Editing Spirit possession (section)

===East Asia===
{{See also|East Asian religions}}
Certain sects of [[Taoism]], [[Korean shamanism]], [[Shinto]], some [[Japanese new religions|Japanese new religious movements]], and other East Asian religions feature the idea of spirit possession. Some sects feature [[Shamanism|shamans]] who supposedly become possessed; [[Mediumship|mediums]] who allegedly channel beings' supernatural power; or [[Enchanter (paranormal)|enchanters]] are said to imbue or foster spirits within objects, like [[samurai swords]].{{sfnp|Oxtoby|Amore|2010|pp=256–319}} The Hong Kong film ''Super Normal II'' (''大迷信'', 1993) shows the true famous story of a young lady in [[Taiwan]] who possesses the dead body of a married woman to live her pre-determined remaining life.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://tsasf.myweb.hinet.net/asf_5a.htm| title = 朱秀華借屍回陽記}}</ref> She is still serving in the Zhen Tian Temple in [[Yunlin County]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ztg.com.tw| title = 豐原鎮天宮全球資訊網}}</ref>

{{anchor|China}}

====China====
{{main|Chinese spirit possession}}

===== Background =====
China is a country where 73.56% of the population is defined as [[Chinese folk religion]]/unaffiliated (nonreligion). Therefore, the Chinese population's knowledge of spirit possession is not majorly obtained from religion. Instead, the concept is spread through fairy tales/folk tales and literary works of its traditional culture. In essence, the concept of soul possession has penetrated into all aspects of Chinese life, from people's superstitions, folk taboos, and funeral rituals, to various ghost-themed literary works, and has continued to spread to people's lives today.

===== Development =====
Spirit possession in China was prominent until the Communist takeover in the 1950s and most of the data gathered on this topic will be from the late 18th century. Some Chinese believe that illnesses to man is due to the possession of an evil yin spirit (kuei). These evil spirits become such when the deceased are not worshiped by the family, they have died unexpectedly, or did not follow Confucius's ideals of filial piety and ancestral reverence accordingly. These evil spirits cause unexplainable disasters, agricultural shocks and possessions. Disease is the cause of the supernatural where they do not have control over. Usually in the writings about this, the healers are the ones being described with detail, not so much the patient. Magical practices are sometimes what spirit possession is referred to as. It is very hard to distinguish between the religion, magic and local traditions. This is because many times, all three are fused together, so sometimes trying to distinguish between them is hard.

===== Shaman =====
Another type of spirit possession works through a [[shaman]], a prophet, healer and religious figure with the power to partially control spirits and communicate for them. Messages, remedies and even oracles are delivered through the shaman. This is sometimes used by people who would like to become important figures. Usually, shamans give guidance that reflects the customer's existing values.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spirit-Writing and the Development of Chinese Cults |url=https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/3712120?searchText=Chinese+spirit+possession&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DChinese%2Bspirit%2Bpossession%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3A805862bf6169d3d628b6d045776b6bdb&seq=2}}</ref>

===== Yin-yang theory =====
The yin-yang theory is one of the most important bases and components of Chinese traditional culture. The yin-yang theory has penetrated into various traditional Chinese cultural things including calendar, astronomy, meteorology, Chinese medicine, martial arts, calligraphy, architecture, religion, feng shui, divination, etc. The yin-yang theory also applies to spirit possession. In general, one is considered to be "weak", when the yin and yang in the body are imbalanced, especially when the yin is on the dominant side. The spirits, which are categorized as the yin side, will then take control of these individuals with the imbalanced and yin-dominant situation more easily.
* [[Shi (personator)|Shi]] ([[Chinese ancestor veneration]])
* [[Solon people#Shamanism|Shamanism of the Solon People]] ([[Inner Mongolia]])
* [[Tangki]]

{{anchor|Japan}}

====Japan====
* [[Misaki#Spirit possession|Misaki]]