Keeping buildings safe from ghosts
rpcrowe
Registered Users Posts: 733 Major grins
Many houses in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>, especially older homes, have an elevated doorstep which you have to step over when entering the house. This is to prevent ghosts from entering the house. It is a common belief amongst the Chinese that ghosts have no knees and thus cannot step over obstructions. The pictures on the doors are also designed to frighten off any ghosts who might make it over the elevated doorstep.
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Upon entering many Chinese homes, you need to turn left or right as soon as you pass through the door. The building will have some sort of obstruction which prevents you from walking straight in. This is to prevent ghosts from entering the building since ghosts can only travel in straight lines and cannot turn corners. In the case of this 300+ year old rural Chinese home near Yangshuo, a tribute to Chairman Mao prevents both you and the ghosts from walking straight into the home.
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Other buildings might have different shrines blocking a straight-line entry.
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The bridge over the pond in front of the Huxinting Tea House in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Shanghai</st1:place></st1:City> also takes advantage the inability of ghosts to turn corners. The zig-zag construction keeps the Tea House safe from those spirits.
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<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Upon entering many Chinese homes, you need to turn left or right as soon as you pass through the door. The building will have some sort of obstruction which prevents you from walking straight in. This is to prevent ghosts from entering the building since ghosts can only travel in straight lines and cannot turn corners. In the case of this 300+ year old rural Chinese home near Yangshuo, a tribute to Chairman Mao prevents both you and the ghosts from walking straight into the home.
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Other buildings might have different shrines blocking a straight-line entry.
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The bridge over the pond in front of the Huxinting Tea House in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Shanghai</st1:place></st1:City> also takes advantage the inability of ghosts to turn corners. The zig-zag construction keeps the Tea House safe from those spirits.
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