11 Taboos in Chinese Culture

Chinese Taboo Culture

Taboo means the thing that should be prohibited or excluded from use or practice, which is the product of our society and culture. As one of the long-standing and prevalent Chinese folk customs, the taboo is a kind of mysterious cultural phenomenon which depends on public self-identity, exists everywhere and influences people's lives.

Taboos in Numbers

Numbers are frequently used during verbal communication in people's daily life. During the process of using them, numbers are believed to be unpredictable, so they are mystified and are considered to have some holy attributes. Thus in people's views, numbers can be lucky or unlucky.

(1) Tabooed Numbers

When giving presents or celebrating for a wedding or birthday, odd numbers should be avoided since it disobeys the wish that "happiness comes in twos." However, when giving presents for the patients or giving gifts at the funerals, even numbers should be avoided because nobody expects “misfortune comes in twos.”

Because 3 [ 3 sān ] and separated [ 散 sàn ] have similar pronunciations in Chinese, When celebrating birthdays or choosing wedding dates, people to tend to avoid the dates which are related to 3. Besides, when sending birthday presents or wedding gifts, number 3 should be avoided.

Number 4 [ 4 sì ] has the similar pronunciation with death [ 死 sǐ ], which means unlucky, thus, when choosing house numbers, car numbers, telephone numbers, and cell phone numbers; number 4 is always avoided.

Number 5 [ 5 wǔ ] has the similar pronunciation with nothing [ 无 wú ], so on dates, which are related to 5, sunning mats or building houses are often avoided because they are believed to be unlucky. In ancient time, persons, who are born on May the fifth in the lunar calendar, are often resented. It's said that in the ancients' views, May the fifth in the lunar calendar is the evil day in the evil month, so it's the worst day in a year. Even the children born on this day will harm their parents. So the parents will either abandon the child or change the baby's birth.

In the old days, there is the rule of Qichu (seven reasons for divorce) aiming at women. If they commit seven sins, their husbands will divorce them. Therefore when people marry off daughters, number 7 is always tried to be avoided.

In some places, the age of 36 is also avoided as a taboo. There is an old saying which goes like this, "When a person is 36, he or she will encounter a trip and fall. A person at 36 will be either engaged in a lawsuit or being forced to sell his house." At the age of 36, some people will make a feast and invite their relatives and friends to celebrate his birthday ahead of time. Visitors will set off firecrackers in host's house to drive bad luck away. At the dinner table, they also should send their congratulations to the host or the hostess to pray for good luck for him or her.

The age of 45 is also avoided as a taboo by the ancients. As the old saying goes, "when people reach the age of 45, they are just like the limp crops lacking sunshine. " Thus people will pretend to be one year older or younger than 45 deliberately. Some people will ask the family to make red underpants or waist belts for them to drive away evil spirits in the year of 45.

In some places, the age of 66 is also avoided as a taboo. It's believed that the age of 66 is a tough period for the elderly. A legendary saying goes as follows, "at the age of 66, the God of Death wants to kill you. " Therefore, many customs related to it have grown up.

Moreover, number 73 and 84 are avoided as a taboo because of the old saying. "reaching at the age of 73 or 84; you will go to hell even God of Death doesn't invite you." There's another legend saying that two of Chinese sages, Confucius passed away at the age of 73 while Mencius at 84. Even the sages like Confucius and Mencius couldn't escape from the curse of 73 and 84, let alone the normal people. So these two numbers are regarded as the critical junctures of life. If you can live through 73, you pull through difficult times, and you can at least survive till 84; if you can live through 84, you can live as long as 100 years.

Number 81 is avoided as a taboo according to the saying, "nine by nine we get a one, the good fortune on wealth has run out, and the descendants will be poor forever." So in many places, number 81 is avoided.

