PhotoHunt theme : Curse /People at work
While accompanying my elders on one of their temple visits beginning of the year, I took a picture of this Tiger deity.
Based on Chinese folk culture, people go to a Chinese temple that worship Tiger God to do a "villain hitting" ritual (打小人). The purpose is to curse one's foes using magic. :P
You may perform the ritual by yourself if you know how. There will be several elderly ladies in the temple to perform the ritual for you if you don't know how to do it.
One elderly woman performed this old Chinese ritual by using a slipper to hit a "villain paper" or an effigy, at the same time chanting to put a curse on the intended villain.
villain hitters at work
I didn't mean to eavesdrop but the elderly villain hitters were cursing loudly for all to hear. :D
Most problems were related to unfaithful partners, rivals, gossips or trouble at work.
Saw this displayed on one of the ladies' stall :
The Ancient Taoist Principle of Reciprocity
If you do me a favour, I will return a greater favour to you
But if you hurt me, I will not offer the other cheek.
If you insult me, I will punch you;
If you punch me, I will break your arm;
If you break my arm, I will break your leg;
And if you break my leg, I will put you in a coffin.
Gulp.
I only seen it in TV...
ReplyDeleteYou can learn from the aunty on TV and do it yourself. hahaha...
DeleteOh, they have those in Singapore too? In Hong Kong, you can find "tiger beaters" in Causeway Bay's Canal Road!
ReplyDeleteYes. Surprised to see the villian hitting aunties. :D
DeleteI've never heard of this ritual before. Very interesting and good pictures :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. There are lots of interesting rituals in our Chinese culture.
DeleteI had no idea that curses were so prevalent in Chinese culture. That was an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteGood pics for this week's CHALLENGING theme!
Have a super weekend.
I am amazed by the amount of curses I found in my Chinese culture while doing this week's theme. :D
DeleteHi ECL, that's a pretty interesting ritual. Wonderful photo collage and a very nice pairing of the two themes.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
Thanks Kathy.
DeleteI wonder if one can protect against being 'cursed' like this?
ReplyDeleteDon't do evil, karma will get those who do that. :)
DeleteI tried 打小人 before, that was when I was still working, encountered some unhappy times, so thought of giving this a try =)
ReplyDeleteDid it work for you? :)
DeleteIt was hard for me to find a curse... I didn't know there were so many in your part of the world!
ReplyDeleteStay away from those cursers :-)
I read quite a bit on curses in the western countries too. But the scariest and most terrible curses come from Asia. :P
Deletewow! so much for turning the other cheek. :)
ReplyDeletehaha.... interesting isn't it?
DeleteThat's very interesting ! I have always liked to learn about Chinese traditions !
ReplyDeleteGlad you find it interesting. I have more to share. haha....
DeleteYou have this in Spore? Saw a ghost movie about 'beating small people" where the ghost comes back to take revenge. Heard its not a good karma for both the beater and the person who ask for the curse as what goes around comes around. How true?
ReplyDeleteYes, I was surprised to find this. This "beating small people" is not powerful enough to harm anyone. The most terrible curse comes from black magic. :)
DeleteLOL....saw this before too. The ladies very good at chanting.
ReplyDeleteBut what i heard is not good to 打小人 coz the more hit the more 小人 will come . Dunno true or not.