Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: 膏肓鬼, Ghost of the Gaohuang
Category: Ghost
The Myth
Gaohuang Gui is a sinister ghost from Chinese mythology associated with the gaohuang, the region of the body traditionally understood as lying around the diaphragm. It is described as a terrifying spirit that can hide deep within a person’s body, beyond the reach of ordinary treatment.
The legend originates in the story of Duke Jing of Jin, who dreamed of a fierce ghost hiding in his gaohuang. After this encounter, the image of the spirit developed into that of a supernatural creature that dwells in this part of the body and makes an illness increasingly severe. Once Gaohuang Gui has taken refuge there, the afflicted person becomes difficult to cure, as the spirit is hidden in a place that ordinary medicine cannot easily reach.
Gaohuang Gui embodies the terrifying idea of an illness that has become deeply rooted within the body. Unlike ghosts that attack openly, this spirit hides inside its victim, silently worsening the sickness from within.
Sources
“膏肓鬼 (Gāohuāngguǐ).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%86%8F%E8%82%93%E9%AC%BC