In some places, number 9 is avoided as a taboo for that in the ancient mathematical idea, number 1,3,5,7 and 9 are regarded as Yang while 2,4,6 and 8 as Yin and number 9 is the extreme of Yang. There is an old saying which goes like this, "Things always reverse themselves after reaching the latan extreme." which indicates that profit will turn into loss and ups will turn into downs. So ages related to 9 are also avoided as a taboo by people because they believe those will bring them bad luck.

(2) Lucky Numbers

Lucky numbers are usually even numbers. Therefore, when choosing the wedding dates, odd numbers are avoided as a taboo. For one thing, people wish "happiness comes in twos." For another, they don't want to suffer the widowed disasters.

People tend to show a preference for the number 6 and 8 for the reason that, in Chinese, 8 [ bā ] has the similar pronunciations with 发 [ fā ], which means making a fortune in Chinese. In the past, merchants always choose the days related to 8 to go on a long trip. Till now the lucky saying, "if you want to become rich,  you should depend on number 8." In Chinese, number 6 [ liù ] has a similar pronunciation with "溜" [ liū ] which means things will go on smoothly. If a six goes after another six, it is even better, because two sixes mean "六六大顺 [ liù liù dà shùn ],”

Which means everything goes smoothly. So when choosing the telephone number or the number of floor levels f people prefer to choose numbers related to 8 and 6.

Taboos in Holidays

(1) First Day of Chinese Lunar Year

On the first day of Chinese lunar year, married daughters should not go back to her parents' home because it is said that if they do so, they will eat their parents out of house and home. So daughters can only go back on the the second or third day of the Lunar New Year.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people should not eat the rice water, water in which rice has been cooked, or gruel because it is said that if you do so, it will encounter heavy rain when they are out. What's more, watering, sweeping and dumping are also forbidden because it is said that the luck for fortune will be swept out. On that day, people should not beat or scold children because it is said that it will break the harmony among the family members. Besides, needle and thread should not be used because "broken thread" in Chinese is pronounced as duan xian ([duàn xiàn]) which means dying without descendants.

People ought to be careful and not to break bowls, dishes, cups, and so on, or the evil things such as "people getting separated", "family member suffering death" and "suffering financial loss", and so on. Eating meat or fish is avoided for the reason that you have to kill living beings if you cat meat or fish and their blood will cause bloody disaster. Unlucky words are also avoided on that day, for example, words about breaking, death, disease, failure, poverty should not be mentioned. If people accidentally commit a taboo, something unlucky may happen within the coming year.

(2) First and Second Day of the Lunar New Year

On the first and second day of the Lunar New Year, washing clothes are avoided because it is said that the birthday of the Water God is on these two days.

(3) First Day to the Fifteenth Day of the Lunar New Year

From the first day to the fifteenth day of the lunar year, working in the field is avoided because of it will offend the gods, and nothing will go smoothly in the whole year.

(4) Taboos on Winter Solstice

On the Winter Solstice, couples should not stay overnight in the woman's parents' home according to the old saying "slaying in married woman's parents' on Winter Solstice, her father-in-law will be cursed to death."

Taboos at Table

(1) Bowl

At the dinner table, bowls are avoided being put upside down because after patients take medicine, they usually turn the bowl upside down to express the best wishes that they will not be ill and take medicine anymore. Knocking the bowl with chopsticks is also avoided since the beggars usually do that to beg for charity, so this action is regarded as the unlucky sign. When holding the bowl, the palm is avoided being up since the beggars begin the same gesture, so that’s the taboo when holding the bowl.

(2) Chopsticks

Sticking chopsticks upright in the rice bowl is avoided because in China when worshiping the dead, chopsticks are usually put upright in the rice, which is treated as unlucky. A pair of chopsticks is avoided to be set on two sides of a bowl or cup since in Chinese that symbolizes "will soon be (快[ kuài ], the homophone of chopsticks) separated," which hurts the family's feelings thus it is regarded unlucky.

