Japanese superstitions

Japanese superstitions are rooted in the culture and history of Japan and the Japanese people. Some Japanese superstitions are meant to teach lessons or serve as practical advice.

Some superstitions that are common in Japan have been imported from other cultures. The Japanese share superstitions with other Asian cultures, particularly the Chinese, with whom they share significant historical and cultural ties. The unluckiness of the number four is one such example, as the Japanese word for "four" sounds like the word for "death". However, unlike most other countries, in Japan, a black cat crossing one's path is considered to bring good luck.

A significant portion of Japanese superstition is related to language. Numbers and objects that have names that are homophones for words such as "death" and "suffering" are typically considered unlucky. Other superstitions relate to the literal meanings of words. Another significant part of Japanese superstition has its roots in Japan's ancient pagan, animist culture and regards certain natural things as having kami. Thus, many Japanese superstitions involve beliefs about animals and depictions of animals bringing about good or bad fortune.

If a funeral hearse drives past, one must hide their thumbs in a fist. The Japanese word for "thumb" literally translates as "parent-finger.". Hiding it is considered protection for one's parents. If this is not done, one's parents will die.

7, when pronounced with "shichi", sounds similar to the number four (四 shi). It is considered a good number since 7 symbolizes "Togetherness". 8 is considered a lucky number because it is nearly homophonous to the word "Prosperity" (繁栄 han'ei), It is also homophonous to Hachikō. 9 is considered a good number, when it was pronounced Kyū, sounds like a word for Relief. 10 is considered a good number because it is pronounced Jū, sounds like the word for "Enough" and "Replete". It is also a homophone for the word "Ample" (十分な jūbun'na).

There are several unlucky numbers in Japanese. Traditionally, 4 is unlucky because it is sometimes pronounced shi, which is the word for death. Sometimes levels or rooms with 4 don't exist in hospitals or hotels. Particularly in the maternity section of a hospital, the room number 43 is avoided because it can literally mean "stillbirth". (死産 - shizan: 死 - death/to die and 産 - childbirth/produce). In cars and racing, number 42 which sounds like shini (死に – to death) and 49, which sounds like shiku (敷く – to run over) are avoided. When giving gifts such as plates, they are normally in sets of three or five, never four.

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