What is the Pontianak? A look into her legend, history and legacy

Some warn of a Pontianak's presence through barking dogs, the sudden waft of sweet floral scents, and the eerie echoes of female laughter. (Photo: Getty Images)

The term finds its origins in the spectral accounts of West Kalimantan, where it is portrayed as a formidable female ghost in Malay folklore.

In the heart of Southeast Asia's deep and enigmatic folklore, there are multiple eerie figures that send shivers down the spine of the average human being.

Some of these figures have varied origins, and have had backstories that have been debated endlessly by scholars (yes, there is a whole book and field of study dedicated to malay magic).

One of those legends that has held the collective imagination of the region in its thrall for centuries is the Pontianak.

Renowned for her otherworldly beauty and deadly allure, this malevolent spirit is the very essence of legend, both enthralling storytellers and instilling dread among the superstitious souls in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

The term "Pontianak" finds its origins in the spectral accounts of West Kalimantan, where it is portrayed as a formidable female ghost within the tapestry of Malay folklore.

Legend has it that these ethereal beings once haunted the region until a valiant confrontation by Sultan Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie and his army, who drove them away with resounding cannon fire.

In the aftermath, a mosque and palace graced the very grounds once occupied by these apparitions, marking the birth of a city. To this day, the community commemorates this historical event by firing bamboo cannons during Ramadan and other festive occasions.

The numerous 'origins' of the Pontianak

The Pontianak's origins are as nebulous and ominous as the mists of a Southeast Asian rainforest.

Within the realms of Malay and Indonesian folklore, the Pontianak is recognised as either a female vampire or the spectral manifestation of a woman who met her end during childbirth.

In scholarly discourse, some researchers posits her evolution from the Langsuir, another variety of vampire, while others suggest a more complex relationship where the Pontianak might be considered a "offspring" of the Langsuir.

Some also hold the belief that she is the restless soul who met her demise at the hands of men, and that she returns from beyond the grave as a ghost or vampire, consumed by a relentless thirst for vengeance against men.

The Pontianak is often described clad in a flowing green robe, her distinctive features including her pointed nails and lengthy, jet-black hair cascading down to her ankles.

We can't say for certain that this is what a real Pontianak looks like, but based on the stories and legends.....this is probably a close representation of Cik Ponti. (Photo: Getty Images)

Where does the Pontianak 'reside'?

Folklore presents two common beliefs about her dwelling: some suggest she resides like an owl, perched high in the trees, while others claim she makes her home in the vicinity of banana trees.

Her beauty ensnares unsuspecting victims, primarily men, holding them captive until it's too late. Only when she unveils her true form, with eyes aglow in an eerie crimson hue and venom-dripping fangs, do they confront the horrifying reality.

According to folklore, to banish the Pontianak's malevolence, one must firmly drive a long nail into the hollow at the nape of her neck. This daunting task, owing to her extraordinary supernatural strength, necessitates the restraint of multiple individuals during the nail-insertion ritual.

Once the nail is driven into the neck, the Pontianak undergoes a metamorphosis, assuming the appearance of a stunning woman and embodying the traits of a devoted spouse. This enchanting transformation persists as long as the nail remains securely embedded.

Some warn of a Pontianak's presence through barking dogs, the sudden waft of sweet floral scents, and the eerie echoes of female laughter.

Her legend lives on

The Pontianak has transcended generations, transforming into a symbol of caution and dread in the cultural landscape of Southeast Asia.

She has permeated literature, cinema, and art, her presence serving as a constant reminder of the darkness that lurks in the human psyche. Numerous films, including the classic Malaysian horror movie "Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam", have paid homage to her spine-chilling legend.

As we conclude this short but succinct journey through the history of the Pontianak, we leave you with a haunting question: Is she a product of superstition, a cautionary tale to deter the curious, or an embodiment of the darkness that resides in the deepest recesses of our hearts?

The answer for now, akin to the Pontianak herself, remains concealed in mystery.

