Wisdom and Superstition in China: Drinking Turtle Blood and other Questionable Traditions
From: STephen ASma
Length: 06:30
Confused but adventurous American in Shanghai tries to make sense out of Feng-shui, acupuncture, medicinal turtle's blood, and other popular Chinese practices. Not content to muse on such matters, our intrepid guide tries them all first hand. The essay is a humorous and vaguely philosophical tour of bizarre beliefs and traditions.
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Piece Description
Confused but adventurous American in Shanghai tries to make sense out of Feng-shui, acupuncture, medicinal turtle's blood, and other popular Chinese practices. Not content to muse on such matters, our intrepid guide tries them all first hand. The essay is a humorous and vaguely philosophical tour of bizarre beliefs and traditions.
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Jehovah's Witness (05:22)
Cristina Quinn
Posted on September 29, 2009 at 10:19 PM | Permalink
Engaging and open-minded
I enjoyed this piece, and was able to relate with it on a few levels as my mother is Japanese and is a firm believer in the Eastern philosophy of medicine. I also grew up exposed to some of her Japanese superstitions (i.e., whistling after dark attracts burglars). I found Stephen's essay to be open and honest, and found his Westerner's appreciation of his experiences in Shanghai refreshing. Often times, the "weird" aspects are overemphasized without valuing the cultural ideologies behind Eastern medicine or superstitions.