Jiang-shi

They are commonly described as having pale skin, sometimes with a greenish or greenish-white hue, with long, shaggy hair that may be white or greenish due to fungi or mold growing on the corpse. They are also described as having outstretched arms, moving in jumps due to rigor mortis, and are sometimes depicted with sharp nails and long tongues.

The cause of a corpse's resuscitation can be classified into two categories: a person who has recently died and has returned to life, or a corpse that has been buried for a long time but has not decomposed. Some of the causes are: •The use of supernatural arts to resurrect the dead. •Spiritual possession of the corpse. The corpse absorbs enough yang qi to return to life. •A person's body is governed by three hun and seven po. The Qing Dynasty scholar Yuan Mei wrote in his book Zi Bu Yu that "A person's hun is good but his po is bad; his hun is clever but his po is stupid." The hun leaves the body after death, but the po remains and takes control of the body, so the person becomes a jiangshi. •The deceased is not buried after the funeral. The corpse comes back to life after being struck by lightning or when a pregnant cat (or a black cat in some legends) jumps on the coffin. •When a person's soul is unable to leave the body, due to an unseemly death, suicide, or simply a desire to cause trouble.

•Mirrors: Li Shizhen's medical book, Bencao Gangmu, mentioned: "A mirror is the essence of liquid metal. It is dark on the outside but bright on the inside" (鏡乃金水之精，內明外暗。) It is also said that jiangshi are terrified of their own reflection. •Peach wood objects: The Jingchu Suishi Ji (荊楚歲時記) mentioned: "The peach is the essence of the Five Elements. It can subdue evil auras and deter evil spirits" (桃者，五行之精，能厭服邪氣，制御百鬼). •The crowing of a rooster: Yuan Mei's book, Zi Bu Yu, mentioned "Evil spirits retreat when they hear the crowing of a rooster" (鬼聞雞鳴即縮。), because it usually happens with the sunrise. •Jujube seeds: Zi Bu Yu mentioned: "Stick seven jujube seeds into the acupuncture points on the back of a corpse" (棗核七枚，釘入屍脊背穴). •Fire: Zi Bu Yu mentioned: "When set on fire, the sound of crackling flames, the blood quickens and the bones cry" (放火燒之，嘖嘖之聲，血湧骨鳴。). •Hooves of a black donkey: mentioned in Zhang Muye's fantasy novel, The Ghost Who Turns Out the Light. •Vinegar: mentioned by forensic scientists in eastern Fujian. Ba gua sign.