Kuei-Shen
/ˌkweɪ ˈʃən/noun
A traditional Chinese term referring collectively to ghosts, spirits, and supernatural beings.
Did you know?In classical Confucian writing, kuei-shen could refer to supernatural forces without necessarily endorsing a simple divide between benevolent gods and evil ghosts.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese, before 200 BCE
Old Chinese
鬼 (*kʷˤəjʔ)
“A ghost or disembodied spirit, especially the continuing spirit of a dead person.”
Old Chinese, before 200 BCE
Old Chinese
神 (*l̥e[n])
“A spirit, deity, or numinous power.”
4th–2nd Century BCE
Classical Chinese
鬼神 (guǐshén)
“Ghosts and spirits; a conventional expression for the unseen supernatural realm.”
19th–20th Century
Wade–Giles Chinese
kuei-shen
“The scholarly romanization used in English-language writing for 鬼神.”
Modern English
English
kuei-shen / guishen
“A specialized term in discussions of Chinese religion, philosophy, ritual, and cosmology.”