I could go on for a bit about the religion, but I bet you're anxious to learn some Chinese curses, eh? (Note: While the following curses, beliefs, and lessons in amateur witchcraft were disseminated in class for the purpose of helping us hapless foreigners to better understand Chinese beliefs, I want to emphasize that neither my teacher nor my school endorse the following. By reading further, you agree to hold the author and her affiliated school, teacher, schoolmates, and the Chinese and Taiwanese civilizations harmless of absolutely ANYTHING that may result from your decision to unwisely implement any of the following, including, but not limited to, being socked in the face for shouting "jue zhi jue sun" at someone.)
End of the Family Line Curse: Chinese society values family and continuation of the family line, which is why the following line is such an offensive and devastating curse:
絶子絶孫 "jue zhi jue sun"
Literal translation: End sons, end grandchildren
Meaning: May your family line end
This one made me think a little. If someone said that to me, I don't think I would be offended because, as you may know, I don't wish to have offspring, which logically translates to not having any grandchildren either. Therefore, for me and people like me, this isn't so much a curse as it is a dream come true.Literal translation: End sons, end grandchildren
Meaning: May your family line end
Revenge: Red is usually a very auspicious color, symbolizing good luck and fortune, hence red envelopes contain lucky money, couplets written on red paper on door convey good wishes, and brides and grooms of old wore red gowns. The only time that red is not a good sign is when it is used for revenge. Someone who wants to wreak the ultimate revenge will wear red from head to toe to commit suicide because it is believed that their spirit will come back to haunt their nemesis. You're dead, your nemesis is alive, who gets satisfaction?
Paper Dolls: The Chinese equivalent of a voodoo doll is a paper doll. Basically, you make a paper doll, write on it the name of the person you despise, and then stomp on the doll with your feet. The Japanese believe that once you are done playing with a paper doll, it needs to be burned. Thank goodness I wasn't a big fan of paper dolls in my youth.
That's enough for today. If you're in for a good thrill, you should check out Thai horror films, which I hear are unspeakably disturbing.
1 comment:
Exxxxxxhhhhh-ccceelllllent CJL! A few more to add to the toolbox, and almost as good as the curse Miss Cealy but on her husband as she was leaving him in The Color Purple.
The paper dolls curse is pretty similar to the New Orleans voodoo hex - I guess that is pretty universal to many cultures. So, "jue zhi jue sun" means "end sons, end grandchildren?" Interesting, when we were in China I think I was saying it (I know I was thinking it, most definitely in Shanghai at the outlets), but I thought that it meant "are you on drugs?" Oh well, barking like a dog at foes seems to work well too no matter what color you are wearing (you don't just have to die in all red. Maybe try barking in all red, or with a red face, ands see if the outcome is better for you than them).
More on Taoism versus Buddhism next, please. As you can read, it's severely needed over here.
Juani :-)
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