Taboo, originally the native language of Tonga Island in the South Pacific Polynesia, has two meanings; 1. “sublime”, “sacred” and “inviolable”; 2. “dangerous”, “prohibited” and “untouchable.” According to the second, only if people believe and abide can their lives and safety be guaranteed.
Some traditional Chinese taboos over safety have been passed down from generation to generation. Do they have relevant scientific evidence? Not necessarily, but they all express a desire to pray for peace.
With fish playing such an important role in China when it comes to all things auspicious, so too should negative connotations associated therewith be avoided at all cost. In seaside areas such as Guangdong, the expression “turn over the fish” (把鱼翻过来) is popular, as the character “翻” can be thought of as a shipwreck (倾覆; capsize).
Elsewhere, in the mountains specifically, when stonemasons are at work, they are not allowed to speak, otherwise it may lead to accidents. Woman should avoid going to the quarry, to prevent from angering the ancient mountain gods. They may also not say the word “wash” (洗), since in some dialects (those spoken with a flattened tongue), its pronunciation is the same as “death” (死). Even bowls go unwashed; instead they are just wiped with fabric.
From mountains to kilns, where there are many taboos surrounding such.. The firing date should be chosen as an auspicious day and worshiping the kiln god is a must before starting work. In the past, when the kiln was under construction, children and pregnant women were not allowed nearby, while people who pick up waste should not pass by to prevent from violating the kiln god, leading to accidents.
It goes without saying that Chinese New Year is the time with which the bulk of taboo concerns itself. Still popular now, on the first day of the first month in the Chinese New Year, brooms or mops are not be used, for fear of sweeping away luck and wealth. If absolutely necessary, sweep from the outside. Before the New Year’s Eve, cleaning must be finished. On the day itself, no rubbish should be thrown away and a large bucket prepared for waste water.
As dawn breaks on new year’s day itself, it is better to check that everyone is awake before shouting, “Happy New Year”. Avoid giving new year’s greetings to people who are still sleeping, otherwise the receiver may stay in hospital for a whole year.
Chinese New Year is also a time when healthcare gives way to taboo. It is said that taking medicine on the first day of the lunar year means that, for a whole year, the disease can not be cured. Such is the degree of belief in this particular superstition the many adhere even if the disease is very serious.
As the end of the new year, Lantern Festival is a happy day, so blood should not be witnessed on the day. Avoid slaying chickens and pigs, for example, so as not to cause illness, bankruptcy and other disasters.
Other taboos and beliefs are less superstitious and more based on history. With the coming of the Qing army (清军入关), the people of the Han Dynasty were forced to adopt similar hairstyles, that is hair on top of the scalp grown long and braided; the front of the head being shaved. Somewhat unsurprisingly, this really annoyed many Han people and was much opposed. A rebellion was subsequently suppressed by the Qing army.
Such gave rise to the expression, “No hair cut in the first month of the lunar year”, one that also illustrates the significance of the event in history; people believe that which is held in the first month is more respectful to tradition.
Even today, it is common to hear old people instructing grandchildren to avoid haircuts at this time.
The Ghost Festival has its roots in Taoism, being the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar year. According to legend, this is the day when the gates of the nether world are left wide open, letting ghosts return to our mortal world. On this day, many people therefore do not venture outside or go home early.
Qingming is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, within which there is the custom of sweeping tombs, that has the important significance of cherishing and respecting ancestors. Yet, it is best for pregnant women to avoid grave-sweeping activities, as it is said that such can impact the life-giving force “qi”, while the festival also attracts large crowds which pose a potential threat to the foetus. In addition, the general surrounding environment is thought to be harmful to a pregnant woman’s health.
Although many of the afore- mentioned safety taboos are superstitious, others have certain scientific principles behind them. For example, it is fairly obvious that the expression, “Speaking distracted, absent-minded” is grounded in fact, as such can easily lead to work-related accidents.
While some security taboos contain many superstitions, which are closely related to people’s cognitive capabilities and the society’s scientific development level of the time, their very existence shows that such are historical pursuits of almost every people and culture. To abandon them completely would be a significant loss to the precious and excellent traditional safety culture of China.
