Chinese culture is steeped in centuries-old traditions and beliefs, with many superstitions and customs playing a significant role in shaping daily life. These customs, often based on philosophy, folklore, and ancestral practices, continue to influence people’s behavior, decisions, and rituals. From the importance of auspicious dates to the careful avoidance of certain numbers, colors, and actions, superstitions in Chinese society are deeply woven into the fabric of life.
The Influence of Feng Shui in Daily Life
One of the most prominent influences on Chinese culture is Feng Shui, an ancient practice that deals with harmonizing individuals with their environment. The term “Feng Shui” translates to “wind and water,” symbolizing the flow of energy (Qi) through the physical world.
The Principles of Feng Shui
Feng Shui is based on the idea that the arrangement of physical space, both indoors and outdoors, affects the flow of Qi. By optimizing the flow of energy, individuals can create a balanced environment that promotes well-being, health, prosperity, and happiness. Central to Feng Shui is the balance between Yin and Yang, two opposing yet complementary forces.
Feng Shui in the Home
In Chinese superstition, the layout and decor of one’s home can affect their fortune. The placement of furniture and the use of specific colors, materials, and objects are all believed to influence one’s life. For instance, placing a mirror opposite the front door is believed to reflect away positive energy, while a water feature in the southeast corner is thought to attract wealth.
The Importance of the Main Door
The main door is considered the “mouth” of the house, through which all energy enters. It is crucial that the door is unobstructed and clean, as it is believed that clutter or poor design will block the flow of good fortune. In addition, the entrance should never face a sharp corner or another door, as this can lead to a direct flow of negative energy, referred to as “poison arrows.”
Bedroom Feng Shui
The arrangement of the bedroom is another area of concern in Feng Shui. The bed should ideally be placed in a “command position,” meaning the person sleeping can see the door without being directly in line with it. It is also suggested that couples sleep with their heads pointing toward a positive direction for their personal element, based on their Chinese zodiac sign.
Superstitions Around Numbers
Numbers hold a special significance in Chinese superstition, with certain numbers regarded as lucky or unlucky due to their pronunciation and associated meanings.
The Number 8: A Symbol of Prosperity
The number 8 is considered the luckiest number in Chinese culture, largely because it sounds like the word for “wealth” (發, “fa”). As a result, the number 8 is highly prized, especially in business and personal matters. People often go out of their way to secure phone numbers, license plates, or even addresses containing the number 8, believing it will bring them wealth and success.
The Obsession with 8
In 2008, the Beijing Olympics were deliberately held on 08/08/08 at 8:08 PM to capitalize on the luck associated with this number. In China, individuals will even pay a premium for house numbers or car plates that contain 8, reinforcing the belief in the number’s power to attract wealth.
The Number 4: A Symbol of Death
Conversely, the number 4 is considered an unlucky number, largely due to its phonetic similarity to the word for “death” (死, “sǐ”). This superstition is so strong that many buildings in China skip the fourth floor or replace it with the number 5. Similarly, products or services that include the number 4 may be considered bad luck.
The Fear of the Number 4
In some extreme cases, people may refuse to purchase items with the number 4 on them, such as car plates, addresses, or even house numbers. This aversion to the number is so ingrained in Chinese culture that even in modern times, the superstition persists.
Birth Customs and Superstitions
In Chinese culture, birth is a highly auspicious event, surrounded by rituals and superstitions that ensure the baby’s health, happiness, and future success. Many of these customs are based on ancient beliefs and are still observed today, especially in rural areas.
The Golden Month (坐月子)
One of the most important customs surrounding birth is the practice of “zuo yuezi,” or the Golden Month, during which a new mother must rest and follow strict dietary and lifestyle guidelines to recover from childbirth. For a month after giving birth, women avoid certain foods and physical activity, believing that this rest period allows the body to heal and replenish vital energy.
Dietary Restrictions During the Golden Month
During the Golden Month, new mothers are encouraged to eat warm, nourishing foods that are thought to restore their health. Cold foods, like raw vegetables or fruit, are avoided, as they are believed to hinder recovery and bring about imbalances in the body. It’s common to see dishes like ginger chicken or red date soup, which are considered to promote blood circulation and restore strength.
Cultural Significance of the Golden Month
The Golden Month is not just about physical recovery but is also a time for the new mother to bond with her baby. Family members, especially the maternal grandmother, often play a key role in helping care for the new mother and child during this period.
Superstitions in Weddings
Weddings in Chinese culture are steeped in symbolism, with a variety of customs and superstitions designed to ensure a harmonious and prosperous marriage. From the choice of date to the attire of the bride, everything is carefully planned to avoid bad luck and to foster happiness and longevity.
The Color Red
In traditional Chinese weddings, the bride typically wears a red dress, often a qipao or cheongsam. Red is seen as a color of good fortune, happiness, and prosperity. It is believed that red will ward off evil spirits and bring happiness and wealth to the couple.
Red Envelopes and Gifts
During Chinese weddings, guests are expected to give red envelopes (红包, “hóngbāo”) containing money to the newlyweds. This practice is believed to bring good fortune and is also a way to help the couple start their new life together. The amount of money given in the red envelope is often considered to reflect the guest’s relationship with the couple, with larger amounts being reserved for close family members.
