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Japanese Traditions & Superstitions
Periodically I'll be updating this journal with things like Japanese traditions, sayings and folklore that I discovere and find interesting!
Bad luck turns good? (Added 7/2/2008)
I just recently had something pretty crappy happen to me and was talking about it with my Okinawan friend who helped put a positive spin on the situation. She said that when something really bad happens, some Japanese/Okinawan's believe it brings with it the opportunity for a bit of good luck. So say something bad happens and in the near future something else is coming up like taking a really big test that you might have some reservations about. Now that the bad thing has happened, you can be fairly certain that taking that test is going to result in a good grade. Obviously this is a superstition, but after something terrible happens, especially at the current moment for myself, I'd rather think this will lead to something good rather than dwell on the negative.
5 Yen Coin (Added 5/20/2008)
The five yen coin is considered lucky in Japan because of its homophone name; a combination of the word "go" meaning five and the word to denote Japanese currency, "yen." The hyphenated word, "go-en" in Japanese happens to translate to "good luck," "karma," or "fate" (depending on what source you are reading). Regardless of the exact meaning as they are all similar, the five yen coin is often donated as the coin-of-choice at Shinto Shrines. Superstition also prompts some to insert the coin into a wallet before any other currency. It is thought that this will bring the wallet good luck and always keep it full of money (or Yen as the case may be)!
Did you know, "[t]he face value of the 5-yen coin is written in Chinese characters, while Arabic numerals are used on other coins[?]" (US Mint)
Both the five and fifty yen pieces have a hole through the middle, which is both rare and unique. Why do some coins have holes you ask? Here are some theories:
- Easier to keep track of, especially without pockets; can be strung on a necklace or sewn into clothing
- Harder to counterfeit before advanced technology
- Cost: it takes less metal to make up the coin
- Easier to distinguish when mixed with other coins
- A show of independence? The idea behind this was extracting a portrait like that of a king from a coin by drilling through it. (Discussion on Why Coins Have Holes In Them )
- Used as every day items, i.e., a button or even a teething ring?!
Well, that's a start! I'm sure there are many more theories. Interesting though, isn't it?
Resources
5 Yen and 50 Yen Coins, by Alice Gordenker, June 20, 2006.
Predicting Your Child's Future (Added 4/5/2008)
On a child's first birthday (considered the second birthday in Japan, read about birthday's in Japan), a series of pre-determined gifts are presented to him or her. Ultimately, the chosen gift is said to aid in the prediction of the child's future. Here's a list of what the child has to choose from and what each item represents:
- brush: artist or writer
- ruler: become higher position
- calculator: accounting or something to do with calculation
- scissors: skillful for details
- food: don't have to worry about food, away from hunger
- money: don't have to worry about money, away from poor
This message was posted on July 2, 2008