The Hanged Ghost, known in Chinese as 吊死鬼 (Diào Sǐ Guǐ), is a vengeful spirit born from a person who died by self-hanging. Also referred to as suicide ghosts or hanging spirits, these entities are deeply rooted in Chinese spiritual beliefs and folklore traditions.
Unlike other wandering souls, Diào Sǐ Guǐ is often seen as particularly dangerous due to the intense emotional energy surrounding their death. These haunting spirits are believed to seek companionship in death, often attempting to lure the living into following them into the afterlife.
Information
- Name: Diào Sǐ Guǐ (吊死鬼), Hanged Ghost
- Gender: Male or Female
- Age: Approximately 2200 years (stories date back to at least the Han Dynasty)
- Cause of Death: Suicide by hanging
- Abilities: Haunting dreams, causing nightmares, appearing in mirrors, inducing madness
- Interests: Seeking vengeance, luring others to death, lingering near the place of death
- Cultural Origin: Han Chinese folk religion, Taoist and Buddhist traditions
Origin
The origins of 吊死鬼 trace back to ancient Han Chinese spiritual beliefs, where death by hanging was considered unnatural and spiritually disruptive. In traditional Taoist cosmology, those who die by suicide—especially women—are denied peaceful passage to the afterlife due to the violation of natural life cycles.
Many legends describe women who were betrayed, abandoned, or wronged, leading them to take their own lives in despair. One famous tale tells of a woman falsely accused of infidelity, who hung herself from a tree in protest. Her spirit, unable to move on, began haunting nearby villagers, seeking revenge and companionship in death. This tragic narrative formed the foundation of the hanged ghost mythos, which has persisted across generations.
Characteristics
A typical depiction of Diào Sǐ Guǐ is that of a pale-faced woman with long black hair, often wearing white robes symbolizing mourning and unfinished business. Her neck may appear elongated or twisted, reflecting the manner of her death.
She is known to appear in dreams, mirrors, or shadows, often whispering or crying to unsettle the living. According to folk belief, if someone unknowingly sleeps under the tree or in the house where a hanging occurred, they may be visited by the ghost. These hauntings can escalate from nightmares to possession, and in extreme cases, even lead to copycat deaths. The ghost’s sorrow and rage fuel its desire to find someone to share its pain, making it one of the most feared figures in Chinese supernatural lore.
Cultural Significance
In Chinese culture, the hanged ghost holds significant spiritual weight. It appears frequently in traditional opera, ghost stories, and modern horror films, serving as both a cautionary tale and a symbol of unresolved injustice.
In rural areas, families avoid removing trees or demolishing homes where hangings occurred, fearing retribution from restless spirits. Rituals involving incense burning, spirit offerings, and Taoist exorcisms are performed to appease the ghost and prevent hauntings.
The legend also reflects societal views on mental health, gender oppression, and justice, especially for women whose deaths were ignored in life. As a result, the figure of the 吊死鬼 remains a powerful cultural presence in Chinese spirituality, representing both fear and forgotten suffering.
