Difference between revisions of "Ro-langs"
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| − | A [[ro-langs]] is a [[zombie]]-like creature from [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|folklore}}. Ro is the [[word]] for corpse and Langs is the perfect tense of "to rise up", so Ro-Langs literally means "[[a risen corpse]]". A [[ro-langs]] is usually created by a gdon [[spirit]], or a sorcerer. A [[ro-langs]] cannot speak or bend over, it signals its {{Wiki|victims}} by wagging its {{Wiki|tongue}} back and forth. They can not bend at any joints, which makes them walk with a stiff-armed lurch. In regions of [[Tibet]] there are low doorways to keep the [[ro-langs]] out. | + | |
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| + | A [[ro-langs]] is a [[zombie]]-like creature from [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|folklore}}. Ro is the [[word]] for corpse and Langs is the {{Wiki|perfect}} tense of "to rise up", so Ro-Langs literally means "[[a risen corpse]]". A [[ro-langs]] is usually created by a gdon [[spirit]], or a sorcerer. A [[ro-langs]] cannot speak or bend over, it signals its {{Wiki|victims}} by wagging its {{Wiki|tongue}} back and forth. They can not bend at any joints, which makes them walk with a stiff-armed lurch. In regions of [[Tibet]] there are low doorways to keep the [[ro-langs]] out. | ||
==Types== | ==Types== | ||
===[[Tantric]]=== | ===[[Tantric]]=== | ||
| − | The [[tantric]] types of [[ro-langs]] are raised from the [[dead]] through a [[ritual]] for personal [[reasons]], such as to serve a {{Wiki|necromancer}} and satisfy his [[lust]] for the power of the [[occult]]. A [[religious]] history written by Kun-dga'- snying-po contains one example. Na-ra-da gained [[mystical powers]] and set off to raise a [[ro-langs]]. He enlisted the help of a [[Buddhist]] Votary. When the {{Wiki|tongue}} was cut off of the [[ro-langs]], it turned into a sword of [[occult]] power, and the [[body]] turned into {{Wiki|gold}}. The [[tantric]] type resembles the {{Wiki|voodoo}} [[zombie]]. | + | The [[tantric]] types of [[ro-langs]] are raised from the [[dead]] through a [[ritual]] for personal [[reasons]], such as to serve a {{Wiki|necromancer}} and satisfy his [[lust]] for the power of the [[occult]]. A [[religious]] history written by Kun-dga'- [[snying-po]] contains one example. Na-ra-da gained [[mystical powers]] and set off to raise a [[ro-langs]]. He enlisted the help of a [[Buddhist]] Votary. When the {{Wiki|tongue}} was cut off of the [[ro-langs]], it turned into a sword of [[occult]] power, and the [[body]] turned into {{Wiki|gold}}. The [[tantric]] type resembles the {{Wiki|voodoo}} [[zombie]]. |
==={{Wiki|Demonic}}=== | ==={{Wiki|Demonic}}=== | ||
| − | {{Wiki|Demonic}} [[ro-langs]] are created by an [[evil spirit]] with the goal of contaminating other [[humans]]; they are {{Wiki|independent}}, and do not serve a [[master]]. They are created by either a gdon [[spirit]] that has broken its oath and become [[evil]], or a [[bgegs]] [[spirit]], that is [[evil]]. Once the [[consciousness]] has left the [[body]], the [[evil spirit]] enters the [[body]] before it is buried. {{Wiki|Demonic}} [[ro-langs]] have the power to infect other [[humans]] by [[touching]] them on the head. The [[idea]] of this type of [[ro-lang]] has helped shape the [[zombie]] in the film industry. | + | {{Wiki|Demonic}} [[ro-langs]] are created by an [[evil spirit]] with the goal of contaminating other [[humans]]; they are {{Wiki|independent}}, and do not serve a [[master]]. They are created by either a gdon [[spirit]] that has broken its oath and become [[evil]], or a [[bgegs]] [[spirit]], that is [[evil]]. Once the [[consciousness]] has left the [[body]], the [[evil spirit]] enters the [[body]] before it is [[Wikipedia:burial|buried]]. {{Wiki|Demonic}} [[ro-langs]] have the power to infect other [[humans]] by [[touching]] them on the head. The [[idea]] of this type of [[ro-lang]] has helped shape the [[zombie]] in the film industry. |
==Storytelling== | ==Storytelling== | ||
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A {{Wiki|comatose}} story takes place at a definite location, a short [[time]] ago. The [[ro-langs]] in this story do not contaminate any [[people]] and they are quickly dispatched. | A {{Wiki|comatose}} story takes place at a definite location, a short [[time]] ago. The [[ro-langs]] in this story do not contaminate any [[people]] and they are quickly dispatched. | ||
| − | Old [[Tibetan medical]] practices were not always sufficient for determining if a [[person]] is truly [[dead]]. [[Ro-langs]] in {{Wiki|comatose}} stories have been described as having blue [[eyes]] instead of white. This is also a symptom of a [[person]] in a {{Wiki|comatose}} state. It is believed that these [[people]] "rising from the [[dead]]" are actually just waking up from a {{Wiki|comatose}} state. | + | Old [[Tibetan medical]] practices were not always sufficient for determining if a [[person]] is truly [[dead]]. [[Ro-langs]] in {{Wiki|comatose}} stories have been described as having blue [[eyes]] instead of white. This is also a symptom of a [[person]] in a {{Wiki|comatose}} [[state]]. It is believed that these [[people]] "rising from the [[dead]]" are actually just [[waking]] up from a {{Wiki|comatose}} [[state]]. |
==Vulnerability== | ==Vulnerability== | ||
| − | [[Ro-langs]] cannot be "killed" due to the fact that they have already [[died]], but they can be made to "fall over" ([[brgyal-ba]]), a {{Wiki|euphemism}} for killing the undead. The [[ro-langs]] can be classified by one of five vulnerabilities: | + | [[Ro-langs]] cannot be "killed" due to the fact that they have already [[died]], but they can be made to "fall over" ([[brgyal-ba]]), a {{Wiki|euphemism}} for {{Wiki|killing}} the undead. The [[ro-langs]] can be classified by one of five vulnerabilities: |
