Asian superstition

[Quakeulf]

So after reading all about this "fan death" quackery, and after living half a year in Japan, I am really curious to know what other kinds of superstitious beliefs they have over there.

Please help a fellow skeptic out and post some good stories on contemporary asian superstition! It will be much appreciated, thank you. :)

[Apathia]

OK. For starts, though this may fall more under the quackery department,
Japan markets popular magnet therapy items with quack claims, such as this one:
http://www.elekiban.com/html/mame06.html (Pip Elekiban)

Also, Japan is the orijinal source of Reiki as a trademarked school of laying on of hands.

If lovers in Japan see a shooting star, they take it as an ill omen for the relationship.

Disclaimer: By mentioning Japanese superstitions, I'm not singling them out as being more superstitious than the lot of humans, including Americans.

[Quakeulf]

Thank you very much for your reply! Here's hoping people will provide more.

[JoeTheJuggler]

Well. . .Chinese medicine (including "dragon's bones"), acupuncture, all the modern fakirs in Indian (the ones who make ashes appear and other miracles), traditional belief in reincarnation (among Hindus and many Buddhists), astrology, Feng Shui, Qi Gong, etc.

All of this seems to be alive and well.

[kitakaze]

We're in woo heaven here in Japan. I don't think one can have a conversation on contemporary superstitions without mentioning the one that's probably the biggest here- blood type personality profiling. It's so far gone that there are actually companies that will tell members of a certain blood type (usually B, those smug bastards) not to apply for positions and some daycares will separate children according to blood type.

There's tons more than what's already been mentioned but here's a thread I started on the subject last year:

Woo-ism and Pseudoscience in Japan (A Woo's paradise) (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=59442)

[Miss Anthrope]

We're in woo heaven here in Japan. I don't think one can have a conversation on contemporary superstitions without mentioning the one that's probably the biggest here- blood type personality profiling. It's so far gone that there are actually companies that will tell members of a certain blood type (usually B, those smug bastards) not to apply for positions and some daycares will separate children according to blood type.

There's tons more than what's already been mentioned but here's a thread I started on the subject last year:

Woo-ism and Pseudoscience in Japan (A Woo's paradise) (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=59442)

Oh wow, I'd never read about the blood type thing.

Mine's only half right:
Type B:
Goal oriented and strong minded, type B's will start a task and continue it until completed, and completed well. Type B's are the individualists of the blood group categories and find their own way in life.

I'll let you guess which half would be the incorrect assu






:D

[JoeTheJuggler]

Type B:
Goal oriented and strong minded

Wait a second--blood type B corresponds to Type A personality? I'm so confused.

Ah well, my chakras are all clogged, my meridians misaligned, my shui totally unfenged, and my chi nearly depleted.

[Quakeulf]

I had completely forgot about the blood-type stuff. Thank you for the reminder!

[RSLancastr]

What's with the clear plastic visor covering the face? I see it quite a bit, and it is always on Asian women.

I don't know if it is simply a fashion thing, or if there is some sort of woo involved.

[Flo]

You may be interested in this article (http://www.okada.de/archive-japanasitis/divination/divination.html), by a Japanese who fortunately says:

It seems that many need some irrational and superhuman oracles as guidelines for their decision what to do. I am personally not interested in these things. However, it is not easy to get rid of the influence of all superstitions, especially when we have lost all rational hope ... A drowning man will catch at a straw

[Puppycow]

What's with the clear plastic visor covering the face? I see it quite a bit, and it is always on Asian women.

I don't know if it is simply a fashion thing, or if there is some sort of woo involved.

Probably UV protection. Parasols are also popular. Not exactly woo. "Whitening" creams and lotions are also very popular.
Don't get me started on blood-type personality profiling and the media's role in promoting it. But even I didn't realize that it rose to the level of outright discrimination (Like if a company refused to hire Leos and Capricorns).

Also, back in the 1966 there was an 'unlucky year' when the birth rate fell.
This explains it a little. (http://www.io.com/~cortese/hinoeuma/) Women born in 1966 (and 1906 before that) were considered to be born under a bad sign, and had trouble getting married, etc.

[Quakeulf]

Women born in 1966 (and 1906 before that) were considered to be born under a bad sign, and had trouble getting married, etc.
That must be the single silliest thing I have read in many years, and I have traveled the world for years already, and also checked out a lot of crazy sites on the internets.

[Cuddles]

If lovers in Japan see a shooting star, they take it as an ill omen for the relationship.

Let's hope Disney never achieves world domination, every relationship in Japan would break up the first night.

[alfaniner]

I believe that, in Korea at least, they regard the number "4" with the same trepidation that we give the number "13". A 10-story hotel I stayed in had no 4th floor.

[osmosis]

Here in Vancouver, we have loads of asian immigrants, a thriving asian community, and spin-doctors who pander to their superstitions.

Most buildings have no 13th floor, and a few of them also have no 4th floor. I guess we place a higher value on domestic superstitions than on imported ones.

