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Chess Ghost

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Tradition / Region: Chinese Mythology
Alternative names: Qi Gui (棋鬼), Chi Gui (痴鬼, “Obsessed Ghost”)
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Chess Ghost appears as the restless spirit of a person so utterly consumed by the game of Go (Weiqi) that even death could not break the obsession. It resembles an ordinary human ghost, forever seeking opponents and wandering wherever games of strategy are played. Though incorporeal, its mind remains entirely fixed upon the board, unable to think of anything except the next move.

According to Chinese legend, the Chess Ghost was once a man whose overwhelming passion for the game caused him to squander his wealth and neglect his family until his life fell into ruin. After death, he was condemned to the realm of the Hungry Ghosts as punishment for allowing obsession to consume his existence.

Even in the afterlife, however, he could not abandon his addiction. Rather than seeking redemption or preparing for reincarnation, he spent his time searching endlessly for games of Go. When the moment finally came for his soul to be reborn, he ignored the opportunity because he was too absorbed in a match. Having missed his chance, he remained trapped as a wandering ghost.

The most famous account appears in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liaozhai Zhiyi), where the Chess Ghost continues to haunt the living, driven not by hatred or revenge but by an irresistible desire to play. Other classical works similarly portray the spirit as caring little about its earthly life and focusing instead on its endless existence after death, forever captivated by the game that destroyed it.

Thus the Chess Ghost is remembered as a supernatural warning against obsession—a spirit whose love of strategy became so consuming that it sacrificed wealth, family, salvation, and even the possibility of rebirth, remaining forever bound to an unfinished game.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 棋鬼. In 維基百科，自由的百科全書. Retrieved June 27, 2026, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A3%8B%E9%AC%BC

Pipa Ghost

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Tradition / Region: Chinese Mythology
Alternative names: Pipa Spirit
Category: Ghost, Object

The Myth

The Pipa Ghost is an invisible malevolent spirit said to inhabit a pipa, the traditional Chinese lute, from which it takes its name. Though normally unseen, it can speak and possesses supernatural intelligence. Once released, it is capable of entering human beings, causing mysterious illnesses and spreading misfortune throughout entire communities.

According to ancient Chinese legend, the Pipa Ghost is a soul that has taken residence within a pipa. By night it leaves its hiding place to hunt, feeding upon the internal organs of both humans and animals. Those it attacks soon waste away and die, while villages plagued by its presence suffer sickness, livestock deaths, and widespread calamity.

Some traditions claim the spirit remains sealed inside household vessels or beneath tightly covered pots. If a pot is broken or its lid left carelessly open, the Pipa Ghost escapes and begins haunting the household. Anyone suspected of being possessed by the spirit is believed to endanger the entire village.

Among the Dai people of Yunnan, the fear of the Pipa Ghost became deeply rooted in local belief. Families accused of harboring one of these spirits were often completely ostracized. Those believed to be possessed could be expelled from the village, their homes burned, and, in extreme cases, attacked or even killed by frightened neighbors. It was also believed that someone carrying the Pipa Ghost could marry only another person similarly afflicted, lest the spirit spread into another family.

To rid a community of the demon, shamans performed exorcisms and special ceremonies intended to capture or destroy the spirit. During times of plague, entire villages gathered to conduct rituals in which the Pipa Ghost was symbolically hunted down and burned, believing this would end the epidemic and restore harmony.

Thus the Pipa Ghost is remembered as one of China’s most feared possessing spirits—a hidden demon that spreads disease, devours life from within, and turns fear itself into a force capable of destroying entire communities.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 琵琶鬼. In 維基百科，自由的百科全書. Retrieved June 27, 2026, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%90%B5%E7%90%B6%E9%AC%BC

Noderabō

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Noderabo
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Noderabō appears as a silent monk dressed in worn, tattered robes and a weathered kasa hat. It is most often depicted standing alone beside an old temple bell in an abandoned, crumbling temple. Though outwardly resembling an ordinary Buddhist monk, it is an eerie and unnatural figure whose true face and intentions remain unknown.

The Noderabō is one of the more mysterious yōkai depicted by Toriyama Sekien in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō. Sekien provided no explanation for the creature, leaving later generations to speculate about its nature.

According to later folklore, the Noderabō haunts deserted temples that have fallen into ruin. As evening falls, the lonely sound of a temple bell echoes through the mountains despite no living monk remaining to ring it. The ghostly monk is said to wander the abandoned grounds in silence, appearing only briefly before disappearing once more into the darkness.

