Tag Archives: Superstitions

PERSISTENCE

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The Seven Luck Gods

The Japanese, especially in the Heian period and perhaps later,  world we would call superstitious. Like  Western Europeans they believe that illness could be caused by “bad spirits” and that their minute actions could cause disastrous consequences not only for themselves but for others. Naturally they would turn to the Seven Gods of Luck, displayed above and below. As I write this I take out a special package friend of mine gave me in which I keep buttons. But these buttons have the faces of… Continue reading →

Superstitions and Tales

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Monkey in Monkey and Crab

Superstitions and Tales There was an old belief that persimmons have magical powers that bring the birth of children and a good harvest. Incidentally, there is a Japanese saying, “Saru mo ki kara ochiru.” This means, “Even monkeys fall out of trees,” or as the English expression has it, “Pride comes before a fall.” Once upon a time there was a crab who picked up a rice cake, and a monkey, who had a hard persimmon-seed, came together, and who begged the crab to exchange… Continue reading →

Japanese Superstitions

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Japanese Zodiac

The Heian Period of Japan is considered the Golden Age. It is also a great age of superstition, magic and mantic practices. Did you know that the number 4 is unlucky In the Japanese culture?  At the time of Pillow Book of the Flower Samurai everyone believed that the ghosts of the dead, if not properly  buried and prayed for, would haunt and even kill anyone who did not honor them.   The Chinese zodiac, adopted by the Japanese, which some of you may have… Continue reading →