The Role of A Beautiful Appearance in the Redemption of Female Ghosts

The aim of this study is to analyze the role played by the appearance of female ghosts in their redemption. In the literature on ghosts, entries on female ghosts highlight their "beautiful appearance": Arang (Korean), Otsuyu (Japanese), The White Lady (Europe), Nie Xiaoqian (Chinese), and Maria Makiling (Filipino). Ghosts are women who died tragically, leaving behind unfulfilled desires-particularly those related to romantic or societal expectations such as marriage, love, and motherhood. In death, they seek out men who might help them resolve these unresolved issues. Their beauty, often used to attract men, is marked by an undertone of sorrow or danger. The ghost's beauty highlights her humanity and vulnerability, juxtaposing her external allure with her internal suffering. These stories commonly convey that only a virtuous or courageous man can redeem the ghost, implying that moral integrity and kindness are essential to break the curse or free the spirit from its torment. The beauty of a female ghost increases her chances of redemption, serving as a form of social currency even after death. Her attractiveness typically symbolizes her value, prompting men to sympathize with her, fall in love, or attempt to rescue her. Although beauty serves as a device to elicit empathy or offer a pathway to redemption, these tales also highlight broader cultural concerns regarding the objectification of women and the societal focus on physical appearance as an indicator of virtue and value. In this context, plastic surgeons, by enhancing patient's physical appearance, can be seen as creators of virtue and value.