Some traditions claim the Noderabō is the restless spirit of a head priest whose temple fell into decay after the villagers ceased making offerings. Unable to abandon the place he once served, he continues to watch over the empty temple and ring its bell forever.

Other interpretations suggest the Noderabō represents corrupt monks who abandoned Buddhist discipline through greed and worldly desires, eventually becoming yōkai after death. In this reading, the silent monk serves as a warning against spiritual corruption and attachment.

Another tradition connects the Noderabō with mysterious bells heard echoing from mountains where no temple exists. Children who heard these unexplained chimes were told that the Noderabō was ringing its lonely bell deep within the wilderness, although others believed the sounds were merely echoes carried by the mountains.

Because Sekien never explained the creature, its true origin remains uncertain. Whether it is the ghost of a forgotten priest, the embodiment of an abandoned temple, or simply an eerie guardian of sacred ruins, the Noderabō remains one of Japan’s most enigmatic yōkai—a solitary monk forever standing beside the bell of a temple that time has long since forgotten.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Noderabō. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 21, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noderab%C5%8D

Phi Kong Koi

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Tradition / Region: Thai Mythology
Alternative names: Kong Koi, Phi Teen Diao (“One-Footed Ghost”), Phi Pong, Phi Pong Kang
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Phi Kong Koi is an ugly, child-sized spirit with dark skin, shaggy hair, and a swollen belly. Most accounts describe it as having only a single leg, moving by hopping through the forest while crying out “Koi! Koi! Koi!”. Some traditions portray it as monkey-like, while others describe it as a tiny woman with backward feet or a creature with a tube-shaped mouth resembling that of a giant fly. Nearly all agree that it cannot climb trees.

Deep in the forests of Thailand and Laos, travelers fear the Phi Kong Koi, a nocturnal spirit that stalks lonely camps and jungle paths. It approaches sleeping victims and sucks blood from their toes, which is why travelers traditionally sleep with their feet crossed or pressed together.

Its presence is often announced by eerie cries, strange splashing sounds, and childish laughter coming from the darkness. Many who investigate find nothing but empty forest.

Some stories portray bands of Phi Kong Koi armed with tiny crossbows, behaving almost like hidden jungle tribes, while others describe them as supernatural ghosts that vanish before dawn. Objects found abandoned in the forest are sometimes believed to belong to them, and anyone who takes such treasures risks attracting their wrath.

Thus the Phi Kong Koi is remembered as the one-footed ghost of the jungle—a blood-drinking phantom whose cries echo through the night while it searches for sleeping travelers.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Kong koi. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 21, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong_koi

Phi Phong

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Tradition / Region: Thai Mythology
Alternative names: Phi Pao, Phong
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Phi Phong is a ghost associated with failed black magic. It is said that those who practice dark sorcery without properly controlling its power may eventually become Phi Phong themselves.

According to tradition, the transformation begins with the cultivation of a mysterious magical plant called wan phi phong, whose white leaves glow in the darkness. As the plant grows, its leaves slowly begin to resemble the face of the person tending it. In time, the cultivator is transformed into a Phi Phong.

By day, a Phi Phong looks like an ordinary human and lives unnoticed among others. At night, however, its true nature is revealed. A dim flame shines from within its nostrils, while a sticky, wax-like substance drips down from its nose. Like the Phi Krasue and Phi Pop, it feeds upon impure things such as frogs, animal dung, rotting flesh, and afterbirth.

Although it generally avoids people, the Phi Phong can become dangerous if angered. It is said to cast strange objects onto the roofs of those who offend it, bringing sickness, misfortune, and even death upon the entire household.

One of the few ways to destroy a Phi Phong is to correctly identify the person who bears the curse and publicly declare them to be a Phi Phong. Once exposed, the spirit loses its power and dies.

The condition itself is believed to be contagious. Through saliva or contaminated food and water, the curse can pass from one person to another, much like other supernatural afflictions of Thai folklore.

Some traditions claim that sorcerers deliberately keep Phi Phong spirits within small containers. Inside rests a strange white larva or worm-like creature which, through spells and rituals, gradually transforms into a waxy substance. The spirit is fed with offerings such as gold leaf or needles and grants its keeper supernatural protection and resistance to harm. However, if the strict rituals are neglected, the spirit escapes and begins attacking people on its own.

