3. The Yaoguai were Chinese mythical demons who were firmly on the dark side.
The Yaoguai or ‘strange ghosts’ or ‘strange devils’ were mythical Chinese demons, who, like the Asura desired immortality and godhood. They included in their number animal spirits such as the fox spirits and fallen celestial beings. However, even though they acquired their powers through the practice of Taoism, the Yaoguai cared little for the balance between light and dark. They were firmly on the dark side and would stop at nothing to achieve their goals of deification. They believed they could accomplish this goal by consuming the life force of holy men.
One tale of the Yaoguai appears in the sixteenth-century Chinese novel, “Journey to the West.” The story tells of the pursuit of the holy man Xuanzang by Bai Gu Jong or white bones demon. However, unfortunately for Bai Gu Jong, Xuanzang was traveling in the company of Sun Wukong or the Monkey King. The company first encountered the evil spirit, disguised as a young girl searching for food. However, the Monkey King saw through the demon’s disguise and drove it off with his staff. The Bai Gu jong tried again, firstly disguised as an old woman and finally as an old man. This final time, the Monkey King killed the demon, revealing its true form: a skeleton.
Staffs, however, were not the only way to deal with Yaoguai. As they lived in the underworld, the Chinese believed they were afraid of the light. So bonfires, fireworks, and torches were the perfect way to keep them at bay.
Some demons, however, started off as gods.