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.