Stories of Phi Phong are especially common near marshes and isolated fields. Villagers speak of mysterious red lights floating through the night sky, rising and falling above the darkness. These ghostly flames are said to be the wandering fire of the Phi Phong, silently searching for filth to consume before disappearing once more into the night.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Phong (ghost). In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 21, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phong_%28ghost%29

Epimelides

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Tradition / Region: Greek Mythology
Alternative names: Epimeliades, Melides, Maliades, Hamamelides
Category: Nymph

The Myth

The Epimelides were graceful nymphs of meadows and pastures, charged with protecting flocks of sheep and watching over fruit trees. Their name comes from the Greek words meaning “protector” and “sheep” or “apple tree,” giving them a dual role as guardians of both herds and orchards.

These spirits were closely connected with the countryside and were often associated with mountains, forests, and streams. They were not considered a separate race of nymphs, and among their number were counted daughters of Oceanus, mountain nymphs, and even descendants of rustic gods such as Pan, Hermes, and Silenus.

One famous tale tells how a group of Epimelides came to the land of the Messapians and danced in the fields. Young shepherds abandoned their flocks and boasted that their dancing surpassed that of the nymphs. Offended by the challenge, the Epimelides accepted a contest.

The shepherds danced roughly and without skill, while the nymphs moved with unmatched beauty and grace. Defeated, the foolish youths were rebuked by the divine maidens:

“Young men, did you wish to compete with the Epimelid nymphs? Since you have been defeated, you shall be punished.”

At once the shepherds were transformed into trees. According to tradition, mournful groans can still be heard emerging from their trunks.

Because of their connection to both livestock and trees, the Epimelides were remembered as gentle but proud guardians of the countryside. Beautiful and divine, they rewarded respect but punished those who arrogantly challenged the spirits that watched over the natural world.

Sources

MITOLOGIA POPULAR CUBANA contributors. (2012, March 26). Mitologia popular cubana. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Güijes. In Wikipedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCijes

Phantome

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Tradition / Region: Saint Lucia Mythology, Trinidad and Tobago Mythology, and Guyana Mythology
Alternative names: Moongazer
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Phantome is an enormous spectre said to haunt lonely crossroads on nights of the full moon. Towering high above the road, it stands with its legs spread wide apart, silently gazing up at the moon.

Travelers who unknowingly attempt to pass beneath the giant risk a terrible fate. Disturbed from its moonwatching, the Phantome suddenly snaps its legs shut, crushing the unfortunate victim to death. Moments before attacking, it emits a shrill and chilling whistle—the only warning it gives.

The creature can render itself invisible. Even when unseen, its presence may be betrayed by the strange shadow it casts in the moonlight. Those who encounter it are advised to avoid passing between its legs and instead quietly walk around it. If treated with respect and left undisturbed, the giant spectre allows travelers to continue on their way.

However, mocking or distracting the Phantome is considered extremely dangerous. If angered and forced to turn its gaze away from the moon, it attacks in a far more horrifying manner, consuming the victim’s brain through the palm of its immense hand.

In Guyana, the being is often known as the Moongazer, a name derived from its constant fascination with the moon. Feared throughout the Caribbean, the Phantome remains one of the strangest spectres of local folklore—an invisible giant whose whistle echoes across moonlit crossroads while its eyes remain fixed upon the night sky.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Phantome. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 20, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantome

Taotao Mo’na

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Tradition / Region: Guam Mythology
Alternative names: Taotaomona, Taotaomo’na
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Taotao Mo’na are the ancient spirits of the Mariana Islands, believed to be the souls of the people who lived before recorded history. Said to have once been giants, they dwell in the mountains, forests, and secluded places of the islands, protecting the land that belonged to their ancestors.

They are especially associated with banyan trees, whose twisting roots are believed to shift and change direction during the night. Hidden among these trees and wild places, the Taotao Mo’na are rarely seen, but their presence is still respected throughout the islands.

Though invisible most of the time, they can reveal themselves in many forms. Some are described as ordinary people, while others are said to be headless spirits. Certain Taotao Mo’na are kind and aid traditional healers known as suruhanas and suruhanus, but others are mischievous or dangerous when offended.

Anyone entering the jungle or taking wood, fruit, or other resources from the land is expected to ask permission from the Taotao Mo’na. Those who fail to show respect may suffer mysterious illnesses, bruises, pinches, or hear strange voices calling their names. Children are sometimes said to be briefly kidnapped, only to be returned unharmed later. Some spirits become attached to people they favor, causing unexplained sickness that only a suruhana can cure.

