The Terrifying Corpse-Driving
On a dark, windy night, in the silent mountain wilds, on a path leading to a village, a Daoist priest in a black robe strikes a yin gong — "clang, clang" — and chants: "The dead are on the road, the living keep away..." or "Beast, hurry on..." Behind him follow several figures in bamboo hats, carrying baskets on their backs, arms outstretched, feet moving mechanically...
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
On a dark, windy night, with the mountains and fields silent, on a small path leading to a certain village, a Daoist priest dressed in a black robe and carrying a yin gong strikes it a few times with a "clang, clang," calling out: "The yin people are on their way, the living should keep clear..." or "Beasts, move quickly..." Following closely behind are several figures wearing bamboo hats, carrying woven back-baskets, their hands stretched out flat, their feet moving mechanically step by step, hopping straight ahead...
This scene is a miniature of what the older generation describes as corpse-driving in Xiangxi. But what exactly is Xiangxi corpse-driving? Is it real or fake? Friends from elsewhere who came to travel in Xiangxi often asked me such questions, and I have tried hard to explain, but the more I explained, the more I found it difficult to clarify in just a few words. Why? Because Xiangxi corpse-driving involves a mysterious cultural phenomenon, and if one were to verify it from all angles, it would take a dedicated monograph to describe it fully. So friends who are interested can delve into the monographs written by experts and scholars on this subject. In this article, I can only give a brief introduction to its general content.
Regarding the legends of Xiangxi corpse-driving, analyzed from its origins, it seems to have a long history. Some legends say it appeared as early as the time of Chiyou, but this claim has no textual evidence. Even when consulting very ancient documents, the term "corpse-driving" does not appear. Only during the Ming and Qing dynasties, in works such as Pu Songling's Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, the Mingzhai Xiaoshi compiled by Zhu Huixiang, and the Qing scholar Yuan Mei's Zi Buyu, do we find records and descriptions of "stiff corpses," "moving corpses," "driving corpses," and "corpse transformations." From this, it can be inferred that Xiangxi corpse-driving must have appeared at least before the Ming dynasty. As for exactly when it originated, it seems impossible to verify and reach a definitive conclusion.
Regarding the scope of Xiangxi corpse-driving, experts and scholars believe that it was generally concentrated in the areas inhabited by the Miao and Tujia peoples of Xiangxi, with the region around Yuanling, Chenxi, Luxi, Fenghuang, and Huayuan as its center. As for the phenomenon of corpse-driving nationwide, it also appeared in Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Shandong, Yunnan, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and other places, but these places were simply not as famous as Xiangxi in Hunan for corpse-driving.
From the perspective of the professional practitioners of Xiangxi corpse-driving, its members were called laosi, meaning the specialized craftsmen of corpse-driving. Such people had low social status but were greatly feared and respected. Joining the corpse-driving profession, it is said, required several conditions: first, great courage; second, good health; third, being an unmarried virgin male. After an apprentice took a master, he had to live a life of reversing day and night, only rising at night to be active. Training consisted of learning incantations, walking at night, and practicing hand and foot strength, among other things. The main incantation used was the recitation of Wen Tianxiang's "Song of Righteousness." The ritual implements used included conch shells, Daoist talismans, Daoist robes, compasses, soul-summoning yin gongs, and so on.
From the perspective of the operational process of Xiangxi corpse-driving, generally after a person died, the deceased's relatives would go to the "Zhuyou Section" to hire a laosi. The laosi would inquire about the circumstances; those who died of unknown illness, drowned themselves, hanged themselves, or were struck by lightning or burned to death would not be driven; all others could be driven. After the laosi agreed to drive the corpse, the requester had to pay a certain amount of silver. Then the laosi would take his apprentice to the deceased's location to perform rituals, set up an altar, light incense, recite incantations, and burn paper offerings. Late at night, when all was quiet and no one was watching, the laosi would begin his rituals, restoring the soul and spirit to the deceased, and would press cinnabar with divine talismans and five-colored cloth strips onto the deceased's "seven hearts," namely the crown of the head, the center of the back, the center of the chest, the centers of both palms, and the centers of both soles. He would also stuff cinnabar into the deceased's mouth, ears, and nose, then seal them tightly with divine talismans. After this, the corpse would stand up and walk. If there were several corpses, they would be tied to one another with rope. One corpse-driving craftsman would hold a ritual implement in front, summoning the soul and leading the way, while another held a corpse-driving whip behind, driving the corpses forward. The journey was made at night, not during the day, not on official roads, but specifically along desolate mountain and village paths. Along the way, paper money would be scattered, and the yin gong would be struck from time to time, with calls for pedestrians to keep away. If dogs barked, the laosi would use magic to drive them off. When dawn came, the corpse-drivers would find a ruined temple or a small inn that served corpse-drivers to rest. At this time, the corpses would be propped upright against the wall behind the door. After the day passed, the corpse-driving craftsmen would continue their journey by night until they reached the bereaved family's home, placed the corpses in coffins, and held a grand burial ceremony. The time involved ranged from several days to several tens of days.
As for the truth or falsity of Xiangxi corpse-driving, there have always been many doubts and controversies. Mainstream media generally consider "corpse-driving" to be a deception. Some articles have exposed the truth behind corpse-driving. Their claim is that corpse-driving craftsmen always chose to travel at night when no one was around, precisely because they feared others would discover the truth. Corpse-driving was actually "carrying corpses on the back," that is, carrying the corpse in a back-basket while walking, with a wide Daoist robe draped over the outside; as for the laosi's ritual implements, scattering paper money, and so on, these were merely mystifying tricks to deceive people's eyes and ears; and some even used corpse-driving as a cover for smuggling drugs, and so on.
Although the authenticity of Xiangxi corpse-driving has been questioned, as a mysterious cultural phenomenon, it did indeed exist for a very long time in history and did not disappear until the early period of the founding of New China. Interestingly, many famous modern writers, scholars, and film and television creators have shown great interest in Xiangxi corpse-driving, deliberately describing it and making much of it in their works. For example, Shen Congwen described the legend of Xiangxi corpse-driving in many places in his essays "The People of Yuanling" and "Several Counties on the Upper Reaches of the Yuan River." The famous writer and translator Shi Zhecun also wrote in detail about Xiangxi corpse-driving in "The Witchcraft of the Zhuyou Section." Famous martial arts writers such as Liang Yusheng, Jin Yong, and Gu Long wrote extensively about corpse-driving in their works. In the film and television world, corpse-driving films such as "Xiangxi Corpse-Driving Records" and "Walking Corpses of the Old House" have been shown.
Today, with the rise of tourism in Xiangxi, studying the truth or falsity of Xiangxi corpse-driving is actually no longer important. Instead, exploring this mysterious cultural phenomenon and experiencing a bit of the joy of traveling in Xiangxi—this may be the greatest reward for tourists.