Güliz Ulu

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Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Abstract: This article aims at exploring similarity between Anatolian and Chinese prevalent superstitions, the reasons behind them and contributing to literature concerning superstitions. In this comparative study, marriage, birth, and death superstitions and their impacts on people’s life have been investigated individually in Anatolian and Chinese cultures. As a result, the study concluded that superstitions have been a tradition, which is transferred from one generation to another. In both Anatolia and China, superstitions are mostly towards expelling evil spirits, avoiding bad things, and bringing good luck. In China, the most widespread superstitions are related to homophonic numbers whereas in Anatolia, wearing an evil eye talisman against evil eye is the most popular one. However, visiting a fortuneteller is very common superstition in both cultures and the most similar superstitions appear on birth customs. Results indicated that many superstitions originated from Shamanism, which is pre Islamic Asian origin Turkic religion. It is assumed that innumerable Anatolian and Chinese superstitions come from same ancient Shamanism and have survived until nowadays.

Keywords: Superstitions, Anatolian Superstitions, Chinese Superstitions, Marriage Superstitions, Birth Superstitions, Death Superstitions

Cite this paper: Ulu, G. (2016) Similarity in Superstitions in Anatolian and Chinese Cultures. Advances in Anthropology, 6, 37-44. doi: 10.4236/aa.2016.63005.

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