TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The gates of hell opened this year on Sunday (Aug. 4), marking the start of Taiwan's Ghost Month (鬼月), and numerology expert Hsiao Meng (小孟) has listed nearly two dozen taboos traditionally observed by Taiwanese during this period.
Taiwan's Ghost Month, observed in the 7th month of the lunar calendar—this year from Aug. 4 to Sept. 2—is when Taoists and Buddhists believe the gates of hell are opened for "hungry ghosts" to roam the world of the living in search of food, money, entertainment, and possibly souls. A "hungry ghost" is a being sent to the underworld to suffer an eternal hunger state for their misdeeds or for not having a proper burial.
The terms "Good Brothers" (好兄弟) and "Good Sisters" (好姐妹) are considered the preferable terms to politely refer to lost souls, as opposed to "ghosts," to avoid offending them. These apparitions are not worshiped as ancestors and can vary from pitiful to dangerous.
On his Facebook page, Hsiao Meng listed 22 prohibitions traditionally followed during Ghost Month. He claimed that breaking with these traditions could invite the Good Brothers to intrude, and, in severe cases, one might be at risk of “being taken as a replacement,” a superstition in which a living person is believed to be captured by spirits to take the place of someone who died prematurely.
22. Don't set off firecrackers after dusk during a wedding
It is considered inauspicious to get married during Ghost Month, but if a wedding is held during this period, avoid setting off firecrackers at nightfall to prevent marital discord.
21. Move into a new house at noon
It is considered best to avoid moving into a new home during Ghost Month, but if one must, try to move in at noon for good luck.
20. Schedule surgery during the day
Taiwanese try to avoid unnecessary doctor visits during Ghost Month, but if one must undergo surgery, it is recommended that it is scheduled during the day.
19. Place wormwood powder or sage in the hotel
As wormwood powder and sage are believed to drive away evil spirits, placing these in a hotel room will enable a good night's sleep and prevent unwanted guests.
18. Don't use curse words during Zhongyuan Pudu
Zhongyuan Pudu (中元普渡) is a salvation ceremony in which offerings are provided to wandering spirits. This is when Good Brothers eat, and using foul language could offend them.
17. Don't watch scary movies at midnight
Taiwanese avoid talking about ghosts this month, and midnight is when yin energy (陰氣) is at its peak.
16. Don't dial 13 sevens or 13 zeros
The person who answers the phone might be deceased.
15. Don't play ghost-related games
Activities like ghost tours, spirit board games, or divination games could invite spirits, which might be difficult to send away.
14. Don't repeatedly say the word “death”
Continuously saying “si” (死), the Mandarin word for death, could easily offend Good Brothers.
13. Don't take photos in the mountains or desolate areas
As camera resolution improves, it's becoming easier to capture the shadows of spirits.
12. Don't worship at Yin temples
Yin temples (陰廟) are thought to have more yin energy during Ghost Month. It is believed that individuals with spiritual energy deemed weak by Chinese astrology are susceptible to attracting impurities during this period when worshiping at Yin temples, which are dedicated to wandering and homeless spirits.
11. Don't burn sandalwood or incense at midnight
The aroma could attract Good Brothers to gather around.
10. Don't whistle at night
The frequency of the whistle is close to the frequency of the underworld and can easily summon spirits.
9. Don't pat someone on the shoulder from behind
This could scare them, causing their soul to be unstable and making them more susceptible to spiritual intrusion.
8. Don't shout or scream at midnight
This will easily startle spirits and lead to poor sleep quality.
7. Don't recite mantras or incantations
Chanting mantras can easily attract Good Brothers and reciting incantations meant to have an exorcism effect could harm them.
6. Don't dry clothes at night
Spirits might attach themselves to damp clothing if they cannot find a place to go during this period.
5. Don't refer to spirits as “ghosts”
This is considered disrespectful to Good Brothers and may even provoke them.
4. Don't walk around temples at dusk
It is believed that spirits who died unjustly may seek help from the temple deities, making these areas more spiritually active. As a result, temples usually avoid holding evening activities during this period.
3. Don't go to the hospital at midnight
The deceased often have many memories from their time in the hospital before passing away. If their descendants do not honor them at home, the ancestors may not be able to return home and could end up wandering in the hospital.
2. Don't visit old houses
Old houses are defined as those that are more than 30 years old. It is said that the deceased may linger around their former residences.
People with weak spiritual energy could become ill if they visit such homes during this period.
1. Don't go swimming
It is said that if the spirit of someone who drowned is a restless soul, they may be unable to reincarnate and could look for someone to take their place during this time.
