ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Taiwanese superstitions

Superstitions are like magic tricks that some people believe in. They think that if they do certain things or avoid certain things, they will have good luck or avoid bad luck. In Taiwan, there are many superstitions that people believe in.

One of the superstitions is about numbers. In Taiwan, some people believe that the number 4 is a bad number because it sounds like the word for death in Chinese. So, sometimes people will try to avoid things that have the number 4 in them, like room numbers or phone numbers. On the other hand, the number 8 is considered lucky because it sounds like the word for wealth in Chinese.

Another superstition is about ghosts. In Taiwan, some people believe that ghosts are real and can cause problems for living people. They believe that ghosts can cause illness, accidents, or bad luck. To avoid ghosts, some people will wear lucky charms or burn incense to keep them away.

Feng Shui is another belief that some people in Taiwan follow. It is a way of arranging things in your home or workplace to promote good energy or luck. For example, people might place a mirror to reflect good energy into a room or arrange furniture in a certain way to improve harmony.

There are also superstitions about food. In Taiwan, some people believe that eating certain foods can bring good luck. For example, eating dumplings on Chinese New Year's Eve is said to bring prosperity. Some people also believe that certain foods can heal or prevent health problems.

Overall, superstitions are a big part of Taiwanese culture. Even though they might seem silly to some people, they can bring comfort or hope to those who believe in them.