi
Also known as the Chiang-shi or Chiang-shih this seems to be the most common vampire in China and also said to be a feared vampire demon. The Kuang-shi is a result of demonic inhabitation of a corpse. It is known for being characteristically tall, with white or greenish white hair all over its body. It has long and sharp claws, terrible eyes, and fangs. Older vampires of this type are said to be able to fly. The Kuang-shi is said to be able to be trapped in its grave by sprinkling rice, iron, and red peas on the ground above it. A common means of destroying it is lightning. Some reports indicate that not only could the older vampires of this type fly, but also be able to appear as a mist or vapor, and even to become invisible; however in other accounts it is told that the Kuang-shi lacked some of the powers of the Slavic vampire and could not dematerialize, hence it was unable to rise from the grave, being inhibited by coffins and the soil. Thus their transformation had to take place prior to burial. In such reports it also indicates the Kuang-shi had trouble crossing running water. The Kuang-shi are said to be very strong and vicious. Reports detailed their attacks upon living people, where they ripped off the head or limbs of their victims. They usually had to surprise their victims because they had no particular powers to lure or entrance them. Besides being violent the Kuang-shi is also said to demonstrate a strong sexual drive that led it to attack and rape women. The older of the Kuang-shi are said to gain strength and began to transform to a mobile state. They would stop using coffins and it was in this stage that they would master the art of flying and develop a covering of long white or greenish white hair all over. If a vampire reached this stage the only way of killing it is by thunder or a bullet. It is also noted they may turn into wolves. In rare reports there are occurrences of unburied body segments, especially the head, being reanimated and becoming a vampire. In the end, the ultimate solution is cremation. Xiang shi
The name for a type is mentioned but no description found as of yet. Possible it is another name for the Kuang-shi.
Suggested reading on this subject by "The Vampire Encyclopedia": "Chinese Ghouls and Gobins" by G. Willoughby-Meade "The Religious System of China" by J.J. M de Groot "Maps courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps used with permission" Special thanks to the following resources which provided this list and information: "The Vampire Encyclopedia" by Matthew Bunson "The Vampire Book - The Encyclopedia of the undead" by J. Gordon Melton This website takes no responsibility for actions individuals may take after reading the contents of these pages. All questions can be directed to whtdoveqv@yahoo.com
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