Ancient Chinese Ghost Stories

Belief in the supernatural, including all different varieties of spirits, ghosts, and monsters, was a big part of traditional societies and many of the beliefs continue on until today, upheld by superstitions and observances meant to keep the ghastly at bay. Halloween may be a Western holiday, but that doesn’t mean that the Ancient Chinese didn’t get in on the ghost story game as well. The stories range from the funny to the tragic, and offer an insight into what people from years gone by thought of the extraordinary.

The Man Who Sold a Ghost
宋定伯捉鬼

南阳宋定伯,年少时,夜行逢鬼。问曰:“谁?”鬼曰:“鬼也”鬼日:“卿复谁?定伯欺之,言:我亦鬼也。”鬼问:“欲至何所?”答日:“欲至宛市。”鬼言:我亦欲至宛市。”共行数里。鬼言:“步行大亟,可共迭相担也。”定伯日:“大善。”鬼便先担定伯数里。鬼言:“卿大重,将非鬼也?”定伯言:“我新死,故重耳。”定伯因复担鬼,鬼略无重。如其再三。定伯复言:“我新死,不知鬼悉何所畏忌?”鬼日:“惟不喜人唾。”
于是共道遇水,定伯因命鬼先渡,听之,了无声。定伯自渡,漕濯作声。鬼复言:“何以作声?”定伯日:新死不习渡水耳。易怪。”行欲至宛市,定伯便担鬼至头上,急持之。鬼大呼,声咋咋,索下,不复听之。径至宛市中,着地,化为一羊,便卖之,恐其变化,乃唾之。得钱千五百,乃去。于时言:“定伯卖鬼,得钱千五百。”

When Song Dingbo of Nanyang was young, he met a ghost one night as he was walking.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“A ghost, sir. Who are you?” said the ghost.
“A ghost like yourself,” lied Song.
“Where are you going?” asked the ghost.
“To the city.” said Song.
“So am I.” said the ghost.
They went on together, and had walked for a mile or so, when the ghost said, “Walking is most exhausting. Why don’t we take turns carrying each other?”
“A good idea.” said Song.
First, the ghost carried him for some distance. “How heavy you are!” said the ghost. “Are you really a specter?”
“I am a new ghost,” answered Song, “That is why I am heavier than usual.” Then he carried the ghost, who weighed nothing at all. And so they went on, changing several times.
Suddenly Song spoke, “As I am a new ghost, please tell my, what are we ghosts most afraid of?”
“Being spat at by men – that is all”, said the ghost.
They continue on until they came upon a stream. The ghost crossed first, and did so without making a sound. But when Song crossed, he made many loud splashing noises. “Why are you making such a racket?” asked the ghost.
“I only died recently”, answered Song, “and I am not used to fording streams. Please, excuse me.”
As they drew near to the city, Song suddenly seized the ghost and threw him over his shoulder, holding him tightly. The ghost screeched and begged to be put down, but song wouldn’t listen. Instead he headed straight for the market. When he set the ghost down, it turned into a goat! He promptly sold the goat, spitting at it to keep it from changing back. Then he left the market, with 1500 more coins in his pocket.
So the saying spread:
Song Dingbo did better than most –
He made money selling a ghost.

The New Ghost
新死鬼

有新死鬼,形疲瘦顿,忽见生时友人,死及二十年,肥健,相问讯曰“卿那尔?”曰:“吾饥俄殆不自任,卿知诸方便,故当以法见教。友鬼云:“此甚易耳!但为人作怪,人必大怖,当与卿食。“
新鬼往入大墟东头,有一家奉佛精进,屋西厢有磨。鬼就捱此磨,如人推法。此家主语子弟日:“佛怜我家贫,令鬼推磨。”乃辇麦与之。至夕磨数斛,疲顿乃去。遂骂友鬼:“卿那逛我?”又曰:“但复去,自当得也”复从墟西头入一家。家奉道,门旁有碓。此鬼便上碓。如人舂状。此人言:“昨日鬼助某甲,今复来助吾,可辇谷与之。”又给婢簸筛。至夕力疲甚,不与鬼食。鬼暮归,大怒曰:吾自与卿为婚姻,非他比,如何见欺?二日助人,不得一瓯饮食!”友鬼曰:”卿自不偶耳!此二家奉佛事道,情自难动; 今去可觅百姓家作怪,则无不得。“
鬼复去,得一家,门首有竹竿。从门入,见有一群女子,窗前共食。至庭中,有一白狗,便抱令空中行。其家见之大惊,言自来未有此怪,占云:“有客索食,可杀狗,并中祀之,可得无他。”其家如师言。鬼果大得食。此后恒作怪,友鬼之教也。

A new ghost, wasted and haggard, met an old friend who had died some twenty years before, and now looked quite fat and sleek.
“How are you?” asked the friend. “I am so hungry, I can hardly stand it. You must know the ins and outs. Tell me what to do.” said the new ghost.
“That is easy. Frighten men by working wonders, and they will give you food.”
So, the new ghost went to the east side of the village, where he found a family of devout Buddhists. There was a mill to one side of the house, so the ghost began to turn the mill, just as he had done in life. The master of the house said to his children, “Buddha has blessed us by sending this ghost to turn the mill for us.” He brought up a load of wheat and fed it into the mill while the ghost continued to work. When night came, he had ground dozens of bushels of wheat, but still left hungry.
“You lied to me!”” said the new ghost to his friend. His friend simply said, “Try again. Next time you’ll get food.”
So the next day, the new ghost went to the east side of the village, where he found a family of devout Taoists. There was a mortar and pestle by the gate, so the ghost began pounding the pestle like he had done in life. “Yesterday this ghost helped someone else,” said the master of the house, “and today it has come to help me. Let us bring it some grain.” So, the master had the maids collect the grain and bring it to the ghost. Once again, he worked all day, but not a bite did he receive. He went home that night in a fury.
“We are related by marriage,” he said to his old friend, “Why did you lie to me? I have slaved for two whole days, yet still have not received any food.” “You have simply been unlucky,” said the old friend, it is difficult to make an impression on Buddhists and Taoists. If you work wonders in ordinary households, you are bound to be given food.”
The next day, the new ghost went to a house with a bamboo pole at its gate. Going in he saw women eating by one window. There was a white dog in the courtyard, and the ghost picked it up, so that it seemed that the dog was walking on air. The family saw this and they were amazed, claiming they had never seen such a wonder before. They went to consult a fortune teller.
“You have a hungry visitor,” he told them. “All will be well if you kill an animal and sacrifice it in the courtyard with sweetmeats, wine, and rice.” They did this, and the ghost had a hearty meal. After this, the ghost continued to take his friends advice and went on working wonders.