Suring your story of Chinese Superstition~

[greentealeaves]

Currently doing a project about Chinese Superstition~

It will be great that if you can sure your own little superstition story.

To take mine as an example, my mum told me not to go out late at night in July as July is the month that ghost and spirits allow to come to our world…

You can look at these question~

1. What Chinese superstitions do you know?

2. Do you know the reason for this superstition?

3. Where did it come from?

4. Who told you about this superstition?

5. Do you believe in it / follow it / make it part of your daily life? Why?

6. Mind tell me your age and nationality?

Thank a lot!!!!

[self-taught-mba]

Cold water = bad. Drinking warm water on the other hand cures all ailments up to and including a broken leg.

[Xiao Kui]

I made a superstitious mistake while teaching kindergarten English. Since we were doing a unit on clothing I had the kids make clothes out of toilet paper like we sometimes make TP bridal gowns at American bridal showers. All was going well till I wrapped a piece of white TP around a students head in preparation to make some kind of turban or hat. The Chinese teachers gasped in horror and had me remove it from his head right away because it looked too much like the cloth worn around the head for a funeral.

My brother also had an interesting experience while dating an ABC. He was dearly loved by her parents, and his mother pleaded with him not to visit a friend in the hospital on his (my brother's) birthday b/c is was such bad luck.

[imron]

Starting the Olympics on the 8th day of the 8th month of '08, at 8:08pm, despite the fact that climate/temperature-wise, that's probably the worst time to hold an event like the Olympics in Beijing.

[greentealeaves]

Yeah, Beijing Olympic pick a time and date that contains all lucky number 8....aside from this I am not sure the reason why they chosen that day...Maybe due to the heavy rain in late July

[HerrPetersen]

Using rat brain to cure diseases. I also second cold water=evil. Red underwear in a certain "bad luck" year (search for "sexy beijing" --> superstitions on youtube). No watches as a present allowed.

[liuzhou]

Olympic Numerology Shocker

[imron]

It would be slightly more interesting if it were true. The earthquake was at 2:28pm, not 1:28.

[liuzhou]

Yes. I know.

I'm merely reporting what is being said. I will edit to make it more clear.

[holger]

Maybe we shouldn't call these believes superstitions. Seems to be a derogatory term, no?

> not sticking your chopsticks into the ricebowl

> not putting chopsticks in a position where they point at another person

> stepping into doors with the right foot first

> not giving somebody a clock as a present (linguistic origin)

> giving your child a name with the right balance of the five elements

> cooking food with a proper balance of colors

> selecting the right day for countless things (like cutting hair, cleaning the house, marrying..) according to the moon calendar

> feng shui in environmental and interieur design

> traditional chinese medicine

> students consulting online oracle before examinations

> avoiding the number 4 in building storeys, telephone numbers etc.

> yin yang correlative thinking

> Ba zi (and purple star emperor) calculations in chinese astrology

> the Yi Jing

> hand reading

> physiognomy

> dream interpretation

the list is endless

[flameproof]

> avoiding the number 4 in building storeys, telephone numbers etc.

That seems to be a big issue in Hong Kong, but not really in China. In HK many, most buildings have no 4, 14, 40 etc. floor (plus 13th, just in case).

However in China I often see 4th floors. My CN friend told me it's no issue, in an office building the 4/F goes to people from Chiuchow, 4 is their lucky number.

[roddy]

Newer buildings might miss out 4,13, 14 and I guess if they get there 24 and so on. Not sure how common it is, but certainly the building I live in does.