The article mainly talks about the relationship between people, buildings, and ghosts in Asian cities, and a part of it is dedicated to ghosts in China. What I’m most interested in is why people created the concept of ‘ghosts.’
In fact, until now, humans have not figured out whether there are ghosts after death. So, how was the “ghost” thing created? In the article, the author offers his answer: shaped to a large extent by underlying animistic beliefs and practices that continue to inform popular interpretations of official religious and philosophical doctrines in the region, ghosts, and humans have always been part of the same universe. In addition, I think human beings’ psychological needs of fear of death and curiosity about the unknown are also key factors. The concept of ghosts provides an explanation or scenario that enables people to understand or imagine the existence after death in some way, reducing the fear of death.
The article mentioned that the Confucian value system ensures that living people should care for their ancestors. This value system allows people to stay connected to the deceased psychologically or religiously and ease the longing for their deceased relatives. This perspective allows ghosts to integrate into society and become part of the city. Finally, in ancient Chinese stories, ghosts are of noble character and are guardians of the moral behavior of their descendants, guiding people to do good deeds and playing an important role in cultural inheritance.
Liu Chang
3035952197