Jeongchon

A flying human head without a body from the mythology of the South American Indians. Huge ears serve as wings for him.

Probably the character was invented by Jorge Luis Borges. Borges, in his "Book of Fictional Creatures", mentions Chonchon, referring as a source to a certain non-existent Julio Vicuna Cifuentes, "in whose work "Myths and Superstitions" collected many legends drawn from oral stories."

According to myths, chonchon is a kalku (a sorcerer practicing black magic, in Mapuche mythology), who took the form of this creature with the help of magic. The Mapuche believed that some skilled kalku could prepare a special potion, which was then smeared on the throat; the effect of this potion allegedly helps to separate the head from the body, and that is what the head becomes a chonchon.

Jeongchon himself allegedly has the shape of a human head covered with feathers, with claws growing from the chin, and wings that turn into greatly enlarged ears. It was believed that the chonchons usually fly on moonless nights and have great magical power, and only other Kalku or other wizards can see them, unless the chonchons themselves do not want to be seen. During their flight, they allegedly emit cries of "tu-tu-tu".

In Mapuche mythology, the Chonchon is considered an evil being who drinks the blood of sleeping people at night and causes them various misfortunes.