Have you heard of the weird uses of mirrors?

Introduction: Mirrors are not only an indispensable decoration in almost every household. There are also many customary applications of mirrors. But do you know? It is also often mentioned in Feng Shui stories. Some mirrors are even used more in Chinese customs, and even have strange uses. Let’s take a look at it below. It is difficult to tell the true from the false in folk Feng Shui stories. Let’s take a look at the following Feng Shui story.

Weird uses of mirrors - magic mirror, demon-suppressing mirror, and evil-repelling mirror.

Was the mirror originally used to look at oneself? Actually not. Mirrors were originally used as magical tools by wizards of various tribes during the fishing and hunting period. Mirrors were used to illuminate and suppress demons. This usage has been in China for thousands of years! The wizards at that time believed in animism, which is the most primitive belief. When this belief developed into shamanism, it became extremely powerful. By the beginning of the liberation, among many ethnic groups of the Altaic Manchu-Tungusic, Mongolian and Turkic languages ​​from Northeast to Northwest China, the Oroqen, Ewenki, Hezhe and Daur peoples still practiced Buddhism in large numbers. In those areas, the influence of Buddhism and Taoism was very weak. It is obvious that witchcraft, or shamanism in the northern region, has had a significant impact on various fields such as production, life and social customs. Wizards were believed to have the ability to control the weather, predict, interpret dreams, read astrology, and travel between heaven and hell. Due to social and historical factors, the Han area no longer uses the term "Shamanism" to explain these customs. Everyone uniformly refers to the applications derived from shamanism as folk customs!

We often see a mirror hanging on the door. Do you think it is used in Taoism? Do you think it is used according to the Feng Shui in the Book of Changes? Do you think it is because a Bagua mirror is unavailable and a simple mirror is used? No! The mirror is used here to reflect the evil spirits! When the evil spirits appear, the door gods can keep them out of the door. Therefore, hanging a mirror on the door lintel is a common folk practice to ward off evil spirits. If you place a mirror opposite your neighbor's door, it means you are regarding the opposite door as the source of evil spirits and you want to block it! Of course, if you do this, it will be difficult for the two families to have a good relationship.

In some counties near Haizhou District of Lianyungang, there is still a custom that the bride has to carry a mirror in her arms on her way to the wedding, with the front of the mirror facing the bride at first. When the bride-sitter takes over the wedding party, the bride-sitter asks the bride to "turn the mirror". This mirror was called a "arm-held mirror" in the past, and it was mainly used to ward off evil spirits and ensure the bride's safe journey and a smooth wedding. In other places where people pay attention, even if the mirror is not placed on the bride's body, it is an indispensable part of the dowry.

The later derived Bagua mirror was created by Feng Shui masters by combining the mirror and the Bagua to ward off evil spirits. When choosing a Bagua mirror, choose according to its purpose. A convex mirror can ward off evil spirits while a concave mirror can attract wealth and fortune. It is said that the Tai Chi Bagua mirror can turn the world around and adjust Feng Shui. Try to choose a mirror made of pure copper, as copper itself is said to be able to ward off evil spirits.

Weird uses of mirrors: X-ray mirror, healing mirror.

There are many legends about mirrors in countries around the world, such as the magic mirror used by the queen in Snow White, which can show the world that she cannot see and who is more beautiful. The "Mirror of Love and Lust" that the lame Taoist priest in Dream of the Red Chamber gave to Jia Rui is a mirror that can cure diseases caused by injustice. Everyone is quite familiar with the first two stories. Now let me tell you about another magical mirror: the Qin Mirror. It was used in Qin Shi Huang's palace. It could illuminate a person's internal organs and distinguish whether their heart was evil or righteous. Volume 3 of Miscellaneous Records of Western Capital by Ge Hong of Jin Dynasty wrote: "When Emperor Gaozu first entered the Xianyang Palace, he walked around the treasury... There was a square mirror, four feet wide and five feet nine inches high. It was bright inside and out. If one looked into it directly, his reflection would be seen upside down. If one put his hand on his heart, he would be able to see his intestines, stomach and other internal organs clearly without any scratches. If a person had an internal disease, he could cover his heart and look into it to find out where the disease was. Also, if a woman had evil thoughts, her courage would flutter and her heart would be moved. Qin Shihuang often used it to look into the palace ladies, and killed those who showed evil thoughts." The Qin mirror is also called the Qin mirror. It seems that the word "鉴" is the basic skill of the mirror. Because of the reflection principle of the mirror, people have a lot of expectations for the mirror.

