Jiangshi Baby

Early Republican era, Northeast China, deep winter, a blizzard.

A boy of the Yan family in Wangshan Village was born inside the coffin where his deceased mother had lain in state for three days. He had no heartbeat and did not breathe. By day, he ate living creatures; by night, he consumed things of the dead. People called him “Yan the Reaper,” “the Living Yama,” and “Little Zhong Kui.”