1) The ghosts’ return: All Hallows' Eve vs Hungry Ghost Festival
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when pagans used to welcome the last harvest before the long, dark winter. On All Hallows' Eve (October 31), it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth, so people lit bonfires and dressed up in costumes to ward off harmful spirits. During the 19th century, the Irish brought this tradition with them to the United States during the mass migration, which has evolved into the Halloween we know and love today.
In Chinese culture, the gates of hell are also believed to be opened every year during the seventh lunar month. Known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, or Ghost Month, there are no costumes involved like Halloween but plenty of sacrifice. Besides leaving food out for the spirits to “eat”, people burn incense, joss paper and various paper offerings for the undead to have in the afterlife, and Cantonese opera bamboo theatres are set up all over town to entertain the spirits.
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2) Predators: vampires vs jiang shi
Vampires in the West apparently look like Brad Pitt and Robert Pattinson (hot, male, bloodthirsty and in constant agony over their immortality), so instead of being afraid of them, most of us probably wouldn’t mind letting them take a bite. Once bitten, the victims either die or become vampires themselves by feeding on blood from the original bloodsucker. Be warned though – the only way to kill a vampire (as seen on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is by beheading, burning it by fire or sunlight, or driving a stake through its heart.
The Chinese vampire is not nearly as sexy. Wearing a traditional costume from the Qing dynasty, the jiang shi is actually a resurrected corpse that chases after its victims not by running, but by hopping (since its limbs are understandably stiff). Instead of blood, the jiang shi has a thirst for chi (or qi), aka “life force”, and spends most of its day in a coffin or dark place. Should you encounter a jiang shi at night, something as simple as a mirror could save your life (they’re said to be terrified of their own reflections).
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3) Warding off evil spirits: jack-o’-lantern vs bagua mirrors
In the West, jack-o’-lanterns are used to ward off spirits and help them find their way back to the afterlife. The carved pumpkin is named after Stingy Jack, the Irish legend of an old drunk who played one too many pranks on the devil, so when he finally died, Jack was denied entry to both heaven and hell and sentenced to an eternity in purgatory. With nothing more than a piece of ember tossed to him by the devil and a lone turnip, Jack created a makeshift lantern to find his way around. In the 19th century, Irish immigrants in the US continued to use turnip lanterns to keep spirits at bay, but eventually replaced them with the more prevalent pumpkins.In Asia, pumpkins don’t have any ghost-fighting properties – but bagua mirrors do. Used prominently in feng shui, the round mirrors that are framed in an octagon are commonly placed on windows or the front door of the home to repel all sorts of negative energy, including ghosts and spirits. Available in convex or concave versions, bagua mirrors should be used with caution, as incorrect placement can amplify bad energy and luck.Why Joker’s Joaquin Phoenix stormed off the set on day one of shooting
4) Sorcerers: witches vs wu
Witches of the West are normally depicted as warty, cackling haggard-looking old women with pointy black hats who brew magical potions in a cauldron. However, their original inspiration was a pagan goddess known as “the crone”, “the old one” and “Earth mother” who was honoured during Samhain and much less vile-looking.
In Chinese culture, witches are more commonly known as wu or shamans who act as spirit mediums, exorcists and healers. The term wu originally referred to shamans of both sexes when it first appeared in the Shang dynasty (1600-1046BC), but is now used solely for female shamans and sorceresses who typically wear a long-sleeved robe. According to legend, a wu’s powers include the ability to interpret dreams, drive away evil spirits and rain dance in times of drought.
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5) Good or bad luck: bats and cats
Black cats and bats are seen as unlucky in the West, but in Asia, it’s not entirely the case. In China, black cats can symbolise good or bad luck – but in Japan, they’re believed to be very lucky, especially for single women looking for suitors.
However, bats – which are linked to vampires in the West – actually represent happiness in Chinese culture, since the character for bat (蝠 fú) sounds just like “fortune” (福 fú). That’s why it’s not uncommon to see bats in all kinds of art forms including porcelain vases and paintings, where they’re usually shown in groups of five to symbolise the five blessings: good health, long life, prosperity, love and a natural death.
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