When I studied to become an anthropologist, my favorite thing to do was read folklore stories about ghosts. Tales of the unexplained are universal in all countries. Often times they are meant to be stories to offer a lesson in life, but sometimes the tales can be a little spooky. Here are a few of my favorite stories from around the world.
Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (Ghost Story of Yotsuya)
This is a ghost story about Oiwa and Iemon. It is a popular ghost story amongst the Japanese culture, and has been adapted into at least 30 different screen movies and variations. The story itself was written in the early 1800's by Tsuruya Nanboku IV as a kabuki play. He wove truth into his tale from actual murders that involved servants killing their masters, and a samurai who had his concubine drowned after being caught in an affair. In Nanboku's story, Iemon marries Oiwa. Iemon, after marrying Oiwa becomes frustrated with his position in life, a samurai without a master. Iemon is then seduced into a scheme to marry the granddaughter of his influential neighbor. To do so, he comes up with a plot to murder his wife. However, the plan backfires, and the poison used to kill Oiwa makes her horribly disfigured. She becomes distraught and dies. A servant notices the plot, and he is killed. Iemon crucifies the bodies of the servant and Oiwa on a board and has them thrown into a river. Because of his misdeeds, Iemon begins to hallucinate and see his dead wife. On his wedding day, when he lifts the veil of his new bride, he sees Oiwa. Panicking, he slashes at his bride and beheads her. When his murder is committed he notices it is his bride. Terrified at what he has done, he runs to his neighbor's house to confess, only to be confronted by the spirit of his servant. He kills the “spirit” only to find that it is his neighbor. Iemon is continually hunted and haunted by the spirits of his past. He eventually finds his brother-in-law, who ends it all by killing Iemon, and avenging the murders he has committed.
Pontianak
In Malaysian culture, there is a spirit of haunting beauty, but who is also very deadly. Pontianaks are spirit women who died in childbirth, hell bent on taking revenge for their loss. A scent of flowers usually announces the presence of the spirit, which is followed by a piercing shriek. The softer her cry, the closer she is, as if to seductively call out to her potential prey. Malaysians believe that if you place a needle into the back of a Pontianak's neck, she cannot attack you, and she will remain beautiful. Folklore myths, tell of stories of women who died in childbirth having beads placed into their mouths to prevent them from becoming Pontianak's and piercing the night with their screams. The Pontianak is the American version of a vampire.
Wendigo
The Wendigo was a myth popular in Canada amongst the Algonquin tribes. The name translates to “the evil spirit who eats mankind.” The creature was an entity that was half beast and half man. The legend began when men resorted to cannibalism in dire needs, thus creating the Wendigo. So taboo was the idea of eating human flesh, that stories of the dreaded creature began to surface. Symbolically, Wendigos were the image of greed, for they could never be satiated in their thirst for human flesh. Their bodies are emaciated, and no matter how much they feed, they would still appear thin. It preyed on humans, but mostly little children. It was believed that they made pacts with evil spirits, thus helping them to kill their victims.
Bean Sidhe (Banshee)
She is a harbinger of death in Ireland, and while not meant to be evil, through the centuries, she has been transformed into a fatal demon. Originally, it was thought that Banshees were keeners, or mourners for important families. So enraptured with their roles in mourning, that it was said they followed these families even after their deaths. The Banshee's role was to let a family know of the upcoming death of a family member. She will cry and howl at your door, foretelling of the impending death. But it has been said that if you yourself spot the banshee, then you shall see your own death at hand. Her scream is horrible and blood curdling, and once thought to be a woman of beauty, through time, she has been transformed into an old hag that is a sight of nightmares. At times she can be seen combing her hair, and if one ever sees a comb, you are to let it be. More often than not though, you will hear her laments. Traditionally, she will wail at your door for 3 nights before a person's death.
