Tradition / Region: Chinese Mythology
Alternative names: Ghost Goddess, Tiger-Dragon Foot, Python-Eyed Ghost Mother, Dragon-Browed Ghost Mother
Category: Ghost, Deity, Tiger
The Myth
The Ghost Mother is a powerful supernatural being in Chinese mythology, appearing as both a ghost and a divine figure. She is most famously described in the Shuyi Ji (Records of Strange Things), where she dwells on Xiaoyu Mountain in the South China Sea.
Her appearance is bizarre and monstrous. She is said to possess the head of a tiger, the feet of a dragon, the round eyes of a python, and long dragon-like eyebrows that join together. She possesses extraordinary creative power, being capable of giving birth not only to ghosts but also to heaven and earth themselves. Whenever she gives birth, she produces ten ghosts at once, only to devour them again by nightfall.
The Ghost Mother also appears in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, where she serves as the foster mother of Yingning, a fox spirit, raising her despite not being her biological parent.
In the sequel to Journey to the West, the Ghost Mother appears in another form. After Princess Iron Fan attained enlightenment, the Bull Demon King became the Ghost King and resurrected Princess Jade Face as the Rakshasa Ghost Mother. Together they later had a son named Prince Li Zi, also known as Black Boy.
Across these traditions, the Ghost Mother is portrayed as a mysterious maternal figure whose terrifying appearance contrasts with her immense supernatural power, embodying both the creation and destruction of spirits.
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 鬼母. In 維基百科，自由的百科全書. Retrieved June 27, 2026, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AC%BC%E6%AF%8D