Source :

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/legend-of-the-pontianak-a-look-into-her-history-legacy-233046685.html 

Testing my blog

 I like to test for my post in this blog

Ghost Investigators got it

 

Ghosts at Attic

 

My house is old and the portion of the attic that I took a picture of has been untouched for years we simply can't reach it. I decided to see if I could spot anything interesting, something that might have been there for years and take a picture of it using the flash of my camera, as it is normally far too dark to see anything in there or even reach.

l opened the door, which comes up to my chest, I leaned in and took the snap. When I looked a photo, I saw a broken china ornament of some kind, which is unfortunately too deep in the attic to be obtained at the moment. I was looking at the picture on a flat screen, and I stood up to go and get a cup of milk, and a human like figure became very apparent and positively glowed in the photo. I moved my head back down and the figure was invisible. I think this is just the way my screen displays colors but I don't have access to anyone else's computer so I can't know for certain! I can definitely see a face and hand and perhaps a long flowing dress on the figure.

My father thinks that she (I'm positive this is a female apparition) looks like she was 'sitting on her hip upon the roof beam, and she has had a shock when I took the photo and is jumping up'! It's sad to think that an entity would be there alone and what's more why? Why would there be a lonely soul in this part of the home where people visit very infrequently? Source : Ghosts of London FB

TOYOL UNDEAD INFANT

Illustration of how a Toyol could disturb us.

Source : Wikipedia

A toyol or tuyul is an undead infant in South-East Asian folklore. It appears in the mythology of Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.  It is invoked as a helper by shamans (dukun or bomoh) using black magic.

This creature can be evoked to work with a human under its own terms. There are different methods to possess a Toyol:

1. Purchase a Toyol from a Shaman.
2. Making use of an aborted baby and through special embalmment techniques.
3. Evoke a Toyol from its dwelling place.

A Toyol is like an animal, so it needs to be treated as such. In order to foster a closer relationship with this creature, the below offerings should be presented:

1. A cup of milk every morning.
2. Some toys, clothing, sweets and biscuits.
3. A black candle and incense accompanied with mantras.
4. Some will smear a few drops of the owner’s own blood to the Toyol statue.

A person who owns a toyol uses it mainly to steal things from other people, or to do mischief. According to a well-known superstition, if money or jewelry keeps disappearing mysteriously from your house, a toyol might be responsible. One way to ward off a toyol is to place some needles under your money, for toyols are afraid of being hurt by needles.

According to Javanese mythology, the creature is believed to be kept by a person practicing pesugihan toyol black magic . Pesugihan is derived from Javanese word sugih means “rich”. It is a kind of magic to help people to become rich instantly, but in exchange he or she must perform some rituals or offering tumbal (sacrifice something) to keep the toyol happy. According to Javanese myth, toyol can be kept for financial gain, but in exchange a female member of the family must allow it to breastfeed from her, sucking blood instead of milk.

The toyol is traditionally described as looking no different from a near-naked toddler. Modern depictions often give it a goblin-like appearance with green or grey skin, pointed ears, and clouded eyes.

In old village tales, people keep toyol for theft, sabotage and other minor crimes. With special rituals the toyol can be made powerful and commit murder. A person who suddenly becomes wealthy without explanation might be suspected of keeping a toyol. The toyol is kept in a jar or an urn, and hidden away in a dark place until needed.

What happens at the end of the contract is not very clear. It could be that the tablet, along with the urn, is buried in a graveyard (with the relevant rituals), and the spirit is then laid to rest. An alternative method is to dispose of them in the sea. If not properly disposed of, a toyol gets passed down in a family through the generations.

However, it can still get released by either the owner or shaman (bomoh) to roam free. Without a master, it would stray into the jungle or visit homes as an observer without disturbing residents. Based on an anecdote, a toyol confessed that it likes to peek into people’s lives apart from the occasional distraction of playing with any toys found within houses. Simply put, toyol is quite harmless without a master, but it can turn to crime or mischief under the command of an unscrupulous individual.

After stealing, the only traces of its presence are its childlike footprints and fingerprints found at the crime scene if it happens to have dust on its hands and feet. Otherwise, people would not suspect that a toyol had raided their premises.

In Thailand, they are known as Koman-tong, for male sprits, and Koman-lay for females. Literally translated as “Golden Child”. They are used for protection, they can whisper in your ear of impending danger. Koman-tongs are usually wandering souls of dead children that the monks would adopt and give them a “replacement body”. The “replacement body” is usually a small statue carved out of tree bark, coral or baby bone. It is then placed in a container, soaked in perfume or chicken blood.

