In 2015, a disturbing case emerged from Western Hunan Province — a region of China long steeped in folklore and myth. A 35-year-old man named Huang had spent years struggling with an unexplained condition: excessive drooling. He also remained unmarried, isolated, and increasingly paranoid. He became convinced that his misfortunes were not natural but the result of a sinister spell cast upon him by his aunt a decade earlier. According to Huang, she had served him “cursed corn” laced with a powerful form of black magic known in local legend as gu (蛊).
Driven by revenge and superstition, Huang turned to violence. Inspired by wartime films, he constructed a homemade bomb using old detonators he had collected years earlier. His plan: to place the device in his aunt’s kitchen, where she cooked food each morning. But before he could carry out the act, the bomb exploded prematurely. The blast left Huang severely injured and nearly blind. Authorities later charged him with attempted murder and illegal possession of explosives.
What might sound like the plot of a supernatural thriller is, in fact, part of a chilling reality: across remote parts of China, especially in Western Hunan — a region known historically as Xiangxi — belief in gu poisoning still exists, sometimes with deadly consequences.
What Is Gu (蛊)?
The character “蛊” combines the radicals for “insect” (虫) and “vessel” (皿), evoking the core image behind the myth: a sealed container filled with venomous creatures — snakes, centipedes, spiders, scorpions — left to devour each other. The surviving creature, it is said, becomes infused with supernatural toxicity and malice. This creature (or a secreted toxin derived from it) is then used to curse someone — causing illness, mental deterioration, or even death.
In traditional accounts, gu comes in many forms:
- Golden Silkworm Gu (金蚕蛊), considered especially potent,
- Snake Gu, which spreads venom through touch or sight,
- Flea or Louse Gu, often associated with madness,
- Plant Gu, created through rituals involving herbs and fungi.
These types of gu might be slipped into food, hidden in clothing, or even transferred through eye contact or thought — according to more esoteric beliefs.
Origins and Cultural Context
Gu folklore is primarily rooted in the beliefs of the Miao people, one of China’s largest ethnic minorities, who have historically inhabited the mountain regions of Western Hunan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. This region, once considered mysterious and inaccessible to outsiders, developed a reputation for strange practices. Along with “corpse walking” (赶尸) and “the flower cave maiden” myth (落花洞女), gu became one of the so-called Three Great Southern Mysteries.
The fear of gu may have emerged as a cultural response to unexplained illnesses or psychological trauma. Before the introduction of modern medicine, epilepsy, schizophrenia, or autoimmune diseases could easily be seen as spiritual or magical afflictions. In tightly knit, often secretive rural communities, suspicion, jealousy, and inter-family conflicts were fertile ground for accusations of gu poisoning.
In this light, gu functioned not only as superstition, but as a form of social control, an unofficial justice system in regions where law was remote and revenge was personal. Just the rumor that someone could use gu was enough to instill fear and obedience.
The Legacy Today
While belief in gu has declined in urban China, it still lingers in some rural pockets — particularly in areas with weak infrastructure, limited education, and strong oral traditions. In rare but real cases, it has led to violence and tragedy, such as the attempted bombing by Huang. There have been other accounts, quietly recorded by local media or buried in police archives, where family members accused each other of poisoning, leading to murder, suicide, or entire villages torn apart by fear and distrust.
Such stories underline a broader truth: folklore does not vanish — it evolves. In the modern world, gu might not always take the form of centipedes in a jar, but the psychological patterns remain. People seek explanations for suffering. They project blame. And in the absence of trust, belief can become more powerful than fact.
Conclusion
The story of gu poisoning in Western Hunan is not just a curious artifact of ancient China. It is a living example of how myth and belief continue to shape behavior — sometimes with horrific consequences. Whether seen as black magic or a cultural metaphor for fear and misunderstanding, gu reminds us of the human need to make sense of misfortune, even if the answers lie in darkness.