EN
Asian cuisine has gone beyond mere nutrition to become a complex belief system, carrying profound messages about community values, hope for a brighter future, ways to ward off bad luck and a panacea for longevity.
Japan
Japanese culinary culture records many interesting beliefs that originate from the art of wordplay, specifically homonyms, creating unique rules of conduct. A typical example is the case of pears. In Japanese, the word “nashi” (梨 - pear) is pronounced exactly like “nashi” (無 - nothing, nothingness). Therefore, traditionally, giving pears as gifts, especially to sick people, is considered a bad omen, implying the wish that the recipient will go to the “world of nothingness”.
In their opinion, Japanese people often avoid giving pears as a gift.
On the contrary, octopus is a snack that is considered to bring luck to students. The word “tako” (octopus) evokes the word “taku” (to hold, to hold tightly). Therefore, before important exams or tests, students often eat octopus with the belief that this dish will help them “keep knowledge” in their minds, thereby doing better on the test. Although this belief is somewhat exaggerated, this dish has actually contributed to reducing the feeling of stress for students during the pressure-filled exam period.
Using a play on words, it became a Japanese custom to eat squid for good luck.
China
As a country with a long history and a population of one billion, China has a deeply influential culinary tradition, closely linked to community life and funerals. The most famous is longevity noodles, a “national” dish that is indispensable on birthdays. This tradition originated during the Han Dynasty, when extremely long noodles were considered a symbol of long and uninterrupted life. Therefore, these noodles must never be cut short, because the Chinese believe that this is a bad omen, related to shortening human life.
The Chinese concept of "longevity noodles" (長壽麵) revolves around the symbolic meaning of long, uncut noodles, which represent longevity, good luck, and good health.
Another strict rule is to never stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. This image is said to resemble the incense sticks used in funerals or on altars. The act of sticking chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice is a metaphor for death, so Chinese parents strictly forbid their children from doing this from a young age.
As an Asian country, on the Chinese dining table there are often many strict customs.
In addition, for tourists, the act of flipping a fish while eating is also considered a bad omen, especially for those who work on the water. According to folklore, a flipped fish means a capsized boat, an extremely unlucky image, especially for those about to set sail.
Korea
Similar to Japan, Korean students also have a lucky food before exams called “Chapssal-tteok”, a traditional rice cake on a stick. With its characteristic sticky texture, this cake is believed to help knowledge “stick” to the brain to do better on the test. In addition, thanks to its sticky texture and sweet taste, this cake is also a symbol of longevity and prosperity during weddings, birthdays and housewarmings, symbolizing strong bonds that are not easily broken.
The concept of "bringing luck" with Chapssal-tteok (찹쌀떡) in Korea is to give it to students about to take important exams as a wish for luck and success.
Philippines
In the Philippines, rice is not only an important culinary ingredient but also associated with beliefs about good luck. People believe that wasting even a single grain of rice will bring misfortune such as poverty or even bad luck in a future marriage partner.
In particular, on New Year’s Eve, Filipinos often use 12 round fruits to make offerings, each fruit representing a month of the year, praying for a full and complete new year. In addition, eating sticky rice desserts such as “suman” and “biko” on New Year’s Eve also symbolizes good luck and the wish for good relationships in the new year.
A dessert made from sticky rice called suman
Thailand
Thai food beliefs are often linked to Buddhism, agriculture, and traditional lifestyles. Thai people believe that coconuts symbolize protection and good fortune. Therefore, before exams, Thai students often drink sweet coconut water or eat the dessert “ma-phrao” (which sounds similar to the Thai phrase “not too bad”) to achieve good results. Some families even have the habit of breaking a coconut before moving into a new house, to ward off evil spirits and welcome prosperity and abundance.
Another popular belief is the rule of cracking an eggshell and not letting the two halves stick together. According to folklore, leaving the two halves stuck together resembles a capsized boat, which brings bad luck to fishermen. Many families also separate the eggshells to show respect to their ancestors who once sailed the rivers and seas.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, culinary beliefs focus on taboos for good luck, especially at important times such as the beginning of the month, the beginning of the year or before important occasions. The most absolute and strict taboo foods include dog meat, duck meat, goose meat and squid. Eating dog meat at the beginning of the month is believed to bring bad luck, making work less smooth, while duck meat is avoided for fear of "dispersing the flock" (especially popular in the Central region).
Although only oral folk beliefs, these beliefs play a core role in Vietnamese culture, reflecting the desire for all things to go smoothly.
In addition, many people also abstain from eating balut (fearing that whatever they do will be disrupted), shrimp (fear of going backwards), silver carp (fear of losing their fortune), and bananas (fear of “slipping on a banana peel” during exams). These beliefs, although only passed down by word of mouth, are still an indispensable part of folk culture, expressing the Vietnamese people’s deep desire for convenience and luck in life.
