Folk Taboos
1. When moving into a new house, bring a dog or a baby under three years old to see if the place is suitable. If the dog walks around wagging its tail or if the baby crawls and plays happily, the place is good. If the dog refuses to move or barks continuously, or if the baby cries a lot, it suggests that the place is not suitable for living.
2. If you’ve been away for more than three days, don’t immediately open the door upon returning. Knock on the door three times, wait for half a minute, knock three more times before opening. Upon entering, turn on all the lights regardless of the time of day for about two minutes, then turn them off.
3. When taking a long trip by vehicle, if you are a man and find that there are exactly seven women on the vehicle, do not board. The same applies if there are seven men and you are a woman.
4. If you have a baby under three years old and the baby cries loudly on a vehicle, get off immediately and recite “Jia Wood” ten times facing east.
5. Upon waking from a nightmare, the first thing to do is not to wipe the sweat off your forehead but to blow three times onto your pillow, rub it three times, flip it over, and then go back to sleep. Don’t share the details of the dream with many people.
6. If you hear someone calling your name in your sleep, do not respond until you’re sure someone is actually there. If you accidentally respond, bite your middle finger or prick it with a needle to draw blood and dot it on your philtrum.
7. When staying in a hotel, don’t just go for the cheapest option. If you do stay, smoke a cigarette inside the room or use a lighter, and then open the door for a minute.
8. If you see snakes mating, spit on them three times and recite “Wu Fire” ten times.
9. If you hear a child crying mysteriously at night and the sound persists, find a large tree nearby the next morning and carve your name and lunar birthday on it.
10. Develop the habit of washing dishes after dinner and try not to leave water in the bowls.
11. Avoid arguing in the morning, especially for those in business or construction, as it can lead to a day of bad business.
12. When traveling at night, it’s better not to sing as it can attract unwanted attention. Smoking or getting angry can be alternatives.
13. Do not open umbrellas indoors, especially black or white ones. Avoid using mosquito nets when there are no mosquitoes.
14. It’s best not to have too many mirrors in the house, especially in the bedroom. Mirrors should ideally be placed in the bathroom, and if there are mirrors in the bedroom, cover them when not in use unless you lack the metal element in your Chinese zodiac sign.
15. If you have the same nightmare repeatedly or different nightmares every night, place a chicken egg and an energized jade piece beside your pillow. If symptoms persist, change your door gods.
16. If you need to travel at night, it’s best to have a black dog accompany you.
17. If you feel your luck has been consistently bad for the last six months, consider taking a trip or moving to a new place to avoid major disasters.
18. For those who rarely see sunlight for a month, it’s better to go outside more often as staying indoors can weaken your yang energy.
19. If you need to spend the night outdoors, avoid staying in damp, dark ruins or temples as these places can attract negative energies.
20. Do not urinate on bridges.
21. Never stick your chopsticks vertically into your bowl of rice.
22. Avoid planting mulberry, locust, large bamboo, eucalyptus, and night-blooming jasmine in your yard as these plants have strong yin energy.
23. Don’t place your bed directly facing the door; this arrangement is used for the deceased.
24. If you return from a trip and have a nightmare followed by illness on the first night back, consider placing a knife under your bed that has been used to kill an animal. Also, visit a hospital.
25. On New Year’s Eve, do not carelessly drop sugar or fruits on the road. However, pouring leftover water is acceptable. Avoid arguing during the New Year as it can negatively affect children.
26. When hospitalized, do not stare blankly at the ceiling, and upon discharge, find a crossroad to change into new clothes.