Jiangshi

Chinese Hopping Vampire

2021

Movies and TV

The Jiangshi Queen, also known as Queen of the Vampires, is a recurring antagonist in Hong Kong horror and comedy films, particularly those featuring the Jiangshi, or Chinese hopping vampire. She isn't a single, fixed character but rather an archetype or a powerful Jiangshi who leads or commands other Jiangshi.

Her origins are rooted in Chinese folklore, where Jiangshi are reanimated corpses who absorb the Qi, or vital energy, of the living. The Queen takes this concept to the extreme, often portrayed as an exceptionally potent and intelligent Jiangshi with unique abilities beyond simple hopping and Qi draining. She embodies the ultimate threat within the Jiangshi hierarchy.

Common traits include pale skin, elaborate Qing dynasty attire, and long, sharp fingernails. She is usually stronger, faster, and more resistant to traditional Jiangshi remedies like peach wood swords, mirrors, and sticky rice. Defeating the Jiangshi Queen often requires exceptional skill, powerful Taoist magic, or exploiting a specific weakness, making her the climactic challenge in Jiangshi narratives.