Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Money-Guardian Ghost, Money Chest Ghost, Flying Ghost, Swift Ghost, Life-Taking Ghost, 守财鬼
Category: Monkey
The Myth
The Shoucai Gui, or Wealth-Guarding Ghost, is a supernatural being associated with the yakshas, a class of spirits known for their connections to treasures and hidden riches. It is also called the Money Chest Ghost, Flying Ghost, Swift Ghost, or Life-Taking Ghost. According to legend, the creature guards a hidden treasure vault, remaining near its riches while waiting for a person destined to discover and claim them.
Despite its association with wealth, the name Shoucai Gui can also refer to a miser: someone who hoards money and refuses to spend it. The creature therefore embodies both the supernatural guardianship of hidden treasure and the human tendency to cling possessively to wealth.
Sources
“Money-Keeping Ghost” (守財鬼). Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%88%E8%B4%A2%E9%AC%BC