Chinese Folk Paranormal BeliefChinese folk paranormal belief is in fact a nonreligious paranormal belief and tradition that has survived centuries of conflict and political upheaval. Practices such as feng shui, astrology and herbal medicine are widespread. The Chinese folk belief is that there exists many gods and spirits present within nature and your own body. There are positive and helpful spirits known as shen and dark and evil spirits known as kuei and to appease both spirits it requires ritual and sacrifice in the form of gifts and shrine worship. Living well in this existence and concentrating on the law of nature should be of more importance than in spirits or the paranormal. The ritual of exorcism is required when a kuei takes possession of a person. This requires that a priest be used to drive the spirit out. This may be done through the means of fire or loud noise using bonfires, torches, candles and lanterns. It is also believed that mediums may be used to contact the paranormal to obtain advice or direction on a matter. The medium can see the future interpreting scattered objects which may include coins, corn, dice or even stalks of wheat. Cracks in dried bones or even the shell of a tortoise may be divined to provide the medium with insight. As stated “These readings are based on belief in the opposing forces of yin and yang, and their interplay with wu-hsing, or the five elements (earth, water, fire, metal, and wood). Anciently, Chinese sages believed that the unified universe governed by these balancing forces and cyclical successions, and therefore could be interpreted through signs in nature. The reading of these patterns resulted in developing a series of trigrams and hexagrams, which formed the basis for the I, Ching, or Book of Changes, which is one of most provocative and influential books to come out of China.” No discussion of the role that the paranormal can be complete without discussing the relationship and respect that is due to the elders and ancestors. This is manifested in proper burial, maintenance of gravesites, and yearly ritual sacrifice. Chinese folk religions are those having folk beliefs, that are drawn from Chinese mythology. They rely heavily upon religions practiced in China that include ancestor worship and included concepts and Gods found within Chinese mythology. It is reported that at least 394 million people, mostly immigrants, practice these religions worldwide. The religions are thousands of years old with no specific date of origination.Chinese folk religions are made up of a mixture of religious practices, Confucian ceremonies, ancestor worship, Buddhism and Taoism as well as worship of the sun, moon, earth and heaven, various stars and in some cases, communication with animals. Chinese folk religions pay homage to many hundreds of varied gods and deities, as well as saints, immortals and demigods form an important part of the culture of these folk religions. Chinese Folk Paranormal Belief Return from Chinese Folk Paranormal belief to home page. |
