Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: 大头鬼, Big-Headed Ghost
Category: Ghost
The Myth
Datou Gui is a strange ghost from Chinese mythology, distinguished by its enormous head, which is far larger than an ordinary human head. It is often said to appear beside roads, where it shuffles along slowly because its oversized head is too heavy for it to move quickly. Its appearance varies between stories, but it is commonly portrayed as a human-like figure with a disproportionately large head, sometimes so enormous that it resembles a large jar or vessel.
Chinese tales describe Datou Gui in several unusual encounters. One legend tells of the scholar Fang Xiaoru frightening away a Big-Headed Ghost while reading late at night. Another story describes the official Yu Qian playing a trick on one. Other accounts portray ghosts whose heads are many times larger than their bodies, with faces as wide as windows or heads so enormous that they cannot fit through ordinary doorways.
Despite its frightening appearance, Datou Gui is not always portrayed as an omen of misfortune. In one account, encountering a Big-Headed Ghost is considered a sign that an imperial examination official will soon be promoted. These stories present the creature as an uncanny apparition whose immense head makes it both ridiculous and unsettling.
Sources
“大头鬼 (Dàtóuguǐ).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E5%A4%B4%E9%AC%BC