This Novel Requires a Touch of Taoist-Eviscerating-Snow-Woman

It's not every day that I get to write a header like that. But on that note, I believe now is as good of a time as any to share a little about my dark fantasy work in progress.

It's no secret that my WIP contains a great deal of morally questionable actions carried out by morally questionable characters. But none are so cruel as Madame White. In pondering the mannerisms, characteristics, and appearance of such a terror I turned to the darkest corners of eastern supernaturalism and folklore for inspiration. While her name itself is the title of one particular demon I researched, she is actually a blended beast of sorts; the result of a dabbling author with many inspirations. My Madame White is not the result of one culture, but three: Taoist, Chinese and Japanese. In particular, I borrow heavily from the mythologies of White Lady, The Legend of the White Snake, Yuki-Onna (Lady of the White Snow) and several unnamed demons.

Common depiction of Yuki-Onna; one
of the inspirations for Madame White

While there is a sorrowful aspect to many of my inspirations, it goes without saying that without the horror factor of these characters, it's unlikely that they would have survived for so long in the common mythology of storytelling. On one level I suspect that it's related to our fascination with appearances (particularly when said appearances don't match up with reality). For example, while my mistress is always clothed in fine white silk and other linens, speaks calmly, and is quite the sight to behold, she also carries a penchant for viscera and human organs, especially the heart and liver. Needless to say, the several chapters that my main character suffers under her imprisonment is an experience that he never forgets.

If you're writing within the fantasy genre--or if you just want to brush up on your demonology--I encourage you to take a look at A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels, and Other Subversive Spirits. It has served as a great provider of information and inspiration. Within, all the demons are topically sorted, divided into five common categories: water, mountain, forest, desert, domicile and psyche. While each demon is limited to a few brief pages, the text is always tantalizing; certainly juicy enough to pique your imagination.

My question for you today is this: what have you read that inspired you and/or served as the eventual basis for one (or more) characters in your WIP?