The works presented in this section feature spectacular tableaux of monstrous figures from popular folklore presented en masse. Artists used large formats, such as long handscrolls or monumental hanging scrolls, to display so many figures in a single image. In order to view these works, viewers must unroll an entire painting and physically move from one end to the other. They may also step back in order to see the entire painting and then move closer for a detailed examination, during which their eyes jump from one figure to another. Consequently, these works of art encourage their audiences to engage in a dynamic viewing process rather than being drawn into the grotesquery of a single character.  

The long handscroll Searching for Demons in Mount Guankou illustrates the popular legend of the god Erlang, who subjugates a variety of demonic creatures. The diversity of the figures on display—heavenly guardians, ghostly soldiers, and auspicious beasts with gnarled facial and body features—renders this painting a kaleidoscope of eerie yet curious beings. The demons and ghosts display their distorted physiques across the scroll as in a sequential comic book; the stunning effect that results from viewing individual spirits gives way to an overall cartoonish representation.