In Chinese culture, they are called 婴灵 (Yīng Líng). They are believed to be the souls of babies who were aborted, miscarried, stillborn, or who died shortly after birth. Often, they are not properly buried—especially in cases of abortion in hospitals, where remains may be disposed of as medical waste. In many cases, they are also not given a name or a memorial tablet.
According to Chinese beliefs, these souls are helpless and may linger in the human world, unable to be reborn. This is thought to be especially true for those who were aborted, as their circumstances may give rise to resentment or unrest. Some believe that such spirits may haunt their loved ones—particularly their biological mother—bringing misfortune or harm to the family.
Earlier this month, on Sunday, 4 August 2024, it was the first day of the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival (Zhong Yuan Jie). During this time, many people offer food and necessities to their deceased loved ones. This festival prompted me to write this article after a conversation with a friend.
She lost her first baby about 16 years ago due to a first-trimester miscarriage. To this day, she continues to make offerings and prayers to her unborn child. Her shunfu (a spiritual teacher or feng shui master) advised her to perform rituals known as 婴灵超度 (Yīng líng chāodù, or “spirit baby transcendence”) for as long as possible. These rituals are believed to help the unborn child accumulate merit and find a path toward peace or rebirth. Want to know pregnancy taboos, read here.
Each year during the Hungry Ghost Festival, she pays her respects together with her husband and children. This practice also helps her family acknowledge the presence of the spirit baby, offering love and warmth through their actions.
She shared a few photos from one of her visits to the temple. As her unborn baby was never given a name, the temporary tablet displayed a number along with parts of both parents’ surnames. This signifies that the temple has performed the transcendence rituals on her behalf. Offerings are then placed accordingly, mostly on the floor.
I do not have a definitive explanation for why some temporary paper tablets are placed on the floor while others are positioned higher on tables. One possibility is that it reflects a form of spiritual hierarchy—ancestors and elders are given higher placement than younger spirits. Another interpretation is more symbolic: younger spirits are thought to be smaller in stature, so offerings are placed on the floor for easier access. I recall visiting Hell’s Museum in Singapore, where offerings for children were consistently placed on the ground.
Some believe that if spirit babies are not guided toward transcendence, they may bring harm to the living. From stories shared on Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories (Singapore Radio Love 97.2 FM), individuals who claim to have a “third eye” describe seeing small spirits lingering around women—sometimes clinging to their backs—causing physical discomfort such as back pain. It is also believed that spirits of unborn babies continue to grow, unlike spirits of children who passed away young, who remain in their child form.
One story, shared by Miss Mole (Ho Ai Ling) on 28 August 2020, recounts an experience involving a Singaporean actress. She frequently experienced chest tightness around 2 pm. One day, while changing in a dressing room with a colleague, they both heard a child’s voice saying, “Red is pretty.” The symptoms persisted, yet medical tests found no physical cause. Eventually, she sought help from a spiritual medium, who claimed that the spirit of her aborted child harboured resentment. According to the medium, the spirit would cause her discomfort daily at the same time. After performing the necessary rituals, her symptoms reportedly ceased.
Another story, also shared by Miss Mole on 13 November 2020, involves a man named Gary. His father, a taxi driver, suffered from chronic stomach pain that persisted despite medical treatment. A friend suggested seeking help from a spiritual medium. Through this consultation, Gary learned that his parents had aborted a daughter after his birth. The decision was influenced by traditional beliefs, as he was born in the Year of the Dragon and the unborn child would have been born in the Year of the Tiger—two zodiac signs believed to clash. According to the medium, the spirit of the unborn daughter had since formed attachments and wished to marry. After conducting a ghost wedding (冥婚, Míng hūn), the father’s symptoms were said to have disappeared.
These are just two examples among many shared on Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories, which can be found on the MeListen app. Other related episodes include those from 26 June 2020, 7 July 2023, and 25 August 2023.
So, what do you think? Does every human body have a soul? After death, do we move on—or do some remain behind?
Regardless of personal belief, perhaps the most important takeaway is this: to respect every life.
