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As in most cultures, many customs and superstitions surround the state of pregnancy and the events of birth and early infancy in Chinese culture. In Chinese culture, they function to protect the pregnant woman and child from 'malign influences' and to avert problems with pregnancy and birthing such as miscarriage, stillbirth, death of the mother and imperfections/deformity in the newborn
Many customs relate to the behaviour and environment of the pregnant Chinese woman. Working with glue or other adhesives may cause birthing complications and hammering nails is thought to cause deformity in the foetus. Restraint in day to day life is also required of the mother: the use of foul/vulgar language must be avoided as this may cause the baby to be cursed.
Anthropomorphic results may occur if the pregnant women tortures, hurts or kills an animal- e.g. if a rat is struck the newborn child will look like a rat and behave like one!
Consequently, traditional Chinese society blames the mother of a child which is physically disabled for the ‘imperfections’ of the child, as it is believed that deformity had resulted from the mother’s actions during pregnancy.
In former times, infanticide often occurred in such circumstances, to spare the mother shame, public humiliation and ostracism by in-laws. Sometimes, the mother of the deformed newborn is put under so much pressure that many have buckled under stress and committed the only option available to them- suicide.
A pregnant woman is expected and encouraged to continue working, as it is believed that this will ease labour and delivery. Arguments and disputes are to be avoided as the baby may be disturbed by them. Nutritious foods and herbal soups should be eaten, and ‘sharp’ foods such as pineapple and some other fruits avoided as they may cause miscarriage.
Eating squid and crab are discouraged: the former is believed to cause the uterus to ‘stick’ during delivery, the latter to result in a mischievous child.
Overeating may cause an overlarge baby and thus a difficult labour and delivery process. A pregnant woman should not walk around barefoot. Rubbing the abdomen too often is thought to result in a spoilt and over-demanding child.
Old traditions believe that the sex of a baby can be determined by the shape of the pregnant woman’s abdomen, especially after the first three months. If the appearance of the belly is pointed, then the child will be male, if rounded, female.
The production of a male heir is of paramount importance in Chinese culture; indeed some Chinese may seek the help of a holy man or shaman if male offspring do not appear. Superstition has it that a couple should eat certain types of food for the seven days leading up to conception to conceive a certain sex baby: tofu, mushrooms, carrots and lettuce for a male child, pickles, meat and fish for a female.
Male descendants are essential to ensure the continuance of ancestor worship and the continuity of family lineage and name. Females cannot inherit, and in the Chinese family system (see Marriage) the wife lives with the husband’s family and is deemed as no longer part of her own family, but the property of the husband’s family. Female offspring are thus thought of as being only ‘temporary’ family members, while male offspring ‘belong’ to the family for their lives, and thus will be the one taking care of his elderly parents (as an act of filial piety).
Because of this dietary belief, many pregnant women in olden China have forced themselves to consume more healthy food than they should. This has lead to health detoriation of these poor mothers. Another common belief is that if a male adolescent touches the belly of the pregnant mother, the foetus will be male. However, these beliefs are proven to be widely untrue. Many historians and demographists think that this is due to the custom of having a son is better than having a daughter as the daughter will be married into another family. Also, the male will be responsible for passing down the family name as the third generation will follow the surname of the father, and not the mother. Because of these customs, it is thought that these beliefs are actually created by the masses and have no reasonable explanations behind them.
It is considered inauspicious to give a name to an unborn baby, as this displays and eagerness on the part of the parents for a child of a particular sex, and may cause disappointment if the child is of the different sex.
The major responsibility for care of the pregnant woman is taken by her mother-in-law, not her husband.
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Buildings without the 4th story, hotel rooms without ‘4’ in it. Why is it happening throughout the largest continent on Earth, Asia?
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