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The Ghost Month, a significant period in Taiwanese culture, is about to begin in the seventh lunar month. This month is believed to be a time when the gates of the underworld open, allowing spirits to roam among the living.
According to Qingqing's mother, the Ghost Month is not a time for mischief or frivolous actions. Instead, it's a time for respect and caution.
During this period, various superstitions, taboos, and rituals are observed to respect ancestors, appease wandering spirits, and avoid bad luck. Some key traditions include:
- Ancestor and Spirit Offerings: People prepare offerings of food, incense, and paper "ghost money" to nourish and appease spirits, especially those without descendants who are considered "hungry ghosts."
- Burning Paper Money and Paper Goods: It's customary to burn paper replicas of money, clothes, and even houses as gifts to spirits in the afterlife.
- Lighting Water Lanterns and Burning Boats: These are used to guide spirits safely back to the underworld after their visit to the living world.
- Public Entertainment for Spirits: Traditional performances such as Chinese opera are staged to entertain wandering ghosts and keep them pacified.
- Taboos to Avoid Misfortune:
- Do not open new businesses or start major projects during Ghost Month, believed to bring bad luck and failure.
- Avoid staying out late at night or going to risky places, as spirits are thought to be more active then.
- Wearing certain colours (often white or red) or hairstyles and being the middle person in a group of three when walking are considered bad luck because they attract spirits.
- Avoid swimming, traveling alone at night, or hanging clothes outside overnight to prevent spirits from attaching to you.
- Respect to Earth God: Special offerings called "Ya" offerings are made on the second and sixteenth day of each lunar month, including during Ghost Month, to comfort local earth gods and their guardian generals.
- Belief in "Good Brothers": Some Taiwanese believe that ancestral spirits are "good brothers" who protect families, so they make efforts to honor and please them during the month.
These practices reflect a mix of Buddhist and Taoist beliefs and a deep cultural respect for ancestors, with a strong focus on maintaining harmony between the living and the spiritual world throughout Ghost Month.
Qingqing emphasises the importance of staying safe during the Ghost Month, regardless of one's beliefs. She advises against going to the beach or staying out too late, not using bananas, pears, or pineapples, and avoiding buying a house, car, or other significant items. She also warns against idle chatter and touching others' backs or shoulders during the Ghost Month.
Hua Hua, in agreement with Qingqing, advises against speaking carelessly, patting others on the back or shoulders at night, and buying a house or a car during the Ghost Month. He also asks if Qingqing believes in the superstitions surrounding the Ghost Month, to which Qingqing responds that whether one believes or not, the most important thing is to maintain peace and safety.
For those interested in learning more about Mandarin Chinese, the National Tsing Hua University Chinese Language Center provides audio files.
References: [1] "Taiwan's Ghost Month Festival". Taiwan Today. 2019. https://www.taiwantoday.tw/news.cfm?id=480132 [2] "Superstitions and Taboos during Ghost Month". Taiwanese Culture. 2020. https://www.taiwanese-culture.com.tw/en/article/10470 [3] "Ghost Month Traditions in Taiwan". Culture Trip. 2018. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/the-ghost-month-traditions-in-taiwan/ [4] "The Ghost Month in Taiwan". Taiwanese Culture. 2019. https://www.taiwanese-culture.com.tw/en/article/10472 [5] "Ghost Month: Taiwan's Month of Spirits". Taiwan News. 2018. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3569578
