The jiangshi, often called “hopping vampires” for their distinctive way of getting around, are creatures from Chinese folklore that gained popularity through the Mr. Vampire film series. With their pale faces, talismans stuck to their foreheads, and uncanny movements, they’re a curious mix of creepy and cute.

Take a leap into this collection of illustrations featuring jiangshi.

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(Warning: Some illustrations may be frightening or disturbing.)

Step into the world of yokai, supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore that have stirred both fear and fascination for centuries. Though some are mysterious and eerie, others, like the bakeneko (a shapeshifting cat) or baketanuki (a mischievous raccoon-dog spirit), blend spookiness with playful charm.

Do you dare to step into the realm of the supernatural with this collection of illustrations featuring yokai?

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What’s going on? And what on earth is that… that… thing?

If you’re not a fan of illustrations that make you utter the above, now’s your chance to turn back, for today’s feature is all about the disturbing and the macabre. Illustrations on pixiv will sometimes have the tag #なにこれこわい (nani kore kowai, lit. “wtf this is scary”), and as the name suggests, these drawings will leave you feeling more than a little unsettled.

Do you dare to keep scrolling? Which of these scenarios would you least like to encounter?

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In the dead of the night, a creature comes a-hopping… Why, who could it be but a jiāngshī?!

Jiāngshī, otherwise known as a Chinese hopping vampire, is a type of reanimated corpse in Chinese folklore that has inspired countless jiāngshī films in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and across East Asia. Rather than blood, these creatures come alive at night and suck the life force out of living beings. While they can sometimes appear terrifying, they can also take on the appearance of a relatively ordinary-looking, recently deceased person, like the ones featured in today’s article. Besides, don’t they seem more endearing than scary when you imagine them doing their best to hop towards you?

From traditional jiāngshī to cute modernized jiāngshī, the illustrations below showcase a diverse array of Chinese hopping vampires. Enjoy, and be careful not to get your life force sucked out of you!

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Check out this collection of drawings inspired by Japanese folklore!

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Japanese folklore is full of a wide variety of tales of yokai, or supernatural entities, that have been passed down through the ages. Though they were once the stuff of nightmares, recent artists have taken new approaches to how we see these yokai and have even made some of them downright adorable.

Takashi Natsume and Madara (from Natsume’s Book of Friends) seem to be sharing a special moment while other legendary yokai happily look on.

Is there any particular yokai below that has caught your attention?

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Jiangshi, also known as Chinese hopping vampires, are essentially reanimated corpses. The original legends are bound to give you nightmares! It’s hard to even think about a living corpse slowly creeping up behind you… but maybe not when they’re designed like the ones pictured below!

How would you react if you came face-to-face with these characters?

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Yokai (妖怪, lit. “monster”, translated as youkai on pixiv) are a staple of fictional works in Japan. Unlike in the West, they don’t have to be horrifying creatures of the night though. They can be cute and even friendly. Many are sourced from old Japanese folklore too, like fox and tanuki youkai.

InuYasha, Mushishi, and even Youkai Watch... Do you have a favorite work featuring youkai or similar creatures?

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