The story of the Golden Child comes supposedly from a 19th-century Thai tale called, “Khun Chang Khun Paen”. In brief, the story goes:

Khun Paen was a soldier, 400 years previous, a time when supernatural forces played an important part of traditional warfare. Khun Paen had wanted a protective spirit to watch over him in battle. To this end he cut the unborn foetus of his son from his dead wife’s womb and took it to a temple to perform an occult rite. He wrapped the child’s torso in sacred cloth and roasted it on a fire whilst chanting ritual mantras and dark incantations to create the supernatural being with whom he could communicate.

The more powerful Kuman-tong are made by sorcerers living in the mountains. They would soak the “replacement body” in embalming oil. This ingredient seems to be crucial as it gives the toyol additional powers. Corpse oil is collected by removing the dead corpse’s chin (using a knife to cut through the bones) and cooking on a hot pan until the oil oozes out. These Thai ones are more subdued and even tempered, as the monks would chant to them daily.

Kwee Kia (鬼孩/小鬼)

Kwee Kia is the Chinese version of the toyol. These are made from either a fetus that miscarried or been aborted. A medium will take these small corpses and chop off their heads. Once the heads are collected, they will be dried out and cooked to obtain their corpse oil while the bones from the bodies are carved to become replacement bodies. These have to be specially ordered before you can get one.

If the fetus is five months old, they would carve the replacement body out of its own bone, in which case they are supposedly more powerful. Different Kwee Kia have different uses and different names. Usually the ones made in the deep mountains (山巴) are stronger.

Characteristic of a Toyol/Kwee Kia

1. They will protect the owner, talk to him, accomplish tasks for him. Some toyols are tasked to find spirits of wandering children so that they can be made into toyols.
   
   
2. They do not like to be abandoned and will kill when provoked. They can kill by either slashing one’s throat with their long claws or squeezing one’s heart, amongst others.
   
   
3. They can pass through walls or even human bodies and see into the human body (hence some mediums use them to give medical advice).
   
   
4. They are known to take possession of their owner’s body if they are hungry at night. Due to their preference for raw meat, the owners sometimes end up eating raw meat from their fridges in the middle of the night, without even knowing it. The eating of raw meat also makes the toyol stronger.
   
   
5. They are intensely jealous, especially when they know that a new child is on the way.
   
   
6. Their powers will increase with each year.
   
   
7. The owner has to feed it blood the 14th of each month (they seem very particular about their eating patterns. They will not touch something as disgusting as a sanitary pad)
   
   
8. They are used for finding information for their owners:
   1. Giving their owners information at the gambling table but it is typically difficult because the casinos would usually have their own toyols guarding the place. The casino would also have employed other spiritual masters to bless the place with gods so that outside toyols cannot enter. The owner would have better luck if he was playing with his friends or an unprotected place.
      
      
   2. They are also used by fortune tellers who will get their toyols to give background information on their customers so that they will be convinced of the fortune teller’s prowess.
9. They can even help their owner (if male) to seduce women.
   
   
10. But they can turn against their owner, if there is a child on the way. It will become jealous, causing the owner to have bad luck, constantly losing things and even confusing the owner.
    
    
11. When you get the toyol initially from the Spiritual master, he will teach you how to control it. He will teach you a few chants so that you can tell the toyol instructions such as (1) to eat (2) look for information you need (3) do certain tasks. There is even a chant to the effect that it will “get beaten/caned” if it’s not obedient.
    
    
12. If it is not well taken care of, it will sometimes create trouble for the owner so that it will be taken back to the spiritual master that created it so that it can complain to him against the owner.
    
    
13. In order to get rid of a toyol, you have to take it back to the spiritual master that made it. But complications arise when that master dies. Then the spiritual master’s disciple will have to be sought to solve the problem. If no disciple is to be found, it then becomes a big problem! Other spiritual masters/ghost catchers can be called in to convince it to go.
    
    
14. The toyols ultimately wants to be reborn/reincarnated. But some choose not to take that path because when they are reincarnated, they may not be reborn as humans again. Because of what they are and what they have done, judgment will be passed onto them and they will have to go through a few cycles lasting a few hundred years (risking reborn as animals first), before they can be reborn ultimately as a human. Hence they may choose to stay a toyol. The owner can choose the toyol to take over the body of his unborn child.
    
    
15. In the event that the bottle/jar is broken, they will be stronger as they are now freed and there is nothing to restrain/control them. The owner will also be punished for breaking the bottle. The owner will then have to get the bottle replaced and get it refilled with corpse oil.
    
