TOPIC

Chinese superstitions

Chinese superstitions
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Chinese superstitions. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
China has specific customs for hosting and being a guest, if unsure, it is wise to learn these etiquettes to fit in smoothly. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sohu
Trending in China

Odd Chinese customs in treating guests – enough means more, less tea, more wine

When visiting Chinese friend’s home, best to refrain from complimenting their kids as parents prefer to downplay children’s abilities.

Trending in China

4 fun, dangerous festivals in China – knife climbing, frog dancing

Trending in China

China temple ‘high-5 cat’ raises paw to greet visitors, draws crowds seeking luck

Trending in China

China myths impact daily life – don’t look back, no mirror near bed, bad brolly

Every society has its myths but China ranks high when it comes to superstitions thanks to its ancient civilisation.

The Post takes a closer look at ancient myths and superstitions that persist in modern-day China. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
Trending in China

4 quirky mystery China customs – carry big ice cubes, show belly for good health

China is home to all manner of unusual traditions and rituals, from brides crying at weddings to target shooting by blowing pellets.

Chinese culture

Being Chinese | My Hong Kong crash course in Chinese calculations of everything

Some autumns ago, a midlife crisis brought me to Hong Kong, where it has been inspiring how savvy people are about Chinese cosmology.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Chinese culture

Why are there fewer babies born during the Year of the Snake?

Many think those born under the Snake will be unlucky. On the other hand, fewer births means less competition for things like school places.

videocam
A family where the lucky colour red for Lunar New Year. Fewer babies are born in the Year of the Snake, with many parents believing they will be unlucky. Photo: Shutterstock
Trending in China

Chinese woman wrapped in big plastic bag post-childbirth sparks curiosity

New mothers in China follow post-partum ‘sitting the month’ tradition for rest and recovery.

Viral stories

‘Bloodworm love spell’ ritual sold in Singapore online store sparks debate

‘Teacher’ asserts he is the only practitioner of ritual, a secret tradition passed down through family and ancient texts.

Trending in China

China woman criticised for dumping rice into river for luck, says just ‘feeding fish’

When passers-by inquired about their unusual actions, they said they were doing ‘something good’.

Two individuals in China were caught dumping rice into a river, claiming they were doing “something good”. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Trending in China

Explainer | Why red cloth covers guardian stone lions in China during auspicious events

Some villagers believe covering lion’s eyes on wedding day helps ‘prevent bride’s mother-in-law from being too demanding’.

The Post explores the various reasons why stone lions in China are draped in red cloth or fabric during auspicious occasions. Photo: Douyin
Chinese culture

How Taoist funeral customs inspired Hong Kong plays and a movie

From hit film The Last Dance to stage shows, Hong Kong writers use Chinese funerals to find meaning and help audiences cope with death.

Trending in China

Man pays China lover to burn old marital bed in ritual then she vanishes

Court rules fraud after gullible man forks out US$14,000 on ‘tradition’ to destroy bed which new love slept in with now dead ex.

Trending in China

Disgust as China mother posts photo of toddler son urinating over family meal

Graphic image shows arc of urine sprinkling from little boy over a table loaded with eggs, vegetables, steamed buns which family then eats.

A mother in China is in hot water after posting a photo of her toddler son urinating over a table of food. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Xiaohongshu
Trending in China

Explainer | China rituals to expel evil and bad luck – beheading roosters, use of boys’ urine

Chopping off a rooster’s head, tossing it over a roof is seen as a sign of good luck.

The Post runs the rule over some unusual customs practised in China which are believed to ward off evil spirits. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/YouTube/Baidu
Chinese culture

6 Chinese wedding customs to bring good luck to the bride and groom

Money, feng shui and lucky food all play a part in Chinese wedding rituals. We share why, and how to make couple’s big day an auspicious one.

Chinese culture

5 Chinese and Korean superstitions and which ones they share

China and Korea share several superstitious beliefs, but there are also a couple of key differences, including how they view the colour red.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Trending in China

Explainer | China man steals 20 Buddha statues, claims their worship can change fate – how so?

Following the theft of more than 20 Buddhist statues by a man in China who claimed he did so because they could change his fate, the Post explains why such beliefs exist on the mainland.

The Post explains why a thief in China who stole more than 20 Buddha statues claimed he did so because they could change his fate. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sina
Food and Drinks

Eat a dog head for an easy birth, and other Chinese pregnancy food lore

We examine Chinese superstitions and traditions about foods to eat and avoid in pregnancy, some of them still practised today, others not – such as eating the head of a white-haired dog.

Chinese culture

Explainer | Chinese funeral dos and don’ts to pay respects and avoid bad luck

There are many superstitions surrounding funerals in Chinese culture, from the age of guests to helping the soul escape hell. We look at how to ensure respect is shown and bad luck is avoided.

Chinese culture

Profile | Hong Kong’s ‘Ghost King’ on pursuing the supernatural

Hong Kong ghost hunter Edmond Poon talks to the Post about collecting spooky stories, how he started out, and why he became violently sick after visiting a derelict temple rumoured to be very haunted.

Radio show host and ghost hunter Edmond Poon talks to the Post about collecting spooky stories. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Chinese culture

Would you live in a ‘haunted’ house if the price was right?

In Hong Kong, the stigma attached to living where someone has died an unnatural death is so strong that a property agent may not find a tenant or buyer even if they lower the rent or selling price.

8
A view of the supposedly haunted Dragon Lodge on The Peak in Hong Kong. The stigma attached to living in a place where an unnatural death occurred makes it hard to rent or sell them, although deep discounts can work. Photo: Martin Chan
Chinese culture

How to talk to the dead explained by a Chinese medium in Hong Kong

Ahead of the Hungry Ghost Festival, we talk to a self-proclaimed spirit medium in Hong Kong about how he learned to communicate with the dead, Taoist beliefs, karma and Chinese traditions.

videocam
Chinese culture

5 films about Chinese superstitions, from vampires to curses to ghosts

Many films have drawn on Chinese superstition and the supernatural. We look at five shot in Hong Kong, from the comedy horror Mr Vampire to the super creepy, occult-focused Incantation.

videocam
Chinese culture

5 Hong Kong film set rituals to dispel bad luck and placate spirits

Did you know Hong Kong actors are given lucky red envelopes every time they appear in a death scene? We delve into the superstitions on film sets and the rituals undertaken to avoid bad luck.

Andy Lau Tak-wah in a scene from the film Fat Choi Spirit. Actors in a death scene are given red envelopes contaning money to dispel bad luck. Photo: China Star Entertainment Group
Chinese culture

Explainer | What is villain hitting? Chinese custom less sinister than it sounds

Fortune-tellers explain the practice of villain hitting, a Chinese ritual popular in Hong Kong. Despite its name, it does not involve hitting any actual villains; its roots lie in the country’s agrarian past.

videocam
A practitioner performs a villain-hitting ritual in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Fortune-tellers break down the practice and explain its history. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Chinese culture

5 tips to avoid sharing your hotel room with a ghost

We offer a few ways to avoid disturbing the spirits when you are travelling, from knocking on your hotel room door before entering to making sure your shoes point in different directions.

Chinese culture

Explainer | Chinese number superstitions, from lucky number plates to dining don’ts

The meanings attached to numbers in Chinese culture explain why some people pay millions of dollars for certain car licence plates and some buildings don’t have a fourth floor. We delve into the superstitions.

8
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement