Editing Demon (section)

==== Disambiguation ====
The terms Yao ({{Lang|zh|妖}}), Mo ({{Lang|zh|魔}}), Gui ({{Lang|zh|鬼}}), Guai ({{Lang|zh|怪}}) and Xie ({{Lang|zh|邪}}) are their various two-character combinations often used to refer to these creatures, but of these terms, only Mo ({{Lang|zh|魔}}) denotes demons in the religious sense.

China has two classes of beings that might be regarded as demons, and which are generally translated as such:
* [[Yaoguai|Yao]] ({{Lang|zh|妖}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=De Groot |title=The Religious System of China: Volume 5 |pages=469}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=De Groot |title=The Religious System of China, Volume 5 |page=814}}</ref><ref name="De Groot">{{Cite book |last=De Groot |title=The Religious System of China, Volume 5 |pages=466}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dore |first=Henry SJ |title=Researches into Chinese Superstitions |pages=241, 277}}</ref> – a kind of uncanny supernatural creature, usually with the power to shapeshift, to poison or to cause disease, and to bewilder or enthrall. They are associated with sorcery or sorcery-like powers. They are not always evil in the sense that Western demons or the Chinese {{Lang|zh-latn|mo}} ({{Lang|zh|魔}}) are but are represented as having malevolent tendencies and as creatures of ill-omen. They are often invoked as an explanation for strange events, bizarre occurrences, mysterious diseases and horrible accidents. They resemble the ''unseelie fae'' of Celtic legend and folklore in their powers and predisposition - and are sometimes translated as {{Gloss|faeries}} or {{Gloss|daemons}} rather than {{Gloss|demons}}.
* Mo ({{Lang|zh|魔}})<ref name="De Groot" /> – derived from the "Mara" of Buddhism and are almost always evil. This kind of being is morally corrupted and rebels against the moral law and heavenly principle. Taoist cultivators, fallen Buddhist monks, gods and mortals who have succumbed to an evil inclination are said to have become demonic or become diabolical – {{Lang|zh-latn|ru mo}}. ({{Lang|zh|入魔}}). As such it is often a condition and a state, rather than always being directly the result of a certain innate heritage. Furthermore, certain beings derived directly from Indian mythology, such as the {{Lang|zh-latn|luocha}} ({{Lang|zh|罗刹}} or {{Lang|zh-latn|raksasha}}) and {{Lang|zh-latn|yecha}} ({{Lang|zh|夜叉}} or {{Lang|zh|yaksha}}), however are classed as being innately demonic ({{Lang|zh|魔}}) types by heritage but are nevertheless represented as being capable of repentance or turning to good.