Jiang Shi - China
The jiang shi of China is the only revenant that hops. They seem to be related to the lich and, like the lich, the amount of decay found on the jiang shi depends on how long they have been buried before rising from the grave. Some look fairly fresh while others may be nothing more than walking, or hopping, skeletons. (Foonie) They are covered with green fuzz all over, probably due to fungus or mold growing on their bodies, and are usually dressed in Imperial clothing. The arms are permanently stretched forward due to rigor mortis and they have long, white hair. (Foonie)
There are differing opinions as to what causes the jiang shi to come to life. One says that a necromancer raises the jiang shi from the grave. (Knight) This is unlikely as Chinese spirituality does not easily lend itself to the idea of the necromancer. The other opinion says that the jiang shi is an ancestor that has been neglected for a very long period of time (sometimes centuries which is why it is dressed in Imperial clothing). This is more likely as it lends itself to the Chinese reverence for ancestor and acts as a cautionary tale to others to not neglect their ancestors. (Knight)
The jiang shi get their image from a tradition that was used to transport corpses. When a loved one died away from home, family would often get Taoist priests to transport the bodies. Bamboo sticks were tied to the corpse and the corpse, upright, would hop along after the priest on its way to burial. If the person died away from home, this was a simple way of transporting the corpse to their home so it could be buried in familiar surroundings. (Foonie) The priests would often walk along roads at night with lanterns tied to the bamboo sticks. The reason for nocturnal travel was simple; to avoid frightening other travelers.
There are differing opinions as to what causes the jiang shi to come to life. One says that a necromancer raises the jiang shi from the grave. (Knight) This is unlikely as Chinese spirituality does not easily lend itself to the idea of the necromancer. The other opinion says that the jiang shi is an ancestor that has been neglected for a very long period of time (sometimes centuries which is why it is dressed in Imperial clothing). This is more likely as it lends itself to the Chinese reverence for ancestor and acts as a cautionary tale to others to not neglect their ancestors. (Knight)
The jiang shi get their image from a tradition that was used to transport corpses. When a loved one died away from home, family would often get Taoist priests to transport the bodies. Bamboo sticks were tied to the corpse and the corpse, upright, would hop along after the priest on its way to burial. If the person died away from home, this was a simple way of transporting the corpse to their home so it could be buried in familiar surroundings. (Foonie) The priests would often walk along roads at night with lanterns tied to the bamboo sticks. The reason for nocturnal travel was simple; to avoid frightening other travelers.