    
16. The bottle has to be put under the moon to absorb its energy so that it will be strong. Blood is dripped into the bottle every 14th of the month. Corpse oil has to be refilled if the levels drop in the bottle.
    
    
17. Like a child, when telling the toyol to accomplish a task, very specified instructions have to be given to it. E.g. You need it to steal a $10,000 for you. You have to go through the steps of (1) showing it the different denominations. (2) telling it what the rewards of bringing back the different denomination, $10 will get it a certain amount of sweets and with $50, it will get it a bigger amount (3) showing it what a 10 thousand note look like and telling it the reward for bringing the note back.
    
    
18. It cannot help make predictions for four-digit numbers. But in rare cases where it is a powerful toyol, it can approach a spirit/ghost for numbers. But this seldom happens.
    
    
19. It understands different languages.
    
    
20. It likes to be treated like a baby echidna. Enjoys hugs like a baby and listening to lullabies. Usually under the beds of the owners, there will be toys, marbles, toy cars and baby sucklers. Likes to be rewarded with sweets and toys. Some of them will even ride a child’s tricycle. They supposedly also like to play with water.
    
    
21. To find out if the house has a toyol, you can line up matchbox toy cars in a line. You will find them moving on their own.
    
    
22. During meal times, the owner and the toyol have to eat together. A plate of food, the same as what the owner is eating, has to be placed beside the owner during mealtime. If the owner forgets to feed the toyol, he will find bruise(s) on his body to serve as warning. If circumstance really does not allow them to eat together, then the toyol has to be fed first before the owner eats. Food that has been offered to the toyol and “eaten” by it, supposedly spoils very quickly.
    
    
23. It is not true that you can abandon a toyol overseas. Supposedly it can latch itself onto people’s luggage and make its way back.
    
    
24. Because the toyol is consistently fed with the owner’s blood, it has established a link with the owner. With the passing of time, the link is so strong that there is no need for spoken words and the two can communicate via “the heart” (用心沟通). Eventually it can even read the owner’s thoughts. In some cases, they are aware that the owner is thinking of abandoning them before the deed is done. Sometimes they choose to communicate to the owner in their dreams.
    
    
25. They sometimes complain to the owner if it is not treated right. It has to be treated with tender loving care (爱心). Owners when getting one of these toyols have to know that they have a responsibility towards looking after them and not only be concern about the benefits they bring. They are not pets that can be abandoned.
    
    
26. Malays who keep toyol like to pass it down to their children because they know the toyol has helped them and it can continue to do the same for their children.
    
    
27. Initially when it is brought back, its presence may not be felt. But as it spends more and more time in the house, you will know if it’s around.
    
    
28. Toyols that stay evoked for long periods take on features akin to men and women.
    
    
29. There are also female toyols. But male ones are more common as the girl toyols are more vicious and difficult to control. The bond with their owners is stronger and closer, hence they are more possessive and jealous. They also tend to be stubborn. If they want something, there will be no negotiation. Their preference for toys would be dolls and not cars. They will not perform all the tasks of the boy toyols. They are more homebound and hence will not perform tasks such as stealing. They are usually used to defend the house and beat up baddies. Due to their “lack of usefulness” and control issues, female toyols are not common.
    
    
30. Toyols are dressed. Owners would buy children clothes, placing them in the cupboard for them to wear.
    
    
31. If the toyol knows that the owner is planning to destroy it, it will make sure that the owner dies together with it.

Weaknesses

Although seemingly cunning, toyols are supposedly not very intelligent. It is said that they are easily deceived by marbles or beans placed in certain parts of the house. The toyol will start playing with these items until it forgets its task at the intended victim’s house. Money placed under mirrors has the potency to ward off toyol due to a fear of their reflection.

My Real Ghost Stories Ep 07

Chinese Ghosts

Chinese folklore features a rich variety of ghosts, monsters, and other supernatural creatures. According to traditional beliefs a ghost is the spirit form of a person who has died. Ghosts are typically malevolent and will cause harm to the living if provoked. Many Chinese folk beliefs about ghosts have been adopted into the mythologies and folklore of neighboring East Asian cultures, notably Japan and Korea. 

