Chapter 175 Introduction to Ancient Witchcraft
Many people have only heard of the extermination of corpses in Xiangxi.
There are also some people who have never heard of it.
I’ve also watched Uncle Ying’s zombie movies.
So as soon as Ye Zhen said it, they knew what it was.
"Isn't this something original in the movie!?"
"Does this really exist in the real world?"
"No way, this is actually true."
"Haven't you heard of corpse extermination in western Hunan?"
Some viewers actually became frightened after listening to what Ye Zhen said.
Ye Zhen said in a gentle voice: "The corpse removal in Xiangxi is actually based on classification."
"It can also be considered a type of witchcraft."
witchcraft?
Unexpectedly, this was actually related to the ancient witch clan.
Ye Zhen continued: "These corpse chasers in western Hunan are locally called corpse chasers.
And these corpse exorcists said that what they inherited was Zhu Youshu.
And according to legend, there are thirteen subjects in Zhu Youshu, which are called the Thirteen Subjects of Zhu Rong.
Exorcising corpses is just an introductory witchcraft.
Now let me explain to you, what abilities does this corpse exorcist have?
It can make the dead body move and the body will not decay.
I can follow your channeling voice and walk directly in the mountains.
Let those who die outside return to their roots. "
We in China are very particular about returning fallen leaves to their roots.
If someone dies in another place, many people will take the trouble of transporting the body back to their hometown.
The purpose is to make people return to their roots after falling leaves.
It can be said that the idea of fallen leaves returning to their roots is deeply imprinted in the minds of Chinese people.
At the same time, in the local area, corpse exorcism is also known as the "Three Evils in Western Hunan" together with Gu Du and Luohua Cave Girl.
Three Evils in Western Hunan?
This is the first time everyone has heard this statement.
Ye Zhen continued: "The people of Xiangxi have long had the custom of exorcising corpses.
Until the last century, Chinese officials still recorded this mysterious and controversial phenomenon.
So how do these dead bodies move while listening to the sound of gongs? "
Even some local people in western Hunan are very curious.
What the hell is going on in Xiangxi?
"Here are records from the Qing Dynasty about the entire process of exorcising corpses at that time.
At that time, executions were usually carried out in the autumn.
Also known as Autumn Jue.
On the day of the execution, the cadaver and his assistant will be waiting outside the execution site.
When the time comes, the executioner cuts off the head cleanly.
The corpse driver and his assistant immediately stepped forward.
While the body was still steaming, the man's head and body were sewn together.
The corpse exorcist will mutter some spells on the side.
Then, after the assistant sews the head and body together, the exorcist will take out the cinnabar.
In Taoism, cinnabar has always had a special status.
Whether it is refining elixirs or casting spells, cinnabar is needed.
When everyone watched Uncle Ying's movies, they didn't see Cinnabar often.
Place this bit of cinnabar in seven special places of the deceased.
The center of the forehead, the center of the chest, the center of the chest, the center of the left and right hands, the center of the soles of the feet, etc.
Each position is suppressed by a magical rune that has been drawn in advance.
Then tie it tightly with five-color cloth strips.
According to legend, these seven places are the entrances and exits of the seven orifices, and they are sealed with cinnabar talismans to retain the seven souls of the deceased.
However, in current scientific terms, this is using cinnabar for sterilization and antisepsis.
Prevent corpses from decaying. "
Because anyone with some common sense knows it.
Once a person dies, he or she will quickly decompose if no antiseptic measures are taken.
If it's summer, the body will decompose faster.
“Then they would also use cinnabar to plug the person’s five orifices.
This is said to seal a person's three souls within the body.
In fact, its function is also anti-corrosion.
Immediately afterwards, the corpse exorcist will recite a spell on the spot, and then the corpse will move on its own. "
This recorded process seems to be unreliable.
Can you move by just chanting a spell?
Some viewers started laughing.
"Isn't this corpse exorcist also a person with special powers?"
"So they have the power to control corpses?"
"I don't believe there is such technology, it's too outrageous."
Obviously the audience cannot accept that driving a corpse is so simple? So what is the scientific explanation?
However, Ye Zhen did not explain, but continued to introduce.
“There are also some rigid requirements for exorcism.
There are three things to do here, and three things to not do.
It is said that this is the evidence they have been passing down.
Those who were beheaded, those who were hanged, and those who stood in cages to death could be expelled.
But for those who were beheaded, the head and body needed to be sewn together as I mentioned above.
What are three things that don’t rush?
Those who died of illness, those who died voluntarily by throwing themselves into a river, and those who suffered from physical insufficiency by thunder and fire cannot be driven.
According to the exorcist.
The soul of this person who died of illness has been taken away by the King of Hell.
They exorcists cannot call their souls back from the gate of hell.
What about those who died by drowning in the river?It is said that he was dragged by the water ghost to be the scapegoat.
So if they summon souls, they may summon other people's souls.
It is not the soul of the original owner, so this cannot be driven away.
The second is people who are struck by lightning. Their explanation is that such people are often guilty of serious sins.
After all, it was already thundering, so these people couldn't rush away.
But this is just their metaphysical statement.
What is it actually?
They need the corpse to be intact if it is not intact.
There is no way to drive away the corpse. Even if the head is chopped off, the head still needs to be sewn back together.