[Hindmost]

I believe that, in Korea at least, they regard the number "4" with the same trepidation that we give the number "13". A 10-story hotel I stayed in had no 4th floor.

The pronunciation of the number 4 in Korea is the same as the pronunciation of the Chinese character meaing death...some of the buildings in Korea had both 4 and 13 eliminated.

I ran into a bunch of superstitious beliefs in Korea...traditional Chinese medicines and accupuncture were very prevalent. The medicinal benefits of ginseng were purported to cure just about everything and provide essentially a viagra type boost as well--as were many traditional foods. One type of "doctor" would evaluate your body type and select the traditional medicine you would need. Typically the answer would be:

1) nothing
2) a special mushroom
3) Ginseng
4) certain bear organs...really expensive I would imagine.

Korean ginseng was expensive and many people considered it very good in the ginseng world. Many Koreans told me this, however people that I knew from Taiwan, China and Japan would indicate the same belief. It does take a long time to grow and it tends to exhaust the soil.

Many people would visit a fortune teller--a palm reader-- on occasion to see if their future is going to be good. This was very typical right after getting engaged to see if you would have a successful life and produce a son.

When an engineering group was moving into a new building where I was working, a Shaman was be hired to purge any bad "spirits."

Overall, not much different from the US.

glenn

[Solus]

The number 4 is symbolic of death for the Japanese as well. The blood type superstition is very annoying. Especially if certain Japanese RPG videogames ask for it and expect you to remember! :covereyes Feng shui is another key superstition to add as well.

[blutoski]

Here in Vancouver, we have loads of asian immigrants, a thriving asian community, and spin-doctors who pander to their superstitions.

Most buildings have no 13th floor, and a few of them also have no 4th floor. I guess we place a higher value on domestic superstitions than on imported ones.

It's funny you should mention that, because I'm in Vancouver, too, and deal with a lot of asian superstitions as part of working with business clients.

Good digits: 8, 7. Bad digit: 4. This has to do with how the words sound in Cantonese and Mandarin. 4 sounds like death, so bad choice. 8 sounds like lucky, and 7 sounds like good, so better choices.

The popularity of the suburb of Richmond among Chinese Canadians is because it sounds like "Rich Man". Same principle.

You'll also see some shops have a little cat beside the cash register with its face pointed toward the door. This charm 'brings in' paying customers. As an interesting example here in Vancouver, Tom's Video on Renfrew built an addition to their store, and bought a second cat to bring more customers into the extra square footage.



But Asia's not unique.

My friend once made fun of these superstitions, and I walked over to his wall and turned his horseshoe upside down. He panicked: "Hey, you'll let the luck run out!" before he understood the point of my demonstration.

[six7s]

In Thailand, I saw 'spirit houses' (almost) everywhere - very ornate 'miniature' houses like letter boxes on garden walls - and never really understood why/how such a practice fitted in with Buddhism... until reading this thread prompted a spot of Googling, so thanks for starting the thread :)

The Thai Spirit House
Animism in Thailand (http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/spirit_house.html)

...In Thailand the phenomenon goes back to the ancient days when the Tai's (sic) were beginning their slow migration from the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam to all parts of the Southeast Asian region. Spirit Worship, or Animism, was a religion by which the entire world lived at one time, and when Buddhism came to Southeast Asia, it developed side by side with the ancient spirit religion. Today, many of the old animistic beliefs are intertwined with Buddhism and some animistic practices still exist in Thailand. One of these which is practiced by every Thai is the Spirit House.

The Spirit House can be seen at a prominent spot outside every business establishment in the country <snip/> built at the yard of every home.

The purpose of the Spirit House is to provide an appealing shelter for the spirits, or celestial beings, who would otherwise reside in the heavens, Find a place in large trees, or in caves, cliffs. waterfalls or other natural surroundings.
<snip/>
The spirit of the land, for example. expects to be informed when a human intends to start a business or engage in improvements to an existing business. If the spirit is not informed, and if the human does not respectfully request permission, the spirit can indeed cause the venture to fail.

The style and construction <snip/> often depends on two Factors, which spirit the person wishes to invite and how much one can afford for the spirit house construction. Construction itself is a specialized field and only an expert Spirit House builder would be considered <snip/>

At certain times the spirits are invited down only for special occasions and this is when temporary spirit houses are built <snip/>

Outside, around the balcony that usually surrounds a spirit house, incense holders, candle sticks, and vases for flowers are placed.

There are countless gods and other celestial beings in Thai folklore, The primary spirits the Thai's are concerned with, however, are called the Phra Bhum Jowthee , or Guardian Spirits of the Land, There are nine of guardians and each offers a different type of protection <snip/>

...all you have to do in Thailand is look around and you'll see that every home has a spirit house. Thai families who believe wholeheartedly in the spirit house and it's importance light incense every morning and ask the spirit to watch over and protect the home. Others do it on ritual occasions.
<snip/>

There is a separate spirit for rice fields <snip/>...nature, flowers, plans and fruit are so important to the Thais that the Guardian of the Gardens receives a separate and permanent house of his own.