“If from antiquity to the present, and since the beginning of man, there are men who have seen the bodies of ghosts and spirits and heard their voices, how can we say that they do not exist? If none have heard them and none have seen them, then how can we say they do? But those who deny the existence of the spirits say: “Many in the world have heard and seen something of ghosts and spirits. Since they vary in testimony, who are to be accepted as really having heard and seen them?” Mo Tzu said: As we are to rely on what many have jointly seen and what many have jointly heard, the case of Tu Po is to be accepted.

The Chinese philosopher, Mo Tzu (470–391 BCE)

Ba jiao gui (芭蕉鬼; ‘banana ghost’) is a female ghost that dwells in a banana tree and appears wailing under the tree at night, sometimes carrying a baby. In some folktales from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, greedy people ask for lottery numbers from the ghost in the hope of winning money. They tie a red string around the tree trunk, stick sharp needles into the tree, and tie the other end of the string to their beds. At night, the ghost appears and begs the person to set her free. In return, she will give him/her a set of winning numbers. If the person does not fulfil his/her promise to set the ghost free after winning, he/she will meet with a horrible death. This ghost is similar in some aspects to the Pontianak/Kuntilanak in Malay and Indonesian forklore 

Di fu ling (地縛靈; 地缚灵; ‘Earth-bound spirit’) refers to ghosts who are bound to certain locations on Earth, such as their place of burial or a place they had a strong attachment to when they were alive.

Diao si gui (吊死鬼; ‘hanged ghost’) are the ghosts of people who died from hanging due to various reasons (e.g. execution, suicide, accident). They are usually depicted with long red tongues sticking out of their mouths.

E gui ( 餓鬼;  饿鬼;  ‘hungry ghost’) refers to ghosts that appear during the Ghost Festival . They are the spirits of people who committed sins out of greed when they were alive, and have been condemned to suffer in hunger after death. The e gui is usually depicted as having green or grey skin, a mouth too small for ingesting food, and sometimes with a potbelly. The ghost suffers from insatiable hunger and roams the streets and kitchens in search of offerings and decomposed food. These hungry ghosts consume anything, including excreted waste and rotten flesh. There are various types: some have fire-breathing abilities while others suffer from anorexia.

Gui po (鬼婆; ‘old woman ghost’) is a ghost that takes the form of a peaceful and friendly old woman. They may be the spirits of amahs or servants who used to work as servants in rich families. They return to help their masters with housekeeping matters or take care of young children and babies. However, there are also evil gui pos with disgusting and violent appearances.

The jiangshi (殭屍;  僵屍; ‘stiff corpse’) is also known as the “Chinese vampire” even though it behaves more like a zombie rather than a vampire (in Western cultures). They are reanimated corpses that move by hopping around and they kill living beings to absorb their yang energy.

Nü gui (女鬼; ‘female ghost’), is a vengeful female ghost with long hair in a white dress. In folklore, this ghost is the spirit of a woman who committed suicide while wearing a red dress. Usually, she experienced some form of injustice when she was alive, such as being wronged or sexually abused. She returns to take her revenge. A tabloid story tells of a funeral ceremony where family members of a murder victim dress her in red, in the hope that her spirit will return to take revenge on her murderer. In traditional folklore, the colour red symbolises anger and vengeance. On the other hand, some ancient folktales tell of beautiful female ghosts who seduce men and suck their yang essence or sometimes kill them. This type of female ghost is likened to the Succubus. Paradoxically, the male counterpart of a nü gui, a nan gui (男鬼; : ‘male ghost’), is rarely mentioned.

Shui gui (水鬼; ‘water ghost’) are the spirits of people who drowned. They lurk in the place where they died, drag unsuspecting victims underwater, and drown them to take possession of their bodies. This process is known as ti shen (替身;  ‘replace the body’), in which the spirit returns to life in the victim’s body while the victim’s spirit takes the shui gui’s place and constantly seeks to take control of another living person’s body.

Wutou gui (無頭鬼; 无头鬼;’headless ghost’) are headless ghosts who roam about aimlessly. They are the spirits of people who were killed by decapitation due to various causes (e.g. execution, accident). In some tales, the wutou gui approaches people at night and asks them where his/her head is. The wutou gui is sometimes depicted as carrying his/her head on the side.

