1. Asian and American Superstitions
Folklore Collection Project
Tim Kim, Leo Lei, Natt Chan, Gaurav Varma, Mitchell Tang

2. Aim of Our Project
Collect the superstitions of the ‘East’ (China, Japan, Korea, India) and ‘West’ (United States)
Focus on superstitions regarding ‘good’ and ‘bad’ luck
Look for any similarities and differences between the collected superstitions

3. Chinese Superstitions
The number 8 brings good luck while the number 4 signifies bad luck.
If you keep a turtle as a pet, it will bring bad luck
Dusting with a broom on Chinese New Years is considered bad luck. A dirty house on Chinese New Years will lead to misfortune and foolishness

4. Chinese Superstitions
In chinese culture, it is said to be bad luck when one pokes chopsticks through the rice such that it touches the bottom of the bowl
Dreaming about toddlers/ children up to around age 6 is considered very bad luck. In converse, dreaming about old people is considered good luck

5. Context Cultural: Confucianism influence
Respecting one’s elders and the deceased
Belief that common objects have the ability to manifest themselves in the form of good and bad luck
Things are viewed in context of their characteristics
Social:
Passed down from parents

6. Korean Superstitions Good Luck: Hearing the cry of a magpie
Babies grabbing a pencil
Eating pumpkin taffy before exams
Red wallets
Splashing liquor on wheels of a new vehicle
Bad Luck:
Seeing a crow
Leaving a fan on overnight
Writing your name in red
Eat seaweed soup before an exam
Presenting an empty wallet
Throwing away your fingernails

7. Context Cultural: Confucius influence Chinese influence Social:
Respecting body parts, spirits
Chinese influence
Consider the color ‘red’ being lucky
Social:
Cautionary advice before important/significant events
Often passed down from adult figures

8. Japanese Superstitions
Good Luck:
Eating certain kinds of food at the New Year
Having Mt. Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant in your dreams at the New Year (hatsuyume 初夢)
Bad Luck:
Passing food between people from chopsticks to chopsticks (kotsuage 骨揚げ)
Not using salt to cleanse oneself after returning home from a funeral

9. Context Cultural Linguistic - drawing ties between similar sounds
Animism (Shinto) religion
Significance of Mount Fuji
Social
Passed down from parents
Deal with significant events

10. Indian Superstitions Good Luck: Bad Luck: Adding a rupee to a gift
A thimble on your body
Touching your elders feet
Crossing paths with a cow
Bad Luck:
Cutting nails at night
Cleaning at night
Sleeping with wet hair
Stepping on books/paper
If you cross over someone’s legs when they’re sitting down, it’s bad luck unless you cross back over them
As a child, having many people look at you

11. Context Social Learned as children from parents and peers
Often from female figures (grandmother, mother)
Cultural:
Religion (Hinduism)
Sacred animals
Books = knowledge (holy)
Caste system
Desire to be perceived as “clean”
Association between wealth and luck

12. American Superstitions
Good Luck:
A ladybug landing on you
Finding a penny on the floor
4-leafed clovers
Bad Luck:
Crossing paths with a black cat
Breaking mirrors
Walking around ladders
Spilling salt
Stepping on cracks
The number 13 in a hotel
The 13th step on stairs
Killing ladybugs
Opening an umbrella indoors
Most informants did not believe in these superstitions but would still obey the bad luck superstitions out of common sense

13. Context Social Cultural:
Informants were told superstitions when they were very young,
In some cases recently
For example one informant learnt recently while in a hotel that the button for the 13th floor doesn’t appear
Often from female figures i.e. grandmother, mother
Cultural:
Agnostic informants refuse to obey the superstitions while the religious ones (ie catholic and christian) follow them

14. Similarities and Differences
Homeopathic / Contagious Magic
Numbers, body-parts, behavior, food, etc.
Animals
Differences:
Rationality in Asian Superstitions

15. Thank You! Comments? Questions?