The other seven Guardians of the Land are Protector of Gates and Stairwells, who is believed to reside in the home doorstep which explains why one should never step on the doorstep of a Thai home; Protector of Animals ; Protector of Storehouses and Barns; Protector of Forests; Mountains; fields and Paddles; Protector of Temples; Protector of Waters ; and Protector of Military Forts and Defence.

<snip/>

Offerings to a spirit house and the spirit who is intended to reside within can be nearly anything. The traditional offerings include flower garlands, betel leaves, bananas, rice, chicken, duck, and a wide range of other edibles and nonedibles. Candles are often used while incense is usually lit daily before a spirit house.

<snip/>

Some very famous ones such as the one that houses the Chiangmai City Pillar are large enough to walk into

<snip/>

The Spirit House is one of the most fundamental features of Thai life even today and it is easily the most obvious

[Hindmost]

Found this from my past

8184

I actually had to cut the magnets of the belt because they were uncomfortable.

glenn

[Foolmewunz]

:spjimlad:

I'll just add a topic every few minutes 'til I get my post count up to CFLarsen's level.

We're steeped in Woo, here!

Feng Shui: We have a consultant under contract! We're not even a Chinese company, but the locals wouldn't come to work if we didn't have the layout approved and readjusted by the Feng Shui Master.

[Foolmewunz]

Curses and Spells
My mother-in-law-to-be has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's at a very young age (52). Her family is convinced it's the mean uncle who paid a village shaman (they're from Northern Thailand). My girlfriend/fiancee took the money for her mom's clinic visit and medications and paid the same shaman to put a death curse on the mean uncle.
When said uncle was still alive three weeks later? "Oh, that holy man not very holy! We find another one!" I at least got the girlfriend to see the light (on this single issue), but her family still believes.

[MRC_Hans]

I believe that, in Korea at least, they regard the number "4" with the same trepidation that we give the number "13". A 10-story hotel I stayed in had no 4th floor.China as well. the word for 4 sounds like "death". I stayed in hotel that lacked 4th, 13th, and 14th floors. Easy to boast a 20 storey building that way, heheh.

Hans

[Foolmewunz]

Ghosts
Same girlfriend - different story. She believes in ghosts as many people in the Thai/Lao do. When we were out with one of my saner Chinese staff, I mentioned it to point out how foolish some beliefs are. Says the Chinese girl, "Oh don't worry about ghost!".... And I think I'm on my way to a peer group debunking.... Until the Chinese girl tells my girlfriend....
"No, we have lots of them! I just tell them to go away and I'm not paying any attention to them, so they leave me alone." (So much for that ray of hope!)

[Foolmewunz]

Auspicious Dates
You can't book a hotel ballroom on certain days of the year because everyone wants to get married on the lucky days according to the Chinese horoscope. It's not uncommon to see car parades up to 30/40 times in a single extremely lucky day. This practice is also really common in India with followers of the Hindu calendar.
The worst application of this, the maternity wards. Doctors love C-sections because they don't have to wait around for hours of labor. Now the parents are learning to love Caesareans, too. The obstetrician gives them a two week window, and if there are two hundred sets of parents choosing a day in that fortnight... They invariably all choose the same auspicious date to have their baby born on.


ETA: More to follow if others contribute a few. I don't want to hog the thread.

[Joppy]

Auspicious Dates

The worst application of this, the maternity wards. Doctors love C-sections because they don't have to wait around for hours of labor. Now the parents are learning to love Caesareans, too. The obstetrician gives them a two week window, and if there are two hundred sets of parents choosing a day in that fortnight... They invariably all choose the same auspicious date to have their baby born on.


This year is the golden pig year, so everyone is having a baby.

[six7s]

Auspicious Dates
The worst application of this, the maternity wards

Thanks for the memory jog!

I tried googling for a recent radio programme - no luck.

So, I emailed our national radio station and they have replied already!

Must be my lucky day after all ;)

Global Perspective "The Lucky Secret to Success"
(http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio3/global_perspectives/20070317.html)
Radio Television Hong Kong:
17/03/2007
28 mins
Windows Media Player (http://www.rthk.org.hk/asx/rthk/radio3/global_perspectives/20070317.asx) or Real Media (http://www.rthk.org.hk/smi/rthk/radio3/global_perspectives/20070317.smi)

Global Perspective is a series of documentaries from eight radio stations around the world, including RTHK. The theme of this year's series is "Belief".

Many Hong Kongers believe that a person's success is governed by five factors.

These are, in order of importance:
1. Fate/destiny
2. Luck
3. Feng Shui
4. Good deeds/virtues
5. Hard work and study

For the skyscraper city that's so known for its hard-working, competitive business culture; study-focused and assiduous students; entrepreneurial minds and industrious people; it seems surprising that hard work comes at the bottom of the list. Instead, more importance is attributed to external factors facilitating people's success.

So are Hong Kongers successfully lucky or luckily successful?

Erin Bowland explores the culture that is full of superstitions, rituals and beliefs revolving around the pursuit of success

Source (http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio3/global_perspectives/20070317.html)