Almost all cultures have stories of ghosts and haunted places. These stories may be myths, legends, or simply an explanation of a particular place. Some cultures may be more likely to believe in ghosts than others. These include the Chinese, the Ancient Egyptians, and Tibetans.
Ancient Egyptians
Throughout ancient Egyptian history, ghosts were an important part of Egyptian spirituality. Ancient Egyptians believed that the border between the living and the dead was permeable. They also believed that souls could be kept forever. They also believed that demons lived at the threshold between the worlds. Depending on the time and place, demons were either benevolent or malevolent.
The oldest image of a ghost in history can be found on a Sumerian clay tablet dating back to 1500 BCE. It supposedly depicts a human-headed bird, Ba. It was believed that Ba would fly during the day and return to its tomb at night.
Throughout Egyptian history, the concept of an afterlife called the Field of Reeds has continued to weave its way through Egypt’s history. It is a concept that mirrors the judgment of Osiris.
Chinese
Throughout history, ghosts have played a wide variety of roles in society. They serve as cultural metaphors, storytelling devices, and figures in religious beliefs. They continue to be depicted in modern literature and movies. By comparing ghost stories from different cultures, we can learn more about their common values.
There are many different kinds of ghosts in Chinese folklore. Some are friendly and some are vengeful. Ghosts are thought to be the spirit form of a dead person. They often prey on morally weak people. They will harm the living if provoked. They have been incorporated into Chinese culture from ideas from Buddhism, Taoism, and Hindu beliefs.
Chinese ghosts can be categorized by the type of loss they have experienced. Ghosts of losses can be either friendly or vengeful. Ghosts of losses often live on food and sacrificial offerings. They are especially covetous.
Tibetans
During the waning days of the Qing Dynasty, a ritual called Da Gui was performed in the hope of ridding the world of evil spirits. It is a tradition that originated in Tibet and is still practiced annually from the 29th day of the first month to the first day of the second month.
It is the largest and most complex ritual performed at the Tibetan Buddhist Lama temple. The ritual is a rite of passage for new monks. This ritual is also said to purify the air of negativity. It is a well-attended event.
There are several other rituals and ceremonies that are performed during the course of the year. Some of the more notable ones include a ritual called the “Beating Ghost” Ceremony. This ceremony is designed to expel evil spirits from the monastery.
Europeans
Across Europe, there are haunted happenings and eerie experiences. From the spooky old abandoned building in Belgium to the ancient fortress of Bock in Luxembourg, there is a lot to fear in Europe.
Although folklorists have largely continued the traditional classification of ghost stories, they have also begun to explore their psychological roots. In the last fifteen years, ghosts have become a central focus of systematic studies. Traditionally, they have been studied only in a narrow, early modern sense. However, literary scholars have used the concept of the spectral to deconstruct early modern genres. In this article, I argue for a transnational analysis of European beliefs about apparitions, including the ghost. Specifically, I examine the role of the ghost in modern understandings of witchcraft and demonology.
Other cultures
Across the globe, different cultures have their own legends and beliefs about ghosts and spirits. They vary in the types of spirits they believe to be present, as well as their names. These spirits can be human, animal, or nature-based, and may or may not interact with the physical world. However, they point toward the possibility of a larger universe. They can also animate the dead, bringing them back to life. They may appear to sensitives, who may be able to see or feel them.
Many cultures believe that animals and nature spirits are protective of their species or their natural formations. They can be manipulated to allow hunting of prey animals, or can be persuaded to protect an area from a disaster. However, these spirits are not usually able to communicate with humans, and are often seen as mindless robots.