Ruan Zhan: Spitting on Ghosts

Comic stip
Spitting on Ghosts

Ruan Zhan came from a family of highly regarded intellectuals in ancient China. He became known in his own right as a symbol for “skepticism.”

Like most ancient civilizations China had its fair share of religions and superstitions.

Zhan became part of a movement that tried to discourage the belief in anything supernatural in China.

Upon his death an anecdote was written about him that pointed out that it is never good to be arrogant and close-minded. For it might hinder your learning or even cause your doom.

This story highlights the fact that when there is not enough information known about a subject--such as ghosts--maybe one should not be so eager to form conclusions.

Here is the anecdote.

Ruan Zhan Encounters a Ghost

During the Jin dynasty a young scholar by the name of Ruan Zhan was a well-known advocate for the No-Ghost Doctrine.

Because he was an intellectual and a good writer people found it difficult to oppose his opinion--let alone convince him otherwise.

He was proud of his doctrine and boasted to all who would listen that he had settled the matter once and for all--ghosts do not exist.

Zhan talking to visiting elder.

One day an elderly stranger visited Juan Zhan with a wish to discuss philosophy. The two men sat and engaged in a lively intellectual debate about varied subjects.

But when it came to the topic of ghosts and religion the two bitterly disagreed. Their visit quickly turned sour.

Zhan’s guest pointed out that the idea of ghosts and deities had been passed down through centuries and who was he to declare they did not exist.

The proud scholar then received a nasty shock for upon his last statement his elderly guest declared, “I myself am a ghost!”

With this he transformed into something quite terrible and deformed. He then vanished into thin air.

Ruan Zhan now quite beside himself lapsed into long silences. He became dispirited and he aged many years overnight.

Within the year a sickness overtook him and he died.

Unable to make peace with this new reality--Zhan’s pride seems to have done him in--for this ghost never physically harmed him.

So this anecdote appears to caution intellectuals that they should not allow their “hubris” to get in the way of knowledge.

Tsai Chih Chung

The following comic strip on YouTube is one Tsai Chih Chung a Taiwanese artist did about Ruan Zhan. Her work has made Chinese classics popular. Her books have sold over 40 million copies and have been translated into over a dozen languages.

This strip is adeptly titled, Spitting on Ghosts. Enlarge screen so you can see all the words.