Pontianak

Origin and tradition

Pontianak and related kuntilanak stories in Malay and Indonesian traditions concern a dangerous female ghost, often linked with death in childbirth. White clothing, long hair, and a sudden change from beauty to menace recur in popular versions. Local names and narrative details differ.

Illustration in this atlas

A beautiful pale woman with ankle-length black hair hiding her hollow eyes, dressed in white, smelling of sweet frangipani blossoms.

References and further reading

1. en.wikipedia.org — Pontianak (folklore)

These references offer further reading. Accounts and depictions vary; the atlas illustration is interpretive artwork, rather than historical or scientific evidence.