Each country has their own ghost-tales. Each one of them consist of surprising story beyond human’s mind. Asia also has a lot of ghost stories. Most of them are folklore and urban-legends. They are very popular not only in Asia itself, but also all around the world. Here are some of the most popular ghost-legend in Asia. You know some of them from movies and folklore. Now you know them, personally :
KUNTILANAK
This entity is very well-known in Asia, especially in Melayu’s ethnic. In Malaysia, they called it Pontianak, Matianak, or Buntianak. Meanwhile in Indonesia, people called it as Kuntilanak. Her name itself means “undead women who died during childbirth and seeking revenge”. According to the villager’s story, long time ago there was a pregnant women who died after been raped by some of village people. Then her body been buried half alive. After raised from the grave, the woman seeked for revenge and killed everybody who raped her. Not only the rapers, she also aimed her terror to every man who like to cheats woman.
Kuntilanak often appears as a beautiful and seductive woman, usually accompanied by the strong scent of jasmine or frangipani. She wore white long robe. Sometimes she is sliding on the ground, and sometimes flying from tree to tree. People believes Kuntilanak stayed in banana trees.
Some people believe can kill Kuntilanak by plunge a hole at the Kuntilanak’s back or the apex of the head. When the nail is plunged, she will turn into a beautiful woman, and will turn back as her true form after the nail is pulled off.
If you want to know more about this entity, perhaps you can see the movie called Dead End (2003). Directed by Jean-Baptiste Andrea and played by Ray Wise, Mick Cain, and Alexandra Holden. This movie adapted the description of Kuntilanak perfectly…..
LANGSUIR
This is an entity that very famous in Malaysia. Similar as Kuntilanak, but in very ugly appearance. It likes to suck its victim’s blood from the inside, caused a fatal end. People believes Langsuir were came from woman who had laboring sickness as a result of suffering the death of their children and who themselves died afterwards. Langsuir has red eyes, sharp claws, long hair, white (sometimes green) robe), has rotten face and long fangs.
MANANANGGAL
One of the well-known spirit from Phillipines. It came from Tagalog, tanggal, means “the one who seperates itself from its lower body”.
Slighlty similar with western’s vampire. It’s described as an older, beautiful woman, capable of severing its upper torso in order to fly into the night with huge wings (like bat) to prey on pregnant women in their home. Usually thet killed their prey use their elongated proboscis-like tongue, sucked the heart of fetuses.
Manannggal only can be killed in people sprinkling salt or smearing crushed garlid or ash on the top of the standing torso of this creature. The upper torso will not able to rejoin and will day at daybreak.
Besides Phillipines, Manananggal also a well-known creature in other country in Asia. In Malaysia, it called Penanggal. Meanwhile in Bali, it’s been known as Leak. Differently from other country, Leak is a mythological figure in the form of flying head with entrails (such as lung, heart, and liver) still attached. People believes, Leaks are human who are practicing black magic. Leaks have ability to transforms themselves into animals and appears as ordinary human in daylight.
TUYUL
It’s a very well-known spirit in South-East Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore). According to Malaysia’s folklore, it’s a small child spirit invoked from a dead human featus using black magic. Meanwhile in Indonesia, it’s known as a spirit of small ghost. They usually instructed to steal things from other people. To cast up Tuyul from stealing, people usually put some needles under money and their valuable things .
POCONG
It’s a ghost of dead people that trapped in their suit. The pocong suit (shroud) is used by Moslem to cover the body of dead people. Usually they’ve been covered used white long fabric, tie the clothing over the head and under the feet. People beliefs, the soul of dead people will stay on earth for 40 days after their death. After that, the ties must be released, or else it will jump out from the grave and warn people to released their bonds. Usually this ghost can’t walk because of the tie under the feet. So it hop.
Like Kuntilanak, Pocong is also a very well-known ghost in Indonesia. There are lots of movies that mentioned about it, since 1970s till today.
KOLOR IJO
This is a phenomenal creature from Indonesia. People described it as a small black man, wore green underwear (Kolor Ijo itself means “green underwear”), with disgusting smell, and usually appear mysteriously in a girl’s room. The only way to keep away from this creature is not to let one girl sleep alone. Kolor Ijo mostly appear in urban area. People believe he is a man who learn black magic and have a big intention to get on bed with girls.
NANG NAK
Also known as “Mae Nak Phra Khanong”. She is a ghost whose dead after waiting her husband came back from war. When her husband, Mak, came back to their village, he did not aware Nak already a ghost. People in Thailand praise Nang Nak very well. They even built a shrine at On Nut, in Bangkok Suan Luang district.
Nang Nak has been made as a movie (entitled as “Nang Nak”), directed by Nonzee Nimiburt, and played by Intira Jaroenpura and Winai Kraibutr.
