Hopping Vampires

These wonderfully bizarre denizens of the night from 'Black Hat Miniatures' were supposed to have been a Halloween post last year, but with one thing and another they just didn't get done.  Although not technically historical miniatures, I did manage to shoehorn them into the closing rounds of 'The 3rd Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge' under the disguise of sleepwalking Chinese priests, but was never really happy with the initial results.  So after a period of inactivity I have decided to ease myself back into the painting chair by reworking them a little.

Original challenge entry

So what on earth is a Chinese "hopping" vampire or zombie?  Simply put it is a type of reanimated corpse prolific in Chinese legends and folklore.  The 'Jiangshi' rest during the day in a coffin or other suitably dark and dank lair - I understand caves are popular!    At night, however, they move around by hopping, with their arms outstretched.  Now I appreciate that this doesn't sound very scary but be warned as they kill living creatures to absorb their 'qi' or life force.

Just to put your minds at rest I have found various deterrents used in the banishing of these beastly bloodsuckers and list them here for your convenience:

• Mirrors,  Hopping Vampires are said to be terrified of their own reflections; well do you blame them?
• A rooster's call, "Ghosts withdraw when they hear a rooster's call", how very poetic!
• Jujube seeds, "Nail seven jujube seeds into the acupoints on a corpse's back"; not sure about this one, sounds decidedly problematic to me.
• Fire; always a favourite.
• Hooves of a black donkey; I ask you!
• Thread stained with black ink; not what I would be looking for if I came across a Hopping Vampire, but each to their own and finally,
• Blood of a black dog (see author's previous note!)