Chinese culture part 1

11 Taboos in Chinese Culture

Every place has their own taboos, and it is important to learn what they are when traveling or encountering another culture to guarantee you don't do something offensive by accident. There are many Chinese taboos, so be sure to know them to avoid a social faux-pas. 

NUMBERS

According to Chinese sayings, good things come in pairs. Therefore odd numbers are avoided for birthdays and weddings. To avoid bad things happening in pairs, activities like burials and giving gifts to the ill are not held on even numbered days.

Also, the number four (四, sì) sounds like the character for death (死, sǐ). That is why the number four is avoided particularly on phone numbers, license plates, and addresses. For addresses that do contain fours, the rent is usually less and apartments on the fourth floor are typically rented by foreigners.

AT WORK

Shopkeepers may opt not to read a book at work because book (書, shū) sounds like lose (輸, shū). Shopkeepers who read may be afraid their businesses will suffer losses.

When it comes to sweeping, shopkeepers are careful not to sweep toward the door, especially during Chinese New Year, in case good fortune is swept out the front door.

When eating a meal, never turn over fish when you are with a fisherman as the motion symbolizes a boat capsizing. Also, never offer a friend an umbrella because the word umbrella (傘, sǎn) sounds similar to 散 (sàn, to break up) and the act is a sign that you will never see each other again.

 

FOOD

Young children should not eat chicken feet as it is believed they might not be able to write well when they start school. They may also be prone to get in fights like roosters.

Leaving food on one’s plate, particularly grains of rice, will result in marriage to a spouse with many pockmarks on his or her face.

Or, the person will have the wrath of the Thunder god.

Another Chinese taboo relating to food is that chopsticks should not be left standing straight up in a bowl of rice. This act is said to bring bad luck to the restaurant owner as chopsticks stuck in rice look similar to incense placed in urns at temples when meals are offered to ancestors.

GIFT-GIVING

Since good things are believed to come in pairs, gifts given in pairs (except four) are best. When preparing the gift, do not wrap it in white as that color represents sorrow and poverty.

Certain gifts are also seen as inauspicious. For example, never give a clock, watch, or pocket watch as a gift because "to send a clock" (送鐘, sòng zhōng) sounds like "the funeral ritual" (送終, sòng zhōng). According to Chinese Taboo, clocks symbolize that time is running out, meaning the end of a relationship or of life is indicated. There are many other such ominous Chinese gifts to avoid 

If you give an unlucky gift on accident, the receiver can make it right by giving you a coin which changes the gift to an item they symbolically purchased. 

HOLIDAY TABOOS

It is a Chinese taboo to share stories about death and dying and ghost stories during special occasions and holidays.