:1. [[lpags-langs]] or {{Wiki|skin}}-[[zombie]]; | :1. [[lpags-langs]] or {{Wiki|skin}}-[[zombie]]; | ||
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The types of [[ro-langs]] above are listed in order of difficulty to defeat. The skin-zombie is considered the easiest to defeat because the {{Wiki|skin}} is easy to break, whereas the mole-zombie is considered to be the most difficult to defeat because of the small area of vulnerability, and the potential for the location of the mole to be unknown to the intended victim. | The types of [[ro-langs]] above are listed in order of difficulty to defeat. The skin-zombie is considered the easiest to defeat because the {{Wiki|skin}} is easy to break, whereas the mole-zombie is considered to be the most difficult to defeat because of the small area of vulnerability, and the potential for the location of the mole to be unknown to the intended victim. | ||
| − | [[Ro-langs]] are unable to bend at the waist; to exploit this weakness, many buildings in early [[Tibetan]] architecture were built with very low door frames. The [[belief]] was that the Ro-lang, unable to bend, would simply run into the low doorway, and be unable to enter the building. | + | [[Ro-langs]] are unable to bend at the waist; to exploit this weakness, many buildings in early [[Tibetan]] [[architecture]] were built with very low door frames. The [[belief]] was that the [[Ro-lang]], unable to bend, would simply run into the low doorway, and be unable to enter the building. |
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 13:44, 16 December 2015
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A ro-langs is a zombie-like creature from Tibetan folklore. Ro is the word for corpse and Langs is the perfect tense of "to rise up", so Ro-Langs literally means "a risen corpse". A ro-langs is usually created by a gdon spirit, or a sorcerer. A ro-langs cannot speak or bend over, it signals its victims by wagging its tongue back and forth. They can not bend at any joints, which makes them walk with a stiff-armed lurch. In regions of Tibet there are low doorways to keep the ro-langs out.
Types
Tantric
The tantric types of ro-langs are raised from the dead through a ritual for personal reasons, such as to serve a necromancer and satisfy his lust for the power of the occult. A religious history written by Kun-dga'- snying-po contains one example. Na-ra-da gained mystical powers and set off to raise a ro-langs. He enlisted the help of a Buddhist Votary. When the tongue was cut off of the ro-langs, it turned into a sword of occult power, and the body turned into gold. The tantric type resembles the voodoo zombie.
Demonic
Demonic ro-langs are created by an evil spirit with the goal of contaminating other humans; they are independent, and do not serve a master. They are created by either a gdon spirit that has broken its oath and become evil, or a bgegs spirit, that is evil. Once the consciousness has left the body, the evil spirit enters the body before it is buried. Demonic ro-langs have the power to infect other humans by touching them on the head. The idea of this type of ro-lang has helped shape the zombie in the film industry.
Storytelling
A ro-langs can be described in one of three storytelling formats.
Legendary
A legendary story consists of an incident that occurred many years ago, and has been told of for centuries. The characters described in the stories are often labeled without names, instead with title such as "mother", "father", "prince", etc. This makes them difficult to trace back to the original event.
Epidemic
In an epidemic story, a ro-langs rises and infects many people, often in one night. The ro-langs disease is transmitted by a ro-langs touching a person on the head. The story often ends with the ro-langs being defeated.
Comatose
A comatose story takes place at a definite location, a short time ago. The ro-langs in this story do not contaminate any people and they are quickly dispatched.
Old Tibetan medical practices were not always sufficient for determining if a person is truly dead. Ro-langs in comatose stories have been described as having blue eyes instead of white. This is also a symptom of a person in a comatose state. It is believed that these people "rising from the dead" are actually just waking up from a comatose state.
Vulnerability
Ro-langs cannot be "killed" due to the fact that they have already died, but they can be made to "fall over" (brgyal-ba), a euphemism for killing the undead. The ro-langs can be classified by one of five vulnerabilities:
- 1. lpags-langs or skin-zombie;
- 2. khrag-langs or blood-zombie;
- 3. sha-langs or flesh-zombie;
- 4. rus-langs or bone-zombie;
- 5. rme-langs or mole-zombie.
The prefix of the name describes the vulnerability. To make a skin-zombie fall over, one must break the skin. A blood-zombie must bleed, a flesh-zombie must be deeply cut or have flesh removed, a bone-zombie must have a fractured bone, and a mole-zombie is only vulnerable at a mole on the body.
The types of ro-langs above are listed in order of difficulty to defeat. The skin-zombie is considered the easiest to defeat because the skin is easy to break, whereas the mole-zombie is considered to be the most difficult to defeat because of the small area of vulnerability, and the potential for the location of the mole to be unknown to the intended victim.
Ro-langs are unable to bend at the waist; to exploit this weakness, many buildings in early Tibetan architecture were built with very low door frames. The belief was that the Ro-lang, unable to bend, would simply run into the low doorway, and be unable to enter the building.
