Another Chinese taboo relating to food is that chopsticks should not be left standing straight up in a bowl of rice. This act is said to bring bad luck to restaurant owners as chopsticks stuck in rice look similar to incense placed in urns.
Confucianism, indeed, upheld the belief that what people should be concerned about is the here and now. Thus, apart from specific events in life, such as during a period of mourning where people adhere to a ritual of no alcohol, there exists no strict taboo on what can be consumed.
Important examples of food avoidance are pork among Jews, Muslims and Ethiopian Christians; beef among Hindus, some Buddhists and Jains; chicken and eggs in some African communities; dog meat in the West; fish in Mongolia and other parts of central Asia; milk and milk products in Polynesia and parts of China.
Numbers: Odd numbers are considered unlucky, so gifts should be given in even numbers. Four, however, is considered an unlucky number while eight is the luckiest. Six connotes progress and smooth development, and nine is the emperor's number. Spitting in public is common in some regions of China.
It is widely known that Chinese people love red because it is perceived to symbolise luck, blessings and happiness. In contrast, blue is considered a 'taboo' colour. This belief is found in regional folktales and is especially strong in several parts of southern China, notably Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
Red in Chinese culture is not usual for an event like a funeral because it represents happiness. Thus, it can be pretty offensive to wear red clothes to the funeral ceremony.
Green can be considered to be unlucky as it is associated with infidelity. A man wearing a green hat is said to have an unfaithful wife. Black can be considered unlucky too given it's association to the darkness and secrecy.
The Chinese dislike being touched by strangers. Do not touch, hug, lock arms, back slap or make any body contact. Clicking fingers or whistling is considered very rude. Never put your feet on a desk or a chair.
Common taboos involve restrictions or ritual regulation of killing and hunting; sex and sexual relationships; reproduction; the dead and their graves; as well as food and dining (primarily cannibalism and dietary laws such as vegetarianism, kashrut, and halal) or religious (treif and haram).
Chinese birthday taboos
Chinese birthdays must always be celebrated either before the actual birth date or on the birthday. A belated celebration is a big taboo. Depending on their gender, they might not celebrate their birthdays in specific years or skip the number. Women don't honor their 30th birthday, for example.
Food taboos are dietary laws that allow or forbid particular foods in a particular culture, group, or community. They frequently coincide with noteworthy occurrences or stages of the human life cycle as illness, menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation.
But “wet-hot” foods, like shrimp, mangoes, pineapples and lychees, are also to be avoided, because they might cause allergies or skin problems for the baby. Spicy, cold, or oily foods can also weaken qi and cause infertility. Food taboos offer an important window into our development as a species.
Lobsters, too are considered as one of the unlucky food to have during Chinese New Year. This is because they swim backwards which indicates that there may likely be problems in the coming year. White foods such as eggs, tofu and white cheeses have an unlucky color that signifies death.
There are 3 Types of Taboos: cultural, religious, and food. Cultural Taboos – A cultural taboo is something that is considered inappropriate to do or discuss within a specific cultural or sub-cultural group.
Historically, cannibalism is the ultimate taboo – the line that can't be crossed. What distinguishes it from other types of on-screen nastiness is that it disgusts us in two separate ways – in other words, the prospect of being eaten is nightmarish, but the prospect of doing the eating is almost as bad.
In Chinese culture, some of the most common taboos involve gift-giving, birthdays, and weddings.
You also shouldn't yawn in public. Extended eye-contact might make you seem aggressive, and patting another person on the back here is considered rude.
The China automatic block of sexting is a reminder that such protection is tenuous. All it takes is the consent of telecom companies and the acceptance of citizens to strip away anonymity and effectively use technology to restrict your freedom. Yeah… there's not much more to it than that.
Purple. In Western culture, purple symbolizes royalty, while in Chinese symbolism, it stands for divinity and immortality. In modern times, purple is being used to represent love or romance in China, just as the color red does in the West.
Pink In Chinese. Pink is considered to be a shade of red. Thus holds all the same meanings of good fortune and joy.
4. White is a symbol of the unknown and purity. The color white is used during the time of mourning, death, and during ghost festivals. Therefore Chinese people will wear white during a funeral or while summoning ghosts.