A cultural reflection: the auspicious sign in miscellaneous notes of the Tang Dynasty (618-907)

Abstract

The belief in auspicious sign from the scientific point of view may probably be regarded as a kind of superstition, but for many of the people in their nations, it has become a part of their folk culture. Such a belief comes basically from the fondness and seeking of auspiciousness which should be ordinary and common in people’s psychology. For the Chinese, not only mythological beliefs and various thoughts like Confucianism have been involved in the propitious interpretations but also a symbolic association with the recognition from Heaven on the performance of the ruling class to consolidate the regime has been made all through the dynasties. This paper gives a focused study on the auspicious sign of the Táng Dynasty (618-907). With quoted examples from the Táng miscellaneous notes and the use of supporting documentation such as official historic records, it elaborates and analyses the Táng auspicious sign from cultural perspective. Discussions and comments are concisely made on (1) the classification and cultural context of various signs relating to natural phenomena (e.g. snow falls in lunar March), animals (e.g. a white fox appears in people’s house), birds (e.g. white magpies nest in human’s living area), plants (e.g. pear trees blossom in winter) and objects (e.g. stone), (2) Táng people’s attitudes towards the signs and their opposite interpretations on the same sign, and (3) the factors like Confucianism in developing the auspicious concepts and signs to be part of the Chinese culture.