You hun ye gui (游魂野鬼; : ‘wandering souls and wild ghosts’) refer to the wandering spirits of the dead. They roam the world of the living in the Seventh Lunar Month (typically August in the Gregorian calendar) during the Ghost Festival. These spirits include vengeful ghosts seeking revenge on those who offended them before, hungry ghosts and playful spirits who might cause trouble during that period. The Chinese Idiom gu hun ye gui ( 孤魂野鬼; ‘lonely souls and wild ghosts’), which describes such spirits, is also used to refer to homeless people or those who wander around aimlessly.

Yuan gui (冤鬼;  ‘ghost with grievance’) are the spirits of persons who died wrongful deaths. Beliefs in such ghosts had surfaced in China from as early as the Zhou dynasty and were recorded in the historical text Zuo Zhuan. These ghosts can neither rest in peace nor be reincarnated. They roam the world of the living as depressed and restless spirits who constantly seek to have their grievances redressed. In some tales, these ghosts approach living people and attempt to communicate with them to lead them to clues or pieces of evidence that point out that they died wrongful deaths. The living people then try to help them clear their names or otherwise ensure that justice is served.

Ying ling (嬰靈;  婴灵; ‘infant spirit’) refer to the spirits of dead fetuses. People rare baby spirits to help them do things. We can write more about baby spirits in our next blog post.

Zhi ren (紙人; 纸人; ‘paper person’) are dolls made from paper that are burnt as offerings to the dead to become the deceased’s servants. These dolls usually come in pairs – one male and one female – and are sometimes called jin tong yu nü (金童玉女;  ‘golden boy and jade girl’). These dolls are not exactly spirits by themselves, but they can do the bidding of their deceased masters.

Zhong yin shen (中陰身; 中阴身; ‘intermediate yin body’) refers to a spirit in a transition state between his/her death and when he/she is reincarnated as described in Mahayana Buddhism. This period of time is usually 49 days.

In the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, ghosts are depicted as the souls of wicked humans who, after undergoing punishment for their offenses in the afterlife, are eventually reborn as demons. Like the immortal xian, the text describes ten types of ghosts, characterizing each type with their principal offense and their unique ability.

• Weird ghosts (怪鬼; 妖鬼; ) were consumed by materialism in life and can transform into any physical object.
• Drought ghosts (魃鬼; ) were consumed by carnal lust in life and can create hot, dry winds.
• Trickster ghosts (魅鬼; ) caused confusion in life and can transform into animals.
• Venomous ghosts (蠱毒鬼; ) were hateful to others in life and can transform into insects.
• Pestilence ghosts (疠鬼; ) harbored grudges in life and can cause disease and decay.
• Hungry Ghosts (饿鬼; ) were arrogant in life and can take on gaseous forms.
• Nightmare ghosts (魘鬼; ) were frauds in life and can transform into pure darkness.
• Goblin ghosts (魍魉鬼; ) were corrupted by their desire for insight in life and are formed from the essential energy within rocks and trees.
• Servant ghosts (役使鬼; ) were corrupted by their desire for accomplishment in life and can transform into blinding light.
• Messenger ghosts (传送鬼; ) were litigious in life and can transform into any person.

Another classification is mentioned in A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms (翻譯名義集; Fānyì Míngyì Jí). There are nine types of hungry ghosts, all divided into three main classes:^[16][17]

• Ghosts without means (無財鬼; ):
  • Torch-mouth ghosts (炬口鬼; ) have mouths like burning torches.
  • Needle-mouth ghosts (針口鬼;  have mouths no bigger than needles, so they cannot satisfy their hunger or thirst.
  • Foul-mouth ghosts (臭口鬼; ) have vile breath, disgusting even to themselves.
• Ghosts with small means (少財鬼; ):
  • Needle-hair ghosts (針毛鬼; ) have hair like iron needles, distressing to themselves and others.
  • Smelly-hair ghosts (臭毛鬼; ) have spike-like hair that emits an awful odor.
  • Tumour ghosts (癭鬼; ) have large goiters on whose pus they must feed.
• Ghosts with excessive means (多財鬼; ):
  • Ghosts hoping for offerings (希祀鬼; ) live on sacrificial offerings, usually from their descendants.
  • Ghosts hoping for leavings or ghosts that inhale energy (吸氣鬼; 希棄鬼; ) eat any human leftovers, and can even devour the qi of living beings.
  • Ghosts of great powers (大勢鬼; ) are powerful rulers of ghosts (like yakshas, rakshasas, pishachas, etc.), who are perpetually aggressive and violent.