中西方迷信superstitionsinChineseandwesternculture

1、Superstitions in Chinese and Western cultureSuperstitionsContent: What is superstition? Why does superstition exist? Chinese superstitions Western superstitions Now peoples view of superstitions What is superstition?A belief, practice, or rite irrationally(不合不合理的仪式）理的仪式） maintained by ignorance of t

2、he laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.Why does superstition exist? Every age pays attention to the ancient superstitions according to a certain subtle fashion, very often knowing nothing about the original sources from which they derived. Superstitions remain as outward expressions of the

3、 tensions and anxieties that hold sway over humanity as it struggles down the corridor of life from birth to death, full of change and uncertainty. 人类在从生到死的生命长廊里为充满变数而又无法预知的一生进行挣扎的过程中，始终被紧张和焦虑困扰。而迷信的延承正是人类紧张和焦虑的外在表现。 We can see the superstition, therefore, as a kind of reassurance against fluctuatio

4、n as though we are part of an impenetrable mystery with incomprehensible rules. Factors affecting people The influence of friends The influence of family Experience Books Hearsay(谣言) Tradition religion etc.我们可以把迷信看成是面对多变人生的一种慰藉，就好像我们是一我们可以把迷信看成是面对多变人生的一种慰藉，就好像我们是一个神秘世界的一部分，而这个神秘的世界又充满着不可理喻的规则。个神秘世界的

5、一部分，而这个神秘的世界又充满着不可理喻的规则。 The Eight Diagrams According to legend, it was created by Fuxi, an ancient Chinese sage(圣人）. It is written in the ancient book ZhouYi It represents the ancient Chinese s earliest knowledge of the universe,which contains a simple dialectical materialist point of view(辩证唯物主义）C

6、hinese superstitionsThe Eight Diagramsqian-skykun-earthzhen-thunderxun-windkan-waterli-firegen-mountaindui-lake feng shuiFeng shui is an ancient Chinese practice of arrangingitem in a room so that they are in balance and harmony with their environment. Sticking chopsticks upright Stick chopsticks in

7、to the rice: Do not stick your chopsticks into your food generally, especially not into rice, because only at funerals, chopsticks are stuck into the rice which is put onto the altar(祭坛). Left eye jump wealth,the right eye jump disaster People often think that left eye jump will bring them good luck

8、 , And in the right eye jump will bring bad luck Numbers The word for eight (b) sounds similar to the word which means prosper or wealth (f). The number 2 is a good number in Chinese culture. There is a Chinese saying: good things come in pairs. It is common to use double symbols in product brand na

9、mes, such as double happiness, double coins and double elephants. some other superstitions Fortune-telling &divination Pray to the spiritual beingWestern superstitions13 & Friday Jesus was betrayed by his 13th disciple, and he was hung on a Friday. Britain used to hang criminals on Friday, thus Frid

10、ay was called “the hanging day”.Adam and Eve ate the Forbidden fruit on Friday; both died on Friday; and their son Cain(该隐) killed his brother Abel(亚伯) on Friday.Last supperThe 13 superstition is based on the idea that Judas, the bad disciple(门徒）门徒）, was the 13th man to sit down to the table at The

11、Last Supper. I think a more rational superstition would be to fear bad disciples.Spilling SaltBad LuckSalt is regarded as a token of friendship and trust. Spilling was seen as an intentional offense to the celestial powers Judas knocked over the saltcellar.One can counteract（抵消） the effect of spille

12、d salt, or bad luck, by throwing a little over the left shoulderPut salt on the doorstep of a new house and no evil can enter.Walking under a Ladder In the middle ages,a leaning ladder was thought to resemble the gallows（绞刑） and so by walking underneath a ladder, you are playing out your own executi

13、on How to avoid ? 1Cross your fingers until you see a dog 2Lick finger and make a cross on the toe of shoes ,and dont look down at the shoe until the mark has driedUmbrella Its bad luck to open an umbrella indoors Infinite power of the sun have been a result of worship(崇拜）崇拜）, indoor umbrellas were

14、considered to be an insult（侮辱）（侮辱） to the sun, and then everyone in the house will bring bad luck. Some of the things associated with the umbrella, all with bad luck, and therefore should not be an umbrella as a gift for Westerners。Broken mirrors To break a mirror means 7 years bad luck. Mirrors hav

15、e been used in fortune-telling. Breaking a mirror is the destruction of a means of knowing the will of gods.Rabbitsthe superstition of rabbits in westerners originates from the famous English writer Lewis Carrolls book . Rabbits are mysterious and swift, especially good at running, so that they can

16、escape from misfortune. Therefore, the westerners believe that the rabbit foot can drive away evil and bring about luck. Also the adults tell their children that the Easter eggs are sent by the rabbits on Easter.Knocking on WoodFinally,a commonly held superstition is that of touching wood for luck.T

17、his measure is most that often taken if you think you have said something that is tempting fate,such as my car has never broken down , touch wood?Now peoples view of superstitions Nowadays, science and technology have developed rapidly,and many people may not believe in these ,but do you think the superstition is far away from us? As we just say, the exis