Ghostlore
Defined by narratives often featuring apparitions of the deceased, ghostlore stands as a universal phenomenon, with roots extending deeply into human history.
The term "ghost" eludes a singular definition, its meaning has evolved across cultures, shaped by various interpretations rooted in religious beliefs, folklore, and historical context.
[1][2] Several centuries later, in the writings of Pliny the Younger, can be found the second-oldest mention of a haunted house in which the philosopher Athenodorus helps lay the bones of a restless spirit to rest.
[5] During the Middle Ages, ghost stories often centered around the idea of restless spirits who were unable to find peace in the afterlife.
[6] Ghostlore continued to evolve during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, as scientific and rational thought began to challenge traditional beliefs in the supernatural.
[7][8] In the 19th and early 20th centuries, interest in the paranormal and spiritualism grew, with many people believing in the existence of ghosts and the possibility of communicating with the dead.
[19] India is a land of diverse cultural and religious traditions, and ghostlore has been an integral part of the country's folklore and mythology for centuries.
[20][21] The concept of ghosts, or bhootas, is deeply rooted in Indian culture, and they are often depicted as malevolent spirits that haunt specific locations or individuals.
[28] '鬼' (Mandarin pinyin: guǐ) is the general Chinese term for ghost which itself is a derivative of the verb "wei 威", which means "awe inspiring".
Jones argues that "[f]or ghostlore to thrive one needs a section that has been settled for a considerable length of time, where the houses are old, and at least a fair share of the population is permanent.
One of the most well-known Nigerian ghost stories is that of the Abiku,[34] a malevolent spirit that is said to be responsible for the repeated deaths of a family's newborn children.
[34] To prevent an Abiku from returning, families will sometimes resort to extreme measures such as burning the child's body or burying it under a large rock.
[37][38] Specific locations that are associated with death or tragedy often gain a local reputation for being haunted more quickly than more benign places.
In this way, ghostlore on college campuses serves not only to entertain and frighten, but also to create a sense of shared history and tradition among students.
[43] The emotional impact of these stories may be attributed to the association of college campuses with youth and discovery, as well as the potential for tragedy and loss inherent in the transition to adulthood.
[44] Students who stayed in the room reported objects flying off shelves and shattering against walls, and the door slamming open and shut repeatedly.
[50] Castles were once the centers of power and authority in medieval Europe, serving as the homes of kings, queens, and nobles, as well as the sites of battles and political intrigue.
[50] The ghosts that are said to haunt castles are often believed to be the spirits of former inhabitants or visitors who died tragic or violent deaths, such as prisoners or soldiers who perished during wars or battles.
[50] These spirits are said to linger in the halls and rooms of the castle, sometimes reenacting the events that led to their deaths or simply making their presence known through unexplained phenomena such as strange noises, cold spots, or apparitions.
[50] Countless books, films, and television shows have featured haunted castles as their settings, and they continue to be a popular theme in horror and fantasy genres.
[57] These tales often feature ghosts of former patients or staff members who act as vengeful spirits of those who passed away in the hospital or seek to inflict suffering from beyond the grave.
[60] These stories commonly feature ghosts or supernatural entities that haunt beaches, lighthouses, or other coastal locations, these narratives can intersect with other subgenres of folklore such as the "lost treasure" motif.
[60] The overlap between haunted beach and lost treasure stories can likely be traced back to the long history of piracy and shipwrecks along coastlines.
Many of these stories feature pirates or sailors who buried their treasure on a nearby beach before being killed or captured, and the ghosts of these men are said to haunt the area in search of their lost wealth.
[61][62] Haunted battlefields are a common theme in ghostlore, often attributed to the violent deaths and residual energy left behind from the conflict.
Other notable examples include the battlefield of Culloden in Scotland, where the final Jacobite uprising took place, and the site of the Battle of Bosworth in England, where King Richard III was killed.
[67] Religion and ghostlore have a long and intertwined history, with many cultures incorporating beliefs about spirits and supernatural beings into their religious practices.
[72] This belief often includes the idea that the spirits of the dead can return to the living world, either to seek revenge, offer guidance, or simply to visit loved ones.
They manifest in discussions, contradictions, additions, implementations, corrections, approvals, and disapprovals during some or all phases of their transmission, from their inception through various courses of elaboration, variation, decline, and revitalization.Stories often draw from the general history of an area or from specific historical incidents.
"[75] Brown notes that some stories cease to be passed down once the setting has been significantly altered, as in the case of a "haunted house" demolished.
