What's the origin of hongbaos?- eChinacities Answers

Welcome to eChinacities Answers! Please or register if you wish to join conversations or ask questions relating to life in China. For help, click here.

[ Latest Answers ] [ Latest Questions ] [ Most Answered ] [ Need Answers ]

Verify email

Your verification code has been sent to:

Didn`t receive your code? Resend code

By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .

FaithfulR

Posts: 93

Governor

Q: What's the origin of hongbaos?

I know what they're used for (new years, weddings and bribes) but how did this come about?

12 years 35 weeks ago in Culture - China

Report Abuse Email this post

Answers (3)

Comments (0)

rich45

Posts: 363

Shifu

Add Comment

Origin

There are no clear literary sources from which to trace the origin of the red envelope tradition. In China, during the Qin Dynasty, the elderly would thread coins with a red string. The money was called yāsuì qián (Chinese: 壓歲錢 Chinese: 压岁钱), meaning "money warding off evil spirits", and was believed to protect the elderly from sickness and death.[citation needed] The yāsuì qián was replaced by red envelopes when printing presses became more common. Red envelopes are also referred to as yāsuì qián.

got that form wikipedia.

Report Abuse

12 years 35 weeks ago

sammah

Posts: 164

Governor

Add Comment

Additional info here

Source(s)

Source Link 1

Report Abuse

12 years 34 weeks ago

Mary1991

Posts: 1

General

Add Comment

i think it is a kind of way to drive the dragon away because the Spring Festival in many years ago is a dangerous creature people scared it so they use it to represent like Good Luck

Report Abuse

12 years 34 weeks ago

Know the answer ?

Please or register to post answer.

Answer of the DayMORE >>

Q: Sounds like you employer does not want t...

A: I had a similar experience in HK. If I recall correctly, before or at

A:I had a similar experience in HK. If I recall correctly, before or at the Z visa application, I had to submit ME from the ordinary HK clinic, where I explained why I need ME and I asked them to examine only necessary things (I don't remember the cost ...), and then ... I got Z stamp and when back in China, I had to complete another RP ME, which was on the employer, i.e. included in the Contract ...We've never discussed refund of payment for HK ME with my employer. Year 2013 ...I'd say, that is a regular thingy embassies around the world require, before issuing visas for LT stay in the country. "Vladimir Vladimiro-Witch ras-Putin" (LOL@your pronunciation ..) demands the same thingy before granting LT stay in Ruski. ... Haa, 2013 was the Snowden's year. I was in Kowloon at the time of his landing .. with all these files ... I'm-Still-in-LMAO-State ... Cost for the ME in HK was around HK$ 2000/200 EUR, and ME was kind of swift, quicker and way shorter than on the mainland ... -- icnif77