Gang-si 강시

Jiangshi (강시 or Gang-si), is a supernatural creature from Korean folklore. Often depicted as a version of a vampire, Gang-si is believed to steal the life force or Qi from living humans in order to sustain themselves. 

Historical Origins of Gang-si

The origins of Gang-si can be traced back to ancient Chinese texts, which described similar creatures known as jiangshi. These texts eventually made their way to Korea, where they merged with local folklore to create the unique concept of Gang-si. The legend of Gang-si has been passed down through generations and remains a popular subject in Korean literature and media.

Gang-si Origins

The causes for a corpse to become a gang-si fall into several categories:

Spirit possession: A dead body can be possessed by a spirit.
Supernatural arts: Some practitioners use supernatural methods to resurrect the dead.
Absorption of human life force: Sufficient qi can bring a corpse back to life.
Imbalance of good and bad:  if a person's goodness departs, but the "bad" remains, a gang-si may be created.
Other scenarios: Lightning strikes, pregnant cats leaping across coffins, and improper deaths can also lead to gang-si transformation.
Abilities:

The gang-si is animated by supernatural forces or unresolved grudges, relentlessly pursuing those who have wronged them. Binding this entity often involves attaching written talismans to its forehead, a practice hinged on Taoist rituals.

Cloaked in traditional white burial garments, this creature diverges from typical Western vampires. Instead of fangs and seduction, the gang-si possesses a more somber presence, with its stiff, outstretched arms and penchant for hopping. These beings are believed to draw out the life force, or qi (chi) from living victims, leaving not a trace of blood but a ghost of vitality. .

Jumping Long Distances: They can leap great distances.
Hop at incredible speeds: Gang-si can speed hop faster than people can run, allowing it to catch up to and overtake its victims.
Breathless Movement: Jiangshi can move without breathing.
Life Force Drain: They have the power to drain the life force from victims, leaving them weak and vulnerable.
Weaknesses:

Gang-si, Hopping vampires, have specific weaknesses based on traditional folklore. Let’s explore some of their vulnerabilities:

Stiff Movement: Traditional jiangshi are so stiff that they cannot bend their limbs and body.
They move around by hopping, keeping their arms stretched out for mobility.

Detection by Breath: Some versions of jiangshi detect potential victims by their breath.
Holding one’s breath temporarily hides from them.

Counting Objects: Jiangshi may be distracted if small objects are thrown about.
Like most vampires, they will stop to count these objects.

Immobilization with Runes: A parchment inscribed with runes placed on their forehead can control or defeat a jiangshi.
The jiangshi is usually immobilized by the parchment until it is removed.

Sunlight Susceptibility: Similar to Western vampires, jiangshi may not be able to operate effectively under sunlight.

Gang-si in Korean Folklore and Culture

In Korean folklore, Gang-si are often associated with death and the afterlife. They are believed to be reanimated corpses that return to drain the life force of the living.

Gang-si have also made appearances in Korean popular culture, including movies, television shows, and literature, adding to their enduring significance in Korean society. .

Gang-si in Modern Popular Culture 

The allure of the gang-si has not been lost to time, finding its way into the neon glow of modern Korean entertainment.

A far cry from its folkloric roots, the gang-si now features in films, television shows, and even video games. Reimagined through lenses of horror, comedy, and even romance, it symbolizes Korea's unique take on the undead genre. 

In earlier films, gang-si characters were often depicted as having a pale complexion and a subtle greenish tint or even a radiant glow. Their manner of getting around was rather amusing, with lots of hopping instead of walking.....

Popular culture often softens its menacing aura, morphing the gang-si into a protagonist struggling with its own cursed existence or as a comic relief in an otherwise tense storyline.

The versatility of gang-si narratives showcases the willingness of Korean creators to explore and redefine ancient myths for contemporary audiences. 

The western import for Vampire is heuphyeol-gwi (흡혈귀), a term for blood sucking creatures similar to western vampires.