Title: Zhong Kui

General Information about Item:

• Custom, Superstition
• Language: Chinese
• Culture of Origin: Chinese
• Informant: BF
• Date Collected: 10-25-21

Informant data: 

BF is an Asian-American who grew up in the California Bay Area. He grew up in a predominantly Asian community, and so was surrounded by Chinese culture all his life. Following high school, he underwent university studies in Los Angeles, where he resides at time of interview. 

Cultural context: 

Social context: I once visited my BF in his home, and saw a peculiar-looking statue near his doorway. I remembered this, and asked him about it recently, thinking that it might have to do with supernatural creatures. Upon asking him what this was, he told me the story that had been told to him by his parents, who were born in China and immigrated to the US. 

Cultural Context: Many Chinese people often put statues of Zhong Kui next to their doorways. It is thought that this statue embodies the presence of Zhong Kui, and in doing so protects the home from evil spirits, and in doing so allows the house to have better fortune. 

Item: 

According to folklore, there was once a smart but ugly man named Zhong Kui who travelled to the state capital city to take the imperial examination that would allow him to achieve a high status in society. Zhong Kui scored very well, and was supposed to be awarded the highest score. However, when the emperor saw how ugly he was, he refused to grant him the title. Out of anger and frustration, Zhong Kui committed suicide. After his death, he was given divine judgment and sentenced to Hell because he had committed the sin of suicide. However, the Chinese King of Hell recognized his intelligence and potential, and gave him the job of hunting and capturing escaped ghosts to maintain order throughout hell. As a result, people often put statues of Zhong Kui near the door in order to make sure evil spirits do not come in. 

Informant Comment: 

BF does not really believe in this superstition. It is more a family tradition. 

Collector Comment: 

I wonder if there is some correlation between having a terrifying statue near the doorway. Perhaps, in the past, thieves were scared off by a terrifying and ugly statue.

Tags/Keywords:

• Custom
• Superstition

Title: Chinese Mugwort during the Dragon Boat Festival

General Information about Item:

• Custom, Superstition
• Language: Chinese
• Culture of Origin: Chinese
• Informant: JH
• Date Collected: 10-20-21

Informant Data:

JH is a Taiwanese national who immigrated to the California Bay Area in the 1980s. He currently lives in a predominantly Asian community and has seen Chinese culture for all of his life. He currently works as an IT engineer in the California Bay Area. 

Contextual Data:

Social Context: I recently had a conversation with JH where I asked about a situation several years ago when JH handed me a sachet filled with pleasant-smelling herbs. As I was young at the time, I took for granted that it would bring me good luck. I did not inquire further until recently, when I remembered the situation and asked about it. 

Cultural Context: The Dragon Boat Festival is an annual festival that lies on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The festival is meant to reinforce good health, as it is believed that natural disasters and illnesses are common during this month. During this time, people believe that Chinese mugwort can ward off evil spirits. 

Item: 

During the Dragon Boat Festival, it is thought that more ghosts may come out and spread disease. To protect children against disease spread by these ghosts, children are given perfumed medicine bags filled with dried Chinese mugwort. In this way, it is thought that children are able to ward off evil. 

Informant Comment: 

JH thought that these medicine bags smelled good. 

Collector Comment: 

It was unclear whether the informant actually believed this superstition, or if this was more a tradition. 

Tags/Keywords:

• Custom
• Superstition

Title: Nian

General Information about Item:

• Folklore, customs
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: Chinese
• Informant: VH
• Date Collected: 10-20-21

Informant Data:

VH grew up in Taipei City in Taiwan before immigrating to the US in 1989 in pursuit of tertiary education in Dallas, Texas. Following the receipt of her degree, she moved to the California Bay Area to work and has resided in a predominantly Asian community there ever since. She grew up surrounded by Chinese culture and is of Chinese descent herself.

Contextual Data:

Cultural Context: Every year during Chinese New Year, people set off firecrackers, fill their house with red-colored objects, and use bright lights all night. This is done in order to scare off an ancient monster named Nian, whose story is written below.

Social Context: Reflecting on Chinese New Year, I asked VH why people were setting off firecrackers and she told me the following story in return. Presumably, she learned this from her own family in Taiwan in her youth. No other people were present.

Item:

Every year during Chinese New Year, it is believed that a monster known as Nian would come out from the ocean where it lived and eat people and livestock. As a result, villagers would usually flee to the mountains on that day to escape Nian. However, one day an old man came to the village and said he could drive the beast away. The villagers did not believe him, and ran away anyway. However, the old man stayed, and was able to drive away Nian with red-colored items, firecrackers, and bright lights. Once the villagers returned to find him alive, they believed that these were used to scare Nian away. As a result, every year on Chinese New Year, people use the color red, firecrackers, and bright lights to scare away Nian.

Informant Comment:

VH thought these traditions were all in good fun.

Collector Comment:

It was unclear whether the informant actually believed this superstition, or if this was more a tradition.

Tags/Keywords:

• Custom
• Folktale
• Superstition