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Chinese superstitions

Chinese superstitions
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Chinese superstitions. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The SCMP explains why Chinese people take part in symbolic rituals called eating, whipping and speaking the spring to welcome in the new season. Photo: SCMP composite/Xinhua/Sohu/chinanews
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How Chinese people overcome challenges by ‘eating’ and ‘whipping’ the spring

Seasonal festival rituals aim to promote agricultural abundance, include consumption of special food, striking of symbolic ox.

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Garlic in brides’ dowries: symbol of frugality and household management in China

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What to eat, say, or buy at Lunar New Year to bring positive energy, good fortune

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Why traditional Chinese paper horses are burned during festivals, big life events

Equine woodblock prints with long and varied history spanning dynasties are still used today; provide evidence of key printing technique.

We explain why paper horses which are traditional Chinese woodblock prints of deities are often burned during festivals or significant life events. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/daliwenlv.com/chinafolklore.org
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Explainer | Why old Chinese custom requires brides to bring ‘toilet’ for ceremony

In rural Wuhan, a pair of chopsticks is placed inside chamber pot, representing swift birth of son.

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Explainer | How Chinese ritual balances unboiled egg on mirror or knife to detect spirit possession

Strange tradition can also involve the use of a copper coin; often used to ‘treat’ young children who wake up in the night screaming and crying.

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Explainer | China folk custom beats women to boost fertility, dire results for not conceiving

Ancient ritual saw women beaten with bamboo sticks, brooms, wooden clubs; in variation of tradition, women were held over a fire.

We explain the reasons behind the distressing Chinese folk custom of Da Sheng in which women faced beatings to exorcise evil spirits and promote fertility. Photo: Shutterstock
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Explainer | How ancient Chinese ‘borrowing longevity’ custom helps to extend lifespan

In ancient China, people believed that fate predetermined lifespan, yet they also thought life expectancy could be borrowed or exchanged.

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Explainer | China ‘hair-shaving’ ritual for newborns uses stones, coins, eggs, symbolises success

Ancient custom sometimes saw babies’ eyebrows completely shaved by a highly skilled barber; tradition believed to remove ‘misfortune, evil’.

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Explainer | Why China custom requires new wife to leave husband’s home, hide from family lantern

Decorations normally seen as a sign of ‘light and hope’, but turn taboo for newlywed women during annual festival.

We explain why, in northern China, a custom known as “hiding from the lanterns” requires new wives to leave home and hide from the groom’s family lantern during their first Lantern Festival after marriage. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
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Explainer | Why China children wear ‘canine-head hats’ and have humble names like dogs or pigs

Strange ancient custom which remains to present day sees children given names like wok, spoon handle, broom and chopping board.

We explain why, In China, children often wear so-called dog-head hats and have humble names like dogs or pigs based on the belief that a noble child raised in modesty will have a long and safe life. Photo: Baidu/Douyin
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Explainer | China Bao’an ethnic group’s ritual ‘whips’ bride’s dad for not disciplining daughter

Ritual ‘punishment’ carried out as woman’s father kneels in courtyard of groom’s family; 3-day wedding also involves soot smearing custom.

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China mum jailed for accidentally killing daughter by pressing her chest in ‘exorcism’

Superstitious mother who believed in telepathy pours water down girl’s throat to induce vomiting, expel demons.

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Explainer | How China Dai women use chickens to find husbands, reject unwanted suitors

Women in 1.3 million-strong ethnic minority group use price of a cooked chicken, secret meetings in the woods to find the ideal partner.

We explain why women from China’s Dai ethnic minority group use chickens as a matchmaking tool. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sina
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Explainer | Why Chinese ‘ask rice’ divination ritual involves using 1,080 round grains

Mystifying ancient tradition uses combination of the spirit world and mathematical formulas to predict future.

We explain the traditional Chinese divination practice of “ask rice” or mun mai, which involves a woman medium believed to be possessed by spirits using 1,080 grains of round rice for rituals. Photo: RedNote
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Explainer | Why China Gelao ethnic group required women to have 1 to 2 upper teeth removed before wedding

Painful ritual from centuries past involved brutal dental procedure using a hammer; missing gnashers could be replaced by those of a dog.

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China son nearly dies after sleeping on late mum’s bed in ritual to help departed souls

Only child, 60, whose 86-year-old mother died from tick-borne virus, contracts same disease after picking up infection from her secretions.

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Explainer | Why China Yugur ethnic group weddings involve groom shooting 3 arrows at bride

Unique ritual at elaborate ceremony stems from ‘monster slaying’ legend; nuptials also involve fire and a lamb shank smeared with butter.

A wedding tradition among the Yugur ethnic group in China involves the groom shooting three arrows at the bride’s clothing to dispel evil spirits and bring eternal love. Photo: gansu.gscn.com.cn
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Explainer | How Chinese ritual uses hot oil to determine person’s guilt using boiling lube

Ancient method of deciding guilt or innocence appears to be blatant superstition in action, but wise shaman adds dash of natural justice.

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Chinese husband accused of cheating after wife’s fortune-teller session

Her accusation stemmed solely from a US$70 fortune-telling session she had purchased online.

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Explainer | Why China’s Bouyei ethnic group funerals include ritual ‘stealing’ of a pig

Historic custom mixes humour and physical comedy to lighten the grieving mood; includes playful slapping ritual; may involve use of a knife.

China’s Bouyei ethnic group has a funeral custom called “stealing the pig”, which requires the eldest son-in-law to untie a pig hung above the coffin. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sohu
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Explainer | What is ‘offering sacrifices to empty coffin’ ritual in Taiwan; why burn figurine

Grounded in folk belief that ‘bad luck comes in threes’, ritual seeks to ward off misfortune and avert a third death in family.

When two members die within a year, Chinese families perform the ritual of “offering sacrifices to an empty coffin” to ward off further misfortune. Photo: SCMP composite/Facebook/setn.com
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Explainer | Why Chinese boy rolls across newlyweds’ bed while chanting on wedding day

Centuries-old marriage ritual mandated that boys of a particular age took part; modern-day version can see adults doing the rolling.

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Explainer | Why brides from China Bai ethnic minority wear sunglasses on their wedding day

Wedding day ritual in 2 million-strong ethnic group is rooted in strong emotions; another sees bride pinched intensely by relatives, friends.

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Japan’s Sapporo bans coins in coffins to help the dead pay for ferry to afterlife

Equipment damage sees ancient crematorium ritual outlawed; similar custom in China involves legend of the goddess of oblivion.

A city in Japan has warned against placing coins in coffins during cremations, as they can melt and stick to the crematorium bed. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
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Explainer | What is ‘dragon vein’ and why China artist, top brand hit over Himalayas fireworks

Environmental worries over pyrotechnics that may have compromised ancient beliefs about topography related to rise and fall of dynasties.

A Chinese artist and the outdoor brand Arc’teryx have faced a backlash for igniting fireworks in the Himalayas in violation of feng shui. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote/163.com
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Explainer | Why Taiwan women mark Mid-Autumn Festival by stealing neighbours’ spring onions

Ancient customs rooted in marriage and fertility take place across China, sees men and women rummage about in vegetable patches.

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Explainer | Tian Kuang Festival – from sun-dried dragon robes to airing laundry for good luck

Auspicious time of year first marked by ancient emperors evolves into a modern-day festival that makes the most of sunny days.

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