Zhong Kui Keeping the Hungry Ghosts at Bay

N ow as we enter the seventh lunar month, hungry ghosts are set to roam the land in the next two weeks. The primary focus of Zhong Yuan Jie, which falls on the 15th day of the month, is to demonstrate filial piety, as many will feast and honor their ancestors. Also known as the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts, the holiday has a slightly sinister side, as the open gates of the netherworld will have also released restless, ravenous souls that could cause trouble if not appeased. So now seems a good time as any to bring up Zhong Kui, king of ghosts and demon exorcist.

In Chinese folklore, ghosts gui are not the only demonic figures in the supernatural world, which also include guai oddities, yao goblins, jing spirits, and mei demons. This may all seem in the realm of fairy tales and superstition, but it makes sense when considered as representations of real-world ills and practical concerns. Otherworldly spirits are manifestations of disease, poverty, disaster and misfortune. Their stories are commentaries on corruption, feckless misrule and unscrupulous officials at court. Hence, protection from such evils are concerns at all levels of society high and low.

Vanquisher of demons, Zhong Kui plays an important role as a mythological guardian figure, popular in Chinese art from as early as the Tang dynasty. According to legend, he is himself a ghost who died by suicide after he was unjustly dishonored by the emperor. This wrong was later righted, and Zhong Kui was deified as the king of ghosts and demon queller.

Launch Slideshow

• 

  Pu Ru (1896-1963), ZHONG KUI

  Fierce Righteousness

  Zhong Kui was an accomplished scholar who traveled a long way from Zhongnan Mountain to take part in the imperial examinations. He performed better than any other candidate which should earned him high rank as an official in court. However, Zhong Kui had the misfortune of being deformed, grotesquely ugly, very slovenly, or all of the above, depending on the account. And upon sight of the candidate, the emperor was so repulsed by his appearance that he stripped him of his honors. Outraged by this injustice, Zhong Kui dashed his head on the palace steps. He transformed into a ghost and became a fierce figure of righteousness.

  View Lot View Auction
• 

  Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien, 1899-1983), DEMON QUELLER

  Demon Queller

  Zhong Kui is commonly depicted with a sword in hand, befitting his role as a demon exorcist. The 11th century polymath Shen Kuo tells the story in Mengxi bitan (Conversations with a Writing Brush) of the Emperor Xuanzong who fell gravely ill from a mysterious ailment. His condition continued to worsen for almost a month, and doctors were unable to cure him. Suddenly one night, the emperor had a dream about two ghosts. The smaller one was making mischief by stealing from the imperial consort. The larger ghost caught him, ripped at his eyes and ate him. This triumphant ghost turned out to be Zhong Kui, who pledged to rid the land of evil. In the morning, the emperor woke up finding himself cured miraculously.
  
  Official Tang dynasty court documents show that during his reign, the Emperor Xuanzong gave portraits of Zhong Kui to court officials during the lunar new year as gifts.

  View Lot View Auction
• 

  Feng Chaoran (1882-1954); Wu Zheng (1878-1949), ZHONGKUI IN WINTER WOODS; CALLIGRAPHY

  Scholar of the Winter Woods

  Although Zhong Kui was deified as king of ghosts and vanquisher of evil, he is often depicted as a scholar wearing official robes. Zhong Kui frequents the woods where demons lurk during the winter. There is also a bit of wordplay here as "winter woods" (寒林) and "scholar" (翰林) are both han lin.

  View Lot View Auction
• 

  Wang Zhen (1867-1938), ZHONG KUI

  Bearded and Disheveled

  Zhong Kui is depicted with a full black beard, which is an important symbol of virility and health. He is definitely not a looker, and it isn't just because of his unfortunate physical attributes. He manages to give the impression of always being slightly rumpled or unkempt, with ill-fitting clothes that are undone, threadbare or askew. This rough look is not helped by the unruly beard which seems to encroach every which way, and presents a stark contrast to the ideal image of the literati scholar.

  View Lot View Auction
• 

  Qi Baishi (1864-1957), SCRATCHING ZHONG KUI'S BACK

  Demon Attendants

  As the subjugator of demons, Zhong Kui would naturally have a host of demon attendants at his disposal. This painting, inspired by light-hearted folk art, shows the king of ghosts sitting partially disrobed as an attendant is trying in vain to scratch the right spot. Alas, the little demon only manages to irritate Zhong Kui whose beard is sent flying. The inscription in the painting reads: “It is never easy to scratch another’s itch, just as it is not easy to serve your master.”

  View Lot View Auction
• 

  AN IMPORTANT SIGNED BAMBOO CARVING OF ZHONG KUI, 17TH CENTURY

  Bringer of Good Fortune

  Besides being a vanquisher of ghosts, Zhong Kui has the power to bring good fortune. Here, he is depicted smiling, seated on a rock, legs crossed, a wide-sleeved robe draped over his hunched shoulder and a sword strapped to his belt. The attendant demon on his back is cleaning his right ear, and the inscription reads: 'The ears have good news.'

  View Lot View Auction
• 

  Wang Zhen (1867-1938), ZHONG KUI AND BAT

  Happiness and Five Blessings

  Zhong Kui is associated with bats and spiders, both auspicious symbols. The word “bat (fu)” is a homonym for “fortune (fu)” and usually include five blessings: long life, wealth, health, love of virtue, and peace in death. Spider is also a pun for “happiness (xi).” The bats or the spiders are often portrayed descending from the sky, like blessings that seem to fall from the heavens.

  View Lot View Auction
• 

  Qi Baishi (1864-1957), THE DRUNKEN ZHONG KUI

  Drunk as a Lord

  Zhong Kui likes his wine and is sometimes depicted as having one too many. During these benders, the intoxicated demon queller has a tendency to become friendlier than he should with demons. Hence, the mischievous little demons take advantage of Zhong Kui’s dulled senses and run amok, ushering in times of rampant evil.

  View Lot View Auction
• 

  Alphonso Wong, Fresco of Zhong Kui (1983)

  Pop Culture References

  Zhong Kui is one of the most well-known figures of Chinese folklore. His image hangs on doors and walls to keep evil and misfortune at bay. Though he is a mythological figure that emerged in ancient literature from as early as the Tang dynasty, Zhong Kui persists in modern times commonly referenced in pop culture.

  View Lot View Works

/

Close