Chinese Superstitions
Do you find there's many superstitions or taboos around you? I was preparing Chinese culture classes these days, and found we have so many superstitions and taboos here. In TW, many superstions are connected to the way words sound, either in Mandarin, Taiwanese or Cantonese.For instance, the number 4 is unlucky because it sounds like the word for 'death' or 'something bad might happened'. Therefore, 4th floor would be the cheapest in a building for you to buy. People don't like to live at 4th. Or having the number in their life, like License Plate Number or phone numbers. Similarly, never give someone a clock cus in Mandarin 'giving a clock' sounds the same as 'holding a funeral' for that person. An unbrella or a pear is also the unlucky gift for its sound as the same character meaning 'to seperate'. Last time, I got a pair of shoes from my friend Sandy, she insisted me to pay her one dollar because giving people shoes means 'wish him/her to leave and never come back'.
On the other hand, some objects have auspicious names. In Taiwanese, the term for radish sounds like 'good luck', and pineapple or orange sounds similar to 'something prosperous is coming'. That's why you can see these stuff around in Chinese people's house during the lunar New Year holidays. Number 6 and 8, are the best lucky numbers to pick as the sound is very like 'good fortune' in Cantonese and Taiwanese...etc.
Do you believe in them? Or dare you risk jinxing yourself by ignoring them? Haha...anyway, I am not really a superstitious person. I only like the way it brought us. I like to have raddish cake over Chinese new year holidays or living at 4th floor which can save more money. But, most of them are in our daily life and became part of our culture. Even Galileo Galilei, the master, still had to submit his trust from burning and just want to survive in the absurd world...
posted by hsiao-ann at
10:11 PM
4 Comments:
This is Galileo Galilei. How kind of you to include my name in your blog! Ah, living in the world of the absurd!
If I shout 'Christmas Gift' to the first person knocking on my door on Christmas Day, I usually receive a gift from the visitor. It is magical how this occurs!
But it only works on Christmas Day. I wonder why? Something to do with the planetary alignment?
I get a little superstitious reading about superstitions. I better wear my lucky blue shirt as I write this.
A well written article clarifying the role of superstitions in Chinese society. The spelling, grammar and meaning are clear, concise and interesting. I thought I was reading an English or American blog.
In spite of the advanced nature of Taiwan's industry, old customs continue. I can't understand why rational Chinese would allow their lives to be affected by word sounds?
Excuse me for not writing more as I must hurry to an appointment with my astrologer.
Dearest Hsiao-ann:
Well, as for the superstitions, I guess, they exist in both Eastern and Western cultures. For instance, in UK, for good luck, they would cross their finger for it. In Scotland, they want to see a dark hair visitor during their new year. In western cultures, they don't like number 13. Well, I guess, there are still a lot to explore between the East and West. For instance, we have learnt that Western people don't eat animal organs, but UK has steak and kidney pie, Hoggies (Scotland's lamb stomache with lamb's organs), black puddings ( pig blood sussage)etc. A lot of European they eat animal organs as well.
Well, I belive we shall respect the differences in each culture and learn from them.
Like your blog's article is a good way to introduce our culture to someone didn't know our culture. Well done!
To Galileo Galilei, Thanks for visiting! How have you been recently? Have you invented any new device? If you did, please show us asap. It's very important to have someone like you in this dreary world. By the way, what's your first Christmas gift last year? I hope it's an easy one for your first guest to prepare.
To robbie, so the blue shirt is your lucky mascot, or just the blue color is something like the Muse for you to write? Well, thanks for the comment. Like Vivien said, each country all has different superstitions. No matter where it came from, people has taken it as one of their cultures that we need to respect it. No one can change it. So, would you mind telling me any superstitions in your country?
To Vivien, Thanks for the sweet comment. And thanks for letting me know the interesting superstitions in Europe. I thought all the westerners don't eat animals' organs. But now I've got it, not only Asian people take that as food, people in Europe also likes it! haha
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