4 replies to this topic

[yaoguai]

I was looking into a new Chinese movie called "The Cases," when I saw this passage: "The Cases's original film title, a Chinese character meaning the 'worship of ghosts and gods,' perhaps better illustrates what the movie is all about."

The original title is 魕.

Does anyone have information about this word? I suspect it actually refers to folk religion and folk magic, rather than worship. I'd be happy to learn more!

http://www.beyondhol...ses-2012-movie/

Edited to add: I got the quote wrong in the title, it should say "gods" not "goblins," my bad.

Edited by yaoguai, 19 September 2012 - 01:13 AM.

[ghostexorcist]

This PDF mentions stuff about the character (see page 45). I have edited the title for you.

[yaoguai]

This PDF mentions stuff about the character (see page 45).

The source is fun but a little questionable.... I'm thinking it refers to mediumistic practices of popular religion? Whereby practitioners invoke ghosts and gods to possess them, and begin to shake and so on. At least that's what I read between the lines in that passage. Do you think that's an accurate interpretation?

I have edited the title for you.

Thank you! I appreciate the help smoothing over my glitch.

[ghostexorcist]

The source is fun but a little questionable.... I'm thinking it refers to mediumistic practices of popular religion? Whereby practitioners invoke ghosts and gods to possess them, and begin to shake and so on. At least that's what I read between the lines in that passage. Do you think that's an accurate interpretation?

Thank you! I appreciate the help smoothing over my glitch.

It's not academic in the least, but the person who wrote it is active in the folk religion scene. He is a onetime member on here and other forums. I would use the information as a stepping stone to a better source. What he mentions about 魕 being replaced by 乩 is interesting as 乩童 is the title of a Chinese medium. I suggest contacting a professor who specializes in Daoism. They would surely know--or at least could direct you to a colleague who would know--a historical source that mentions the character and its exact meaning.

[rocket7777]

The source is fun but a little questionable.... I'm thinking it refers to mediumistic practices of popular religion? Whereby practitioners invoke ghosts and gods to possess them, and begin to shake and so on. At least that's what I read between the lines in that passage. Do you think that's an accurate interpretation?



Thank you! I appreciate the help smoothing over my glitch.

Meaning probably got lost in translation.  For example, if someone calls holy spirit a ghost, is it like that?

Lots people believe in ancestral spirit or something powerful will have spirit.