Avoiding Bad Luck: Ghost Marriages
An unusual and rare custom, known as “ghost marriage” (冥婚), involves marrying a deceased person. This practice is more common in rural areas and is usually performed for the benefit of someone who has died young and remains unmarried. The belief is that the deceased’s spirit will find peace through marriage, and it is often done to ensure the deceased is not alone in the afterlife.
The Superstition Behind Ghost Marriages
Ghost marriages are also thought to prevent the spirits of the deceased from causing misfortune to the living. While controversial and increasingly rare, this practice highlights the deep belief in the power of marriage to influence both the living and the dead.
Superstitions About Death and the Afterlife
Death is a central concern in Chinese superstition, and various customs exist to ensure a smooth transition to the afterlife, as well as to prevent misfortune from befalling the living.
Ancestor Worship
Ancestor worship is an integral part of Chinese culture, reflecting deep respect for the deceased. It is believed that the spirits of ancestors continue to watch over the living, guiding them and ensuring their well-being. Every year, families perform rituals such as burning incense, offering food, and making symbolic offerings to honor their ancestors.
The Significance of Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival (清明节), or Tomb Sweeping Day, is one of the most important occasions for ancestor worship. During this time, families visit the graves of their ancestors to clean the tombstones, offer food, and burn incense and paper money. This is done in the hope that their ancestors will be blessed and their spirits will continue to protect the family.
The Fear of “Ghosts”
In Chinese folklore, ghosts are believed to be wandering spirits of the dead who have not received proper rites or have been wronged in life. During certain times of the year, such as the Ghost Festival (中元节), people take extra precautions to avoid angering spirits, such as not traveling at night or leaving offerings of food and incense to placate restless souls.
Superstitions Around Food
Food is an essential part of Chinese culture, and many foods are imbued with symbolic meanings related to luck, health, and prosperity. Certain foods are consumed during festivals, weddings, and other important events to bring good fortune, while others are avoided due to their negative associations.
Lucky Foods for the New Year
During the Chinese New Year, a variety of foods are traditionally eaten for their auspicious meanings. For example, fish (鱼, “yú”) is considered lucky because its pronunciation is similar to the word for surplus (余, “yú”). Dumplings (饺子, “jiǎozi”) are also considered a symbol of wealth, as their shape resembles ancient gold ingots.
The Significance of Sweet Foods
Sweet foods, particularly those made with glutinous rice, such as tangyuan (sweet rice balls), are commonly eaten during festivals like the Lantern Festival. The round shape of these rice balls symbolizes family unity and completeness.
Foods to Avoid
There are also foods that are avoided during certain occasions due to their symbolic meaning. For example, eating porridge during a wedding is avoided because it is associated with poverty. Similarly, serving chicken at a wedding is thought to bring misfortune, as the bird is seen as a symbol of broken promises.
Superstitions About Colors
Colors are an important part of Chinese culture, and different colors carry distinct meanings. They are used to convey symbolic messages during festivals, weddings, and even in daily life.
Red: The Color of Happiness and Luck
Red is universally seen as the color of happiness, prosperity, and good luck in Chinese culture. During celebrations like weddings, birthdays, and the New Year, red is the dominant color in decorations, clothing, and gifts. Red envelopes containing money are a key part of gift-giving during holidays and weddings.
The Use of Red in Weddings
In traditional Chinese weddings, the bride wears red to symbolize good fortune and to ward off evil spirits. It is also customary to decorate the wedding venue with red items, including lanterns, banners, and flowers, to ensure a prosperous life together.
White: The Color of Mourning
In contrast to red, white is a color associated with mourning and death. It is customary to wear white during funerals and to offer white flowers as part of the funeral rites. The color white symbolizes purity and the transition from life to death, which is why it is reserved for funerary occasions.
Yellow: A Symbol of Power
Yellow, often associated with the emperor in ancient China, is a color of power and authority. It is considered a sacred color, and only the emperor or high-ranking officials were allowed to wear yellow robes in imperial times. Today, yellow is often used in decorations for important ceremonies or when honoring elders.
Chinese New Year Customs
Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is the most significant holiday in Chinese culture, filled with rituals designed to ensure good luck for the coming year. From cleaning to feasting, every action during this period is imbued with meaning.
The Importance of Cleaning
Before the New Year begins, families thoroughly clean their homes, a ritual that symbolizes the removal of bad luck and the welcoming of fresh, positive energy. However, cleaning is avoided on New Year’s Day itself, as it is believed that sweeping on the first day of the year could sweep away good fortune.
Red Envelopes and Money
Another important custom during Chinese New Year is the giving of red envelopes filled with money. These envelopes, called “hóngbāo,” are given to children, unmarried adults, and sometimes employees, as a symbol of prosperity. The amount of money given is typically in even numbers, as odd numbers are associated with funerals.
Fireworks and the Myth of Nian
The use of fireworks during Chinese New Year is rooted in the myth of Nian, a monster that is believed to come out of hiding on New Year’s Eve to harm people. The loud noise of fireworks is thought to scare away the beast, ensuring a safe and prosperous year for the community.