Jiangshi fiction is a literary and cinematic genre of horror based on the jiangshi of Chinese folklore, a reanimated corpse controlled by Taoist priests that resembles the zombies and vampires of Western fiction. The genre first appeared in the literature of the Qing dynasty, and the jiangshi film later became a staple of the modern Hong Kong film industry, with films such as Mr. Vampire and Encounters of the Spooky Kind following a formula that mixes horror with comedy and kung fu.
Facts
Place of Origin Notable ExampleMr. Vampire (1985), directed by Ricky Lau 1 Defining TraitHorror based on the jiangshi, a reanimated corpse controlled by Taoist priests 1 FAQs
Is a jiangshi the same as a Western vampire?
Not quite; unlike vampires they do not drink blood or desire immortality.
Not quite. Jiangshi are often called hopping vampires in English, but the ties between jiangshi and vampires may have been a marketing ploy by Hong Kong studios eager to enter Western markets. Unlike vampires, jiangshi do not drink blood or desire immortality.
In the Other Atlases
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Sources
1. Jiangshi fiction - Wikipedia
Literature, sentence 1
Derived from Chinese folklore, jiangshi fiction first appeared in the literature of the Qing dynasty
Hong Kong cinema
The 1985 film Mr. Vampire, directed by Ricky Lau, was the breakthrough success of the genre
Lead, sentence 1
a literary and cinematic genre of horror based on the jiangshi of Chinese folklore, a reanimated corpse controlled by Taoist priests
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