(3) Speech

Unlucky words are avoided during dinner. Unlucky words at the dinner table are avoided as a taboo, so the words about injury, death, disease disaster and accident are avoided to be mentioned when dining.

(4) After Dinner

Taking a shower or cutting his hair immediately after dinner is avoided because there is an old saying in Chinese folk which goes, "no shower after dinner; no haircut when drunk" and "do not shave your head when you are full." Leaving over food from a meal are avoided because there is an old saying in Chinese folk which goes, "if a child leaves over food from dinner, he will marry an ugly wife when he grows up", and "leftovers results in canker".

Taboos on Entertaining Visitors

(1) Avoiding Dog Meat

Dog meat should be avoided at the feast when hosting guests. Since ancient time, dog meat has been believed to be a dirty thing. People felt unlucky and insulted when dog meat is served on the dinner table. Hence the saying of "no dog meat at the feast" came into existence.

(2) Avoid Spoon Facing Outer Side

When entertaining guests for dinner, the host will serve them food and propose a toast personally to express the respect for the guests. But the spoon is avoided to face the outer side when serving guests bowls of rice. It is believed that only when prisoners were served for rice, the spoon faces the outer side. Also, the spout of the teapot or flagon can't face the others because it's rude for the guests.

(3) Avoid Leaving Early from Feast

When hosting the guest for dinner, the host should sit there with the guests from beginning to the end and avoid leaving early from feast to make the guests feel uneasy.

(4) Avoid Taking Away the Empty Bowls during Feast

When the guests are still at dinner, the empty bowls or dishes are avoided to be taken away because that will make the guests feel they are driven.

(5) No Dumplings on the First Meal for the Guests

Dumplings are avoided to be served to the guests for the first meal. In the folklore, there are a saying of dumplings for leaving guests and noodle for receiving guests, so in the northern part of China where the dumplings are popular when there are visitors, dumplings are avoided to be served to host the guests for the first meal, which will make guests feel unwelcome and want to leave.

Taboos for the Guest

When visiting other’s home or going to the dinner party, there are also many taboos in the guest’s manner which should be paid attention to avoid embarrassment When drinking wines, twisting the wineglass or splitting the wine should be avoided. When having a meal, taking off clothes or loosening belt are avoided. Also, giving negative comments on the food, standing up to pick the dish in the distance, and eating up the whole dish volunteering for more rice or dishes are avoided. When eating a fish, volunteering to turn the fish over should be avoided when one side is finished, because there is an old saying in China, which goes, “guests cannot turn over fish by themselves.” When leaving, it is avoided to leave the feast without farewell, and so on.

Taboos in Life

(1) Taboos Caused by Homophony

A pear can't be split between two people because in Chinese "splitting pear" [ 分梨fēnlí ] and "separated" [ 分离fēnlí ] sound the same. When exchanging gifts, clock, umbrella, fan, and cup should be avoided because "sending a clock" [ 送钟sòngzhōng ] and "curse to death" [送终sòngzhōng ], "umbrella" [ 伞shǎn ], "fan" [ 扇shàn ] and "being separated" [ 散sàn ], "cup" [ 杯bēi ] and "sadness" [ 悲bēi ] sound the same and are treated unlucky.

(2) Taboos Brought by Traditions

Writing a person's name in red ink should be avoided because, in the ancient time, when a criminal has carried out the death sentence, the criminal's name is written in chicken blood on his confession. Later it turns out to use the red ink instead of chicken blood. So writing a person's name in red ink is regarded as being offended. In the first month of Chinese lunar calendar, cutting hair is avoided because there is an old saying which goes, "haircut in the first month of the lunar year will curse your uncle to death." When the elders lie in bed, kneeling before the bed is avoided because that's the way to kneel to the death.

