Nathan Algren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shiroi_tiger) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2010-01-18 06:04 am
shiroi_tiger) wrote in fandomhigh2010-01-18 06:04 am
Entry tags:
Japanese Etiquette & Tradition, 1/18/10, Period 5
Another Japanese Etiquette class, another week with the cushions and the slippers. You probably all know the drill by now. Algren will laugh at you if you don't. And then throw the slippers at you.
He's nice like that.
"Black cats crossing your path. Seven years of bad luck if you break a mirror. Most of you are probably familiar with these superstitions, here in North America. And really, no matter where you go, you'll find that each culture has their own set of superstition to contend with. Individuals immersed in the theater will be scolded for whistling in the building. Brides aren't to be seen by their groom before the wedding. Japan might not share these superstitions, but so far as having ones of its own, they're really no different."
It was going to take him a moment, but Algren was now pulling himself to his feet. He lectured better while he was pacing, sometimes.
"When in Japan, be sure to avoid the numbers four and nine. Shi, the Japanese word for four, also translates to death. The number nine, ku, rhymes with the Japanese word for pain, kutsuu. The number four and the number two put together, shi and ni, are seen as unlucky as well. Forty-two, or shi-ni, means 'to die,' and twenty-four, or ni-shi, is a double death." He smirked faintly. "This isn't a good excuse to get out of doing math homework in Japan, unfortunately.
"Other superstitions involving death include the ever popular, 'don't cut your nails at night.' The word for doing this is yozume, and the word written in kanji can also mean 'quick death,' and so if you do this, you won't be with your parents at their deathbed. Saying the word for salt, shio, near nightfall can be a bad omen as well, as it can be mistaken for shi. And, of course, you don't want to be the middle person in a group of three when there's a photo being taken. You'll be the one to become unlucky and die at an early age."
Wasn't that lovely?
"Don't stick your chopsticks into your rice. This is a tradition to be done only at funerals. Don't sleep with your head facing North, or else you'll live a short life. That's the direction that bodies are laid to rest at funerals. You shouldn't lay down directly after eating, either. If you do, you'll turn into a cow."
Oh, Japan.
"Stepping on the cloth border of tatami floor mats, breaking combs, breaking the straps on your geta or zori, wooden clogs and slippers respectively, and eating fried eel and melon in the same meal are all considered bad luck, as well. For the same reason, you shouldn't make eye contact with a crow, and, yes, black cats are unlucky in Japan as well, though that's a superstition that was imported from Western culture."
He made his way over to the mat at the door, stooped over, and picked up one of his shoes.
"There are countless other superstitions in Japan- far, far too many for me to name off in one class. But one that you might enjoy would be this simple trick for predicting the weather. Take your shoe and throw it into the air. If it lands on the sole, the day will be a nice one. If it lands on the side, you can expect clouds, and if it lands upside-down? Rain." He gave his shoe a light toss upward, so that it didn't hit the ceiling, and he nodded at the class before it hit the floor. "Grab one of your shoes and predict the weather. Don't break any lights. And try not to hit one another."
If Algren's shoe was to be trusted, then they could expect rain. It was entirely possible that Algren's shoe was a filthy liar.
[OCDcoming up!]
He's nice like that.
"Black cats crossing your path. Seven years of bad luck if you break a mirror. Most of you are probably familiar with these superstitions, here in North America. And really, no matter where you go, you'll find that each culture has their own set of superstition to contend with. Individuals immersed in the theater will be scolded for whistling in the building. Brides aren't to be seen by their groom before the wedding. Japan might not share these superstitions, but so far as having ones of its own, they're really no different."
It was going to take him a moment, but Algren was now pulling himself to his feet. He lectured better while he was pacing, sometimes.
"When in Japan, be sure to avoid the numbers four and nine. Shi, the Japanese word for four, also translates to death. The number nine, ku, rhymes with the Japanese word for pain, kutsuu. The number four and the number two put together, shi and ni, are seen as unlucky as well. Forty-two, or shi-ni, means 'to die,' and twenty-four, or ni-shi, is a double death." He smirked faintly. "This isn't a good excuse to get out of doing math homework in Japan, unfortunately.
"Other superstitions involving death include the ever popular, 'don't cut your nails at night.' The word for doing this is yozume, and the word written in kanji can also mean 'quick death,' and so if you do this, you won't be with your parents at their deathbed. Saying the word for salt, shio, near nightfall can be a bad omen as well, as it can be mistaken for shi. And, of course, you don't want to be the middle person in a group of three when there's a photo being taken. You'll be the one to become unlucky and die at an early age."
Wasn't that lovely?
"Don't stick your chopsticks into your rice. This is a tradition to be done only at funerals. Don't sleep with your head facing North, or else you'll live a short life. That's the direction that bodies are laid to rest at funerals. You shouldn't lay down directly after eating, either. If you do, you'll turn into a cow."
Oh, Japan.
"Stepping on the cloth border of tatami floor mats, breaking combs, breaking the straps on your geta or zori, wooden clogs and slippers respectively, and eating fried eel and melon in the same meal are all considered bad luck, as well. For the same reason, you shouldn't make eye contact with a crow, and, yes, black cats are unlucky in Japan as well, though that's a superstition that was imported from Western culture."
He made his way over to the mat at the door, stooped over, and picked up one of his shoes.
"There are countless other superstitions in Japan- far, far too many for me to name off in one class. But one that you might enjoy would be this simple trick for predicting the weather. Take your shoe and throw it into the air. If it lands on the sole, the day will be a nice one. If it lands on the side, you can expect clouds, and if it lands upside-down? Rain." He gave his shoe a light toss upward, so that it didn't hit the ceiling, and he nodded at the class before it hit the floor. "Grab one of your shoes and predict the weather. Don't break any lights. And try not to hit one another."
If Algren's shoe was to be trusted, then they could expect rain. It was entirely possible that Algren's shoe was a filthy liar.
[OCD