鬼

(sa) preta 薜荔多, departed, dead; a disembodied spirit, dead person, ghost; a demon, evil being; especially a 餓鬼 hungry ghost. They are of many kinds. The Fan-i ming i classifies them as poor, medium, and rich; each again thrice subdivided:

(1) (a) with mouths like burning torches; (b) throats no bigger than needles; (c) vile breath, disgusting to themselves;

(2) (a) needle-haired, self-piercing; (b) hair sharp and stinking; (c) having great wens on whose pus they must feed.

(3) (a) living on the remains of sacrifices; (b) on leavings in general; (c) powerful ones, (sa) yakṣas, (sa) rākṣasas, (sa) piśācas, etc. All belong to the realm of Yama, whence they are sent everywhere, consequently are ubiquitous in every house, lane, market, mound, stream, tree, etc.