Pregnant women are believed to be especially vulnerable to the Taotao Mo’na. To avoid attracting their attention, they traditionally wear their husband’s clothing, use perfume to disguise their scent, and avoid going outside after dark.

Feared and respected in equal measure, the Taotao Mo’na are remembered as the ancient guardians of the Mariana Islands—spirits of the people who came before, still dwelling among the banyan trees and watching over the wild places of their homeland.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Taotao Mona. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 20, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taotao_Mona

Svikiro

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Tradition / Region: Zimbabwe Mythology
Alternative names: Spirit Medium
Category: Ghost, Lion

The Myth

The Svikiro is an ancestral spirit that speaks through a living person, using the medium as a bridge between the world of spirits and the world of humans. The name comes from the idea of “arriving,” for it is believed that the ancestors arrive within the bodies of their chosen hosts.

When a Svikiro possesses a person, it communicates with the living, offering guidance, warnings, and advice. Through dreams, visions, and trance, the ancestral spirit reveals its wishes and helps maintain harmony within the community.

Svikiro mediums occupy positions of great respect. They act as messengers between humanity and the spirit world, performing rituals, making offerings, and conducting ceremonies of healing. They are entrusted with safeguarding the welfare of society and protecting it from misfortune and spiritual disturbances.

Among the most powerful spirits are the Mhondoro, the royal ancestral spirits of deceased chiefs and kings. Their name means “lion,” and they are believed to dwell within maneless lions until they find a human medium to possess. Concerned with the well-being of clans, territories, and the nation itself, these royal spirits guide their people through the Svikiro.

Thus, the Svikiro is remembered not as a ghost of terror, but as a sacred ancestral presence—a spirit that descends upon the living to bring wisdom, healing, protection, and the voices of those who came before.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Svikiro. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 20, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svikiro

Yorka

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Tradition / Region: Suriname Mythology
Alternative names: Yɔrka, Yoroka
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Yorka is the spirit of a deceased person and one of the most important supernatural beings in Afro-Surinamese belief. Unlike the body, the Yorka never dies. A person’s Yorka reflects the character they possessed during life: a good person becomes a benevolent ancestor, while an evil person becomes a dangerous and wandering ghost.

Good Yorka protect their descendants. They guard the family from hostile spirits, help bring good harvests, intercede with the gods on behalf of the living, appear in dreams to offer advice, and bestow health and good fortune. They are honored with offerings of rice, chicken, rum, and dancing, especially during wakes, harvest celebrations, and ancestral ceremonies. Food offered to the Yorka is prepared without salt, for the dead are not supposed to eat salt.

Evil Yorka, however, bring illness, bad luck, and death. They haunt roads, houses, and trees and may transform themselves into animals. People avoid certain places known to be inhabited by these spirits, particularly at noon, twilight, and around midnight. Encounters with hostile Yorka are common subjects of stories and warnings.

One tale tells of two elegantly dressed women who entered a taxi late at night and asked to be driven home. After the driver passed a cemetery and turned around for directions, the passengers had vanished. He became seriously ill afterward and was only cured by a wise man. Another story speaks of a hunter who encountered a tall white figure blocking the road. After firing at it, he later discovered only the body of an enormous white cat.

A Yorka can also possess the living. Such spirits do not kill quickly but weaken their victims over time. Some possessed people speak in the voice of the dead spirit inhabiting them. Powerful ritual specialists perform exorcisms, summoning the Yorka and forcing it into a cord, which is then sealed inside a bottle and thrown into a river. Anyone who later opens the bottle risks being possessed by the imprisoned ghost.

Not all possession is harmful. Friendly ancestral Yorka may temporarily enter their descendants during ceremonies, especially during baka-futu-banya dances. Those possessed dress in white and cover their ears and nose with cotton, taking on the appearance of the dead ancestor whose spirit now speaks and dances through them.

Thus, the Yorka are remembered both as beloved ancestors and feared ghosts: spirits that continue to walk beside the living, capable of granting prosperity and protection or bringing sickness and death, depending on the life they once lived.

Sources

Herskovits, M. J., & Herskovits, F. S. (1936). Suriname folk-lore. In DBNL (Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren). Retrieved June 20, 2026, from https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/hers005suri01_01/hers005suri01_01_0017.php