Joining a discussion with other foreign wives in Taiwan, I decided to write a post about fortune tellers, Feng Shui, and other beliefs that Taiwanese people hold. Many girls complained about not having choices, for example, regarding their wedding date, their child's name, or even the layout of their house. In Taiwanese culture, it's normal for a fortune teller to help you decide on an auspicious date. Parents often want to have a say in their son's family matters, and many men are very traditional and listen to their parents' opinions. This causes a lot of trouble. In Western countries, we live in a completely different way. We don't pay fortune tellers to make decisions for us. We choose our children's names ourselves. I don't think the problem lies with the name, but rather with how you live your life and the decisions you make.
One girl shared her story of how redesigning a house caused a family fight. In traditional Taiwanese houses, kitchens are small and separated from the rest of the living space. She wanted the kitchen and living room to be an open space. After negotiations, they built a glass door separating the two areas. She said she likes to keep them open, but every time the in-laws visit, they quickly close the door.
According to Feng Shui, the kitchen should be at the back of the house, near the back door. If you live in Taiwan or have seen traditional Taiwanese houses, the layout would be like this: garage, living room, bathroom under the stairs, and then the kitchen separated by a wall at the back of the house (houses are long, not wide, and rarely square-shaped). In apartments, you rarely see an open space layout unless it's a new building. Usually, the kitchen is a small space with just a sink and stove, and it's separated from the dining area. The living room is a space where people can gather, and it's always placed in front.
In Taiwanese culture, girls marry into their husband's family, and in many families, the son and his wife continue living with his parents. The culture even dictates which days a married woman can or cannot go back to her own family. As the Lunar New Year is approaching, according to tradition, married women can't go back to their parents' home until the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Fortune tellers
Fortune-telling is a respected and important part of social and business culture in Taiwan. Fortune tellers often play a role similar to that of management consultants and psychotherapists in Western society. As management consultants, they advise business people on business and investment decisions. They analyze personal information such as body features, name, and date of birth to predict one's destiny and provide tips to avoid bad luck.
Types of fortune-telling methods
Mianxiang (面相) predicts fortune by reading facial features
Shouxiang (手相) predicts fortune by reading palms,
Bazi (八字) analyzes the date and hour of a person's birth. Bazi and Shouxiang can be used to tell one's past and future because a person's date of birth and palm will never change. It's believed that changing your facial features can also change your destiny.
Qiu Qian (求签) is often seen at temples, where a fortune teller brings out a bundle of sticks with different Chinese characters inscribed on them. You shake a bamboo cylinder until one stick drops out, and the fortune teller uses that stick to predict your future. This method is considered random and supposedly effective for a short period of time. People often choose this method when they want to make quick decisions or get a good score on upcoming exams.
Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫薇斗数) is an important but less mainstream method that uses a person's birthday based on the Chinese calendar and twelve Chinese constellations to create a life map (命盘) that shows destiny and future relationships. It can predict events such as a divorce at a certain age.
Feng shui (風水) on the other hand, is the practice of using energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment.
What do people usually ask Fortune tellers?
Name Changes: Taiwanese people are superstitious and often believe that a powerful name can bring luck and personal growth. Therefore, many parents ask fortune tellers to pick or change their children's names, and even celebrities are known to change their stage names in order to be more successful.
Matchmaking: Matchmaking is another common reason for seeking fortune tellers' advice. Some bazi or zodiac signs conflict with each other or might even indicate the death of a spouse. The term "ke" (克) is frequently used in this context. For instance, a "kefu ming" (克夫命) refers to a female who is destined to become a widow, regardless of whom she marries. On the other hand, certain zodiac signs are highly compatible with each other.
Career and Finance: Career and finance are also areas where people seek guidance from fortune tellers. They can supposedly tell if your career is improving, who will support your career and can be trusted, and who should be avoided.
Wellbeing: Wellbeing is another aspect where fortune tellers are consulted. Some fortune tellers predict or diagnose their clients' health based on their bazi or zi wei dou shu, which involves a complex algorithm that combines Chinese constellations and the four pillars of destiny.
Feng shui
Feng Shui, which literally means "wind-water" (風水) is an ancient Chinese traditional practice that claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. The practice focuses on the flow of Qi (氣), a positive or negative life force, through places and structures. There are five important elements in Feng Shui: wood, metal, earth, water, and fire. Each element symbolizes different qualities and can be used to enhance specific aspects of life.
Wood: Wood symbolizes growth, vitality, and upward movement. It is often associated with the energy of new beginnings, expansion, and creativity. Placing wood items or incorporating the wood element in your space can encourage personal growth and development.
Metal: Metal represents logic, intelligence, and mental sharpness. It is associated with clarity, precision, and efficiency. Incorporating metal elements in your environment can support knowledge, focus, and analytical thinking.
Earth: Earth symbolizes stability, balance, and grounding. It is associated with nourishment, support, and a sense of rootedness. The earth element helps to create a stable foundation and promotes harmony and equilibrium in your surroundings.
Water: Water symbolizes wisdom, flow, and adaptability. It is associated with intuition, emotional well-being, and a sense of calmness. Incorporating water elements or representations in your space can aid in achieving clarity, serenity, and relaxation.
Fire: Fire represents passion, energy, and transformation. It symbolizes the active force of change, inspiration, and enthusiasm. The fire element brings warmth, motivation, and vitality to your environment, igniting creativity and expansion.
The bagua map is a common tool used in Feng Shui home design to analyze energy in a given space and suggest what elements to bring in to enhance the flow. It consists of nine quadrants, each associated with an element and color, representing different aspects of life such as wealth, fame, love, family, health, children, wisdom, career, and helpful people.
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| Picture source: evaluintegrativewellness.com |
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