Also known by its Chinese name, Guǐ Chuī Dēng (鬼吹灯), Ghost Blows Out The Light is a series of fantasy novels that have achieved incredible success in Mainland China. Following the story of a tomb raider, the eight installments of the series were first published in 2006.
Set in the 1980s, the story follows a retired soldier and his friend who team up to raid tombs. Their antics lead them around China, uncovering secrets, myths and legends held in the ancient tombs and, eventually, a terrible curse. Later, they meet a team of archaeologists and an American, who helps them solve the secrets and mysteries that release them from the curse.
The book’s rather unusual name is drawn from an ancient Chinese tomb raiders’ myth that states: “A human lights the candle and the ghosts blow it out.” According to the author, tomb raiders would thus place a candle in the southeast corner of the tomb. If the candle’s flame was extinguished on its own, it was a sign that the tomb’s resident was unhappy with their presence and all of the artifacts must be returned to their rightful places.
The series is praised for its creativity and the way it brings together Chinese historical themes and myths in Western-style entertainment. The author, Zhang Muye, wrote the book during quiet mornings at his office, where he works in finance. Gui Chui Deng has been compared to popular Western movies like The Mummy, Tomb Raider and National Treasure for its sense of adventure combined with historical facts.
Screenshot from the Gui Chui Deng video game.
Originally, Ghost Blows Out The Light was released as an online novel – a trend that is incredibly popular in China today. Online novels allow writers to publish their work virtually unedited, avoiding the three rounds of state censorship and reaching the masses of readers in just seconds. Most online novels in China are published through forums (BBS) or portals where the author puts up most or all of the book for free. Sometimes portions of the books are blocked behind a paywall, but even then the content remains quite affordable for the average Chinese reader to purchase.
Many Chinese fiction successes get their starts as online novels and Gui Chui Deng was no exception. After online publication in March of 2006, Ghost Blows Out The Light garnered more than 6 million online readers, and when it was published in print later that year, it quickly sold more than 500,000 copies.
Ghost Blows Out The Light has subsequently sold its rights to become a popular video game, while plans are in the works for a Hollywood film version of the book directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To.