In 1768, close to the peak of its prosperity, China was swept by fear of sorcery. Master-magicians were said to be at work, sending out servants to stupefy victims, clip their hair – and steal their souls. The lost souls, in turn, were to be used to animate malicious paper men and animals… creating an unstoppable supernatural army that would have the power to overthrow the Emperor himself.
via Sorcerers and soulstealers: hair-cutting panics in old China — A Blast From The Past
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