Jenglot
Field Report
Jenglot are eerie figures from Indonesian lore, described as tiny, mummified humanoids with long, stringy hair and sharp teeth. Often said to be found buried in the earth or inside old tree roots, they’re believed by some to be alive in a supernatural sense—requiring offerings of blood to remain pacified. Exhibitions across Southeast Asia occasionally feature supposed Jenglots in glass cases, though scientific examinations typically reveal them to be crafted hoaxes made of animal parts or carved materials. Yet stories of Jenglot persist, fueled by deep-seated spiritual beliefs in restless spirits and the power of fetishes to channel forces beyond human understanding. The Jenglot serves as a uniquely Southeast Asian cryptid that fuses folk magic, fear of the dead, and a fascination with the grotesque into a haunting cultural artifact.
Classification
Type:Spirit Familiar
Location:Indonesia, Jakarta urban legends
Traits:Tiny, mummified, long hair, small fangs, stiff limbs
Threat Assessment
Danger Level: 5.3
First Reported: 1800s
Sightings: 5
Reveal Full Dossier
Behavioral Patterns
It sits stiff and lifeless in dim corners, hair tangled over its tiny form. Those who touch it say it seems to twitch faintly before growing still again.
Folklore & Origins
Indonesian shamans keep these mummified beings as fetishes to bind and direct powerful spirits.
Media Documentation
Frequently covered by Indonesian local news when found as creepy dolls in black magic busts. Pops up in Southeast Asian TV ghost specials. Treated as cultural superstition, not zoology.
Hoax Analysis
Jenglot is an Indonesian cryptid with some reports likely fabricated for tourism or media, though no major hoax investigation exists.