Catcher of Ghosts Character Analysis in The Bonesetter’s Daughter

The Catcher of the Ghosts is a traveling priest the Liu family hires to cleanse their home of Precious Auntie’s spirit, which the Lius believe is responsible for starting the fire that destroyed the family’s ink shop in Peking. The Catcher of Ghosts and his assistant perform a ceremony that involves chanting and humming and culminates in them trapping Precious Auntie’s ghost in a jar. The family is satisfied with the Catcher of Ghost’s work, particularly after the magistrate reveals that the family no longer owes money to the owners of the other shops destroyed in the fire for which the Lius are technically responsible. However, GaoLing later reveals to LuLing that the Catcher of the Ghosts was exposed as a fraud.

Catcher of Ghosts Character Timeline in The Bonesetter’s Daughter

The timeline below shows where the character Catcher of Ghosts appears in The Bonesetter’s Daughter. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Memory, Culture, and the Past Theme Icon

...thinks a ghost haunts the house. The priest’s assistant explains that the priest is a Famous Catcher of Ghosts . The priest offers to capture the ghost for the Liu clan but says they... (full context)

Suddenly, the assistant slams the lid of the jar first. The Catcher of Ghosts announces that he has captured the ghost. The next day, the family celebrates with a... (full context)

...has gone completely white, and she believes that Great-Granny’s voice is haunting her. Although the Catcher of the Ghosts has since been revealed to be a fraud, Precious Auntie’s ghost hasn’t returned. (full context)