Chinese Taboos and Superstitions

Assalammualaikum.

For this entry, I would like to share about Malaysian Chinese’s culture. Chinese is the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia after Malay. Most of the Chinese are the descendants of Chinese who arrived between the first and mid-twentieth centuries which particularly Han Chinese. Nowadays, Malaysian Chinese are a well-established middle class ethnic group, have a record in high educational achievement, a high representation in the Malaysian professional white collar workforce and hold one of the highest household incomes compared with most minority demographic groups in Malaysia.

There are many beliefs and superstitions in Chinese life. Eventhough this cultural prohibition is good, some usually defy human’s logic. Though, I will only discuss some common superstitious beliefs of Chinese.

• Chinese people believe number 8 is a good fortune or luck. Number 8(ba) is pronounce similar to ‘fa’ which mean prosper (prosperity).
• While number 4 is often avoided as it is considered bad luck. It has the same pronunciation to the word ‘death’.
• They also believe they must avoid whistling at night. According to the old folks, it will attract the wandering spirits who then follow them home.       

• When visiting sick people, never offer pears as it is a symbol that the patient will die. It is also a taboo to give red flowers as it signifies blood. It is appropriate to give white and yellow flowers, which is the colors of yang life.
• The Chinese will completely clean their house before New Year’s Day for good fortune in the coming year. But, they do not sweep during Chinese New Years because they believe it will sweep away all the good fortune. So, Chinese will sweep their house a day before the New Year.
• It is also a taboo for Chinese to hang laundry at night. It is a must to bring back in the clothes when dusk falls or wandering spirits will attach themselves to the clothing and take over the personality of the person when he/she wears them. Clothes that are left hanging out should be thrown away.

references:Superstitions of Malaysian Chinese , Chinese superstition