Only in this way can the corpse be driven away.
And what are the characteristics of the three things that don’t rush?
If they die of illness, they usually carry viruses on their bodies, which can easily cause them to contract the disease themselves. They are thinking about their own lives.
Of course they won't rush people who have died of second is those who drowned in the river.
Even if the body is recovered, it will already be soaked and swollen.
It is impossible to drive away the corpse at all. The corpse will rot very quickly, so it is impossible to drive away the corpse at all.
The last one is the person struck by lightning, whose body has been burned by fire.
They are all incomplete, and of course the corpses cannot be expelled. "
All things that seem metaphysical.
In fact, there is scientific reason behind it.
After listening to Ye Zhen's explanation, the audience did not understand.
"Why do they want the body to be intact?"
"Isn't this a special function? Why are there so many restrictions?"
"Could it be that this is not a superpower, but something fishy in it?"
Only then did Ye Zhen start to explain.
"According to current scientific theory, how is it possible to drive out corpses in Xiangxi?"
"Let's first take a look at the requirements of this corpse exorcist for accepting an apprentice.
The first requirement they have for accepting disciples is that they must be ugly, the uglier the better. "
Some viewers sighed after hearing this.
"Hey, I will never be able to drive away corpses in this life."
"I, Daniel Wu, are not convinced! I'm going to drive away the corpse!"
"Hahaha, I think you are very suitable for driving away corpses."
The requirement for accepting a disciple is actually that the uglier the better?why is that? I only heard about it in some novels, such as Hehuanzong and the like.
Only young and beautiful female disciples.
I have never heard that the first requirement for a disciple is to be ugly.
This request is too strange.
Then Ye Zhen said: "In addition to being ugly, you also need to be 16 years old, over meters tall, and physically strong.
You must have a strong sense of direction and not be road-chaotic.
In fact, this is inevitable, otherwise if you are a road idiot.
You may not know where the corpse will be taken.
The second thing is that when driving away corpses, two people are needed.
This is also why corpse chasers take on apprentices. "
After Ye Zhen finished introducing everyone.
Everyone still doesn't know how this corpse removal is done.
However, some smart people have already seen some traces from it.
These seem to be required by metaphysics.
There is actually a scientific reason behind it.
"Now let me reveal to you how this corpse removal is done.
There are several theories here.
The first is that when a body dies, it becomes rigor mortis.
Logically speaking, a corpse cannot move after rigor mortis, and it is impossible to move his hands and feet at all.
But after 48 hours.
The body will regain some softness, and then become stiff again.
But at this time, large joints, such as hip joints, are under the action of external forces.
There is still a small amount of room for movement.
This is one of the physical conditions for the dead to walk.
This is different from the stereotype that a corpse cannot move after rigor mortis.
After having this objective physical condition, it is time to implement it.
The first is to use bamboo poles to thread the corpses through the bamboo poles.
Straighten the forearm parallel to the ground, and then use a long and thin bamboo pole to fix it with a rope along the arm. The two corpses are connected into a three-dimensional shelf.
This is why when we drive away corpses, we see corpses with their arms straightened out.
In the movies you've seen, zombies usually walk like this. "
Ye Zhen straightened his hands and jumped twice in front of the camera.
The audience suddenly understood.
"I'll tell you why zombies jump with their arms stretched out."
"So that's why?"
"Now the truth is revealed!"
Apparently everyone understands why zombies stretch their arms and jump.
It turned out that they were clamped directly with bamboo poles.
In this way, several bodies can be worn at the same time.
This can explain why there are usually queues when driving away corpses.
From a distance, they appear to be right next to each other.
Most people would not get close to see something like this.
On the one hand, this is very unlucky, and on the other hand, it is also a sign of respect for the deceased.
"Then how did this corpse jump? This is where an assistant is needed.
Why does it take two people to drive away corpses, and why do we need to recruit apprentices? Because the movement of the corpse requires someone to lead it.
The apprentice directly put on black clothes and walked around with the body behind him.
Because it is necessary to conceal the existence of the apprentice, people think that this first one is also a corpse.
Therefore, their corpses generally need to be covered with cloth or other things.
Or just put a talisman on it, so that the disciple's presence can be concealed.
Why do you need the apprentice to be ugly? This will make people think that this is already a corpse. "
After hearing Ye Zhen's explanation, some of the previous requirements were very clear.
Why do you need apprentices to be strong and ugly?
Why does it take two people to drive away the corpse?
There is a reason for all this!
And in this place in western Hunan.
According to geographical conditions, it generally slopes downward.
The walk is usually on a downward slope. Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, and the corpse rack can be walked more easily.
And these paths are carefully chosen by the corpse chasers.
If you encounter an insurmountable slope, you will need two people to lift it up one by one.
This is why it takes two people to drive away the corpse.
So the corpse removal is actually all science behind it.
After Ye Zhen's explanation.
The extermination of corpses in Xiangxi does not seem to be a mysterious thing.
The audience felt a little bored.
"It turns out it's not a superpower."
"That's it? That's it!? It's boring."
"I thought it would be some kind of ancient witchcraft, but it turned out to be just this."
“It’s like magic, once the secret is revealed, it’s not so mysterious anymore.”
Just saw a strange smile on Ye Zhen's face.
Is the truth really that simple?
(End of this chapter)