Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: 楊五郎鬼, Yang Wulang Gui, The Ghost of Yang Wulang
Category: Ghost
The Myth
The Yang Wulang Ghost is a monstrous spirit recorded in the Chinese supernatural collection Yijian Zhi (夷堅志), specifically in the third collection, volume six, chapter four, under the title “The Ghost of Yang Wulang.” The creature is described as enormous and powerfully built, standing approximately one zhang tall, a traditional Chinese unit of length. Its two arms are as thick as human thighs, giving it a formidable appearance, yet it is also remarkably agile and capable of leaping and moving with surprising speed.
The ghost is covered in black hair across its entire body. One account describes how, when its flesh is boiled in hot oil, it dissolves into black liquid that flows away. This disturbing detail emphasizes its unnatural physical nature and distinguishes it from an ordinary human spirit.
The tale centers on a man who kills a ghost, presenting Yang Wulang as a dangerous supernatural adversary that can nevertheless be overcome. The figure’s name has also been connected to the possible inspiration for the fictional Buddhist monk Lu Zhishen, the formidable “Flowery Monk” from Water Margin. According to the account, performers who developed Lu Zhishen’s character may initially have drawn inspiration from Yang Wulang, a monk associated with Mount Wutai. This connection is presented as a possibility rather than a confirmed origin.
Sources
“楊五郎.” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 16, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A5%8A%E4%BA%94%E9%83%8E