Chinese Mythology · Mythical Creature
僵尸 · jiāngshī
The stiff, hopping corpse that drains your life-energy — not your blood.
僵尸
Rigor mortis stiffens its limbs, so a jiangshi ("stiff corpse") hops with arms outstretched — a reanimated body that rises to drain the qi, or life-force, of the living. It is typically dressed in a Qing-dynasty official's robe, and a Daoist paper talisman stuck to its forehead can freeze it in place.
The folklore is often traced to Xiangxi "corpse-driving" (赶尸) — transporting the dead home trussed upright to bamboo poles, which gave the eerie impression of hopping bodies.
Despite the "vampire" label, it feeds on qi (not blood), hops stiffly (rather than seduces), and is far closer to a zombie or revenant than to a Dracula-type.
Defined by 1980s Hong Kong horror-comedy — the Mr. Vampire films fixed its modern image — and a recurring figure in games and Halloween culture.
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