Let me tell you about an application that can still be seen in some places today. On some old beds with a history, you can see an inlaid mirror in the middle. In addition to warding off evil spirits, this mirror is also believed to have the ability to cure diseases. The inlaid mirrors are not big. Some of them have some mythical beasts and flowers with beautiful meanings, and some blessings are written on them, such as "a beautiful full moon and a happy life", "good fortune, longevity and wealth" and other auspicious words. Why is it said that mirrors can cure diseases? In traditional Chinese medicine, which we used extensively in the past, evil has always been the cause of disease. Do you understand now?

Weird uses of mirrors: blessing mirror, house-guarding mirror.

Whether it is moving into a new house, celebrating a birthday, getting married, a funeral, or even some government celebrations, we can easily see mirrors being used as a gift. Blessings and signatures will be written on these mirrors. Generally, this kind of mirror is hung in the living room. People believe that the living room is the place that represents the family fortune. Having a mirror can ward off evil spirits and protect the house, and at the same time pray for blessings, which will surely bring prosperity to the family and happiness to descendants. Mirrors are also indispensable in wedding etiquette. People usually embed mirrors in dressing tables or place a mirror on the dressing table. The dressing table is placed in the wedding room. The purpose is to ward off evil spirits and help the bride dress properly and behave properly.

In the past, such mirrors were basically hung in the reception and office places used by government offices across the country, so there is a saying among the people that a clear mirror is hung high. The idea is also to hope that officials can see the truth like a mirror and make reasonable and correct judgments.

Weird uses of mirrors: protective mirrors.

Is the habit of carrying a mirror when going out just for beauty? It does make dressing and makeup more convenient, but it was not said so at the beginning. The earliest saying was that the mirror had the effect of warding off evil spirits. It was said that as long as the evil spirits saw themselves in the mirror, they would be afraid and would not hurt people. However, many parents now put mirrors in their daughters' personal belongings, while men have basically abandoned this practice. The breastplate on the armor of soldiers in the cold weapon era was the most scientific way of self-defense.

Because mirrors are endowed with so many powerful functions, there are many taboos about mirrors in folk customs. The following precautions are derived from customs and home feng shui.

1. The mirror cannot face the bed.

The assessment criteria is whether a person can see himself in the mirror when sitting or lying on the bed. Includes a TV with a mirror effect. A mirror facing the bed can easily induce nightmares and cause discord between couples.

2. The mirror cannot face the door.

The requirement here is that the mirror should not face the door when the viewing angle is parallel. Especially the bathroom door should not face the mirror. The main theory is that people are afraid that the person with the low flame will be frightened and lose his soul, become sick due to excessive fright, or be possessed by evil spirits.

3. Mirrors cannot face statues or tablets of gods.

This includes not using glass tables to worship statues or tablets. The tablet of the deity to be worshipped cannot be covered with glass. According to folk custom, this is extremely disrespectful! The gods, Buddhas and ancestors will not be able to stay and will leave the place where they are worshipped, making your offerings in vain, and they may even vent their anger on you.

4. Don’t install or hang a mirror in the kitchen.

The same goes for 3, because there is a Kitchen God, or Kitchen Lord, in the kitchen. This god also doesn't like looking in the mirror.

5. Do not place a mirror in the wealth position.

There are two opinions here, one is that you can put a mirror, and the other is that you should not put a mirror. Mirrors are believed to attract wealth because they are yin in nature, but in folk customs, it is believed that the wealth position is where the God of Wealth favors. When the God of Wealth sees a mirror, he will avoid it and will not be able to keep it, so the wealth will be gone.

6. Do not place sofas, tables or chairs in front of the mirror.

Many customs in folklore originate from witchcraft, which believes that all things have spirits. People are, of course, more spiritual. Any position that allows you to look at the back of your head in the mirror is not suitable for people to sit for a long time, including the dining table. Because this will disturb one's own primordial spirit, or soul. From a psychological point of view, this will make people feel threatened and lose their sense of security, causing such seats to make people feel uneasy and unable to sit still.

7. Do not place mirrors in front of computer desks or desks.

When you see yourself in the mirror, it can be very distracting unless you need to dress up or check yourself.

8. What should I do if the mirror is broken?

Should we do as the British do? The Chinese approach is simpler. They just say that everything is fine, clean it up and buy a new one. Don't worry too much.