Page 158 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A-Z 151
Ghost

gui

In general, the Chinese word gui denotes a demon of whom we have every reason to feel
scared. It is often the spirit of a dead person: in this case, members of the family to which
it belonged are not frightened of it: that is, it is not a gui – unless, of course, they have
neglected it or insulted it, but a shen. The souls of others, however (i.e. non-family),
might well be intent on getting their own back for insult and injury suffered in life.
Then again, they might be driven by need to take offensive action: this goes in particular
for the souls of those who had died in remote parts, far from their families, and who
receive no sacrifices (the so-called ‘Hungry Spirits’). Popular etymology links the word
gui = demon, ghost, with gui = return home.
Gui wear hemless garments. They themselves cast no shadow, and their voices sound
strange to us. They are very short-sighted and see only a red glow; we see them as a sort
of dark cloud. In parts of South China it was believed that gui could act as servants to
living men. Today, in both China and Taiwan, the press campaigns against the belief in
ghosts, but the press reports themselves make it clear that this belief is by no means a
thing of the past.

Zhong-kui exorcises the ghosts