Superstitions

Hong Kong - The Culture

Chinese culture has a number of superstitious beliefs, the most obvious ones being reliance on feng shui, or geomancy, and the symbolism of numbers.

Feng shui is the practice of strategic placement and timing in order to avoid interrupting the true course of nature, bring good luck, and ward off evil spirits.  The Chinese often consult feng shui masters before buying property or even to help them arrange furniture in the most harmonious manner.  Also, certain dates bring more luck than others; therefore feng shui is used to determine the most appropriate day to hold wedding ceremonies and other events.

One more superstition less obvious to many Hong Kong expats, but very important to local Hong Kong life, is the belief of meaning in numbers.  Certain numbers in the Chinese language sound similar to other words, for example the number “4” and the word “to die” are very close in pronunciation.

Number significance plays a role in daily life as cell phone numbers, license plates, and other items are selected based on the implied meaning of each number.  In addition to the example above, “6” symbolizes longevity, “8” is for prosperity, and “3” sounds similar to “giving birth” and is therefore representative of familial situations.

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