(3) Taboos from Legends

When walking at night, looking left and right is avoided because it is said that the shoulder light will be blown out and the person will be followed by ghost After the sunset,visiting the patients is avoided because of excess of Yin and shortage of Yang at that time and the ghosts and gods are easily offended. Hanging women's trousers in the passageway is avoided. It's said that people who walk under them will be brought bad luck. Hanging clothes especially those for children outdoor at night is avoided because it is said that it will attract God on Patrol at Night Setting the bed opposite the mirror is avoided because it is said that people's soul will be sucked into the mirror. Birds’ droppings falling on the head is avoided because it will bring you bad luck. To drive bad luck away, it is better to go back home to eat Taiping noodle. 

Taboos about Colors

(1) Avoid Elegant Colors

Chinese people classify yellow, purple, champagne color into elegant colors. These colors used to be exclusively used for the royal and noble family, so civilians are forbidden to dress in yellow, purple or champagne color. In Chinese feudal society, yellow is used only for the royal family and if the civilian who wears yellow clothes will be decapitated.

(2) Avoid Humble Colors

In the Chinese folk, green, verdurous and cyan are considered to be the humble colors because, in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, only prostitute and singing girls dress in these colors.

(3) Avoid Evil Colors

In Chinese culture, white, black are considered to be evil colors, so there are taboos in clothing because, in the funeral, people wear black armbands or white mourning garments. So in the happy days, such as wedding, birthday, kid's first month, New Year, festivals, and so on, white or black clothes should be avoided.

(4) Avoid Bright Colors

Among the people, excessive make-up and splendid dressing should also be avoided. In Chinese traditional culture, people believe that dress colors should match people's age, career, and behavior. Women with excessive make-up will be seen as flirtatious, and men in bright colors will also be considered superficial.

Taboos for Children

(1) Baby's Completion of Its First Month

On the day of the completion of its first month, the baby must be given a shower and cut hair. It is said that the baby s hair is full of its mother's mephitis. If the baby isn't given a shower or haircut, God will be offended.

(2) Sleep

It is said that when the child is sleeping, the soul will be out of the body. So the child's face can't be smeared otherwise when his soul goes back, it will not recognize his own body and will sleep forever.

(3) Going to School

Children can't go to school at eight, because in Chinese traditional culture there's a saying of "seven up, eight down," so a child, who goes to school at the age of eight, will not work hard.

Taboos in Marriage

(1) Restriction

In Chinese traditional marriage culture, before the young people get married, they bring their birth time to the fortune teller to reckon whether they mutually inter-promote or restrict each other. If they restrict each other, they are not suitable for marriage. Since the ancient time, there have been sayings such as "the horse person is not suitable to get married to the ox person," and "the pig person and the monkey person cannot live together for life."

(2) Inter-promote Each Other

Opposite to restriction, the young people who inter-promote each other are suitable to get married. Since the ancient time, sayings such as "if the snake person and the monkey person gets married, they can enjoy both happiness and longevity."

(3) Avoid Six-year's Age Gap

If there is an age gap of six years between a man and a woman, it is called that Liuhai and these two people are forbidden to get married.

(4) Taboos about Picking the Bride

On the way to pick the bride, if wedding greeter chances to meet the funeral, procession, they should break something or exchange presents for luck. On the wedding day, a woman in white should not get in the bridal chamber, and pregnant woman and widow cannot get in the bridal chamber.

Taboos in Childbirth

A pregnant woman should not use scissors to cut things because it is said that it will harm the baby. For a pregnant woman, going to the theater or temple, attending funerals, taking part in the sacrificial ceremony or wedding and eating dog meat should be avoided. When giving birth to a child, people, who were born in the Chinese tiger year, or wear mourning suit, or take an umbrella and metal containers with them, could not get in the delivery room.

Taboos of Etiquette

Splashing water or spitting behind other's back and addressing anyone by the elder's name are avoided. Sending others clock because "clock" [ 钟zhōng ] and "end" [ 终 zhōng ] sound the same. When the elder died, rude words such as 死 [ sǐ ] (dead) can't be mentioned, but老了[ lǎole ] (pass away).