By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Why are many Chinese scared of the night?
Last night I went for exercise outside around midnight. My Chinese roommate warned me that it was "dangerous and stupid" to go out at that time. I asked him why, and he said "only bad people go out at night, like Xinjiang people or migrant workers" (I live in a tier city on the east coast).
When I lived in southern China I got the same warnings about how very dangerous it is to go out at night. In fact I was told that there are ghosts out at night. So why do you think so many Ch. consider it dangerous to go out at night? From my point-of-view it is the safest time; no cars or ebikes to run you over, the air is cool and clean, and I don't go near bar districts so the risk of attack is low.
Anyone have an explanation for this commonly held belief?
That's when the boogeyman comes out. It only comes out at night so I like to stay inside during that time...
"Ghosts" is the Chinese translation for triads. They tend to come out late at night, and are dangerous for Chinese. They tend to leave foreigners alone, so as not to attract too much attention to themselves.
Nah. I made that up. I have absolutely no idea...
sam239:
Maybe so, in Indonesian the word for ghost is the same as the word for "spy" or "agent" like the Men in Black. Or maybe "ghost" just means "white people", about half the people I saw were white people on their night out.
But the best part of this one was when he said "Xinjiang people" were outside. Completely irrational fear IMO.
It's common for people to feel uncomfortable in the dark. There a zillion rats running around at night, maybe that's why?
sam239:
I have seen no rats here, I know their smell and know their taste. Hangzhou is an exceptional city, they are everywhere in SE Asia and even in Seoul.
TedDBayer:
Taste? Maybe that's why, you get yours barbecued? Have all the local rats have been eaten? China does have a rat meat scandal. Any dark spot I've seen in China/Thailand had rats running around, I lost count of the number of times I've had them run across me shoes.
I was talking to a guy from Kenya on a plane about rats in China, he thought Chinese ate them, said he has. I asked how he caught them, using little tiny spears? and made like I was throwing a dart, he laughed.
sam239:
Shouldn't you be posting those pictures on the "street food" thread?
A few categories here:
1. Old people are old. They're afraid of the dark because of criminals AND evil spirits. Some sense in the criminal thing I guess but depends where you are. If you're in the middle of nowhere that does make you a bit vulnerable.
2. Young people are afraid of the dark because old people are afraid of the dark. Phobias can be acquired, particularly in a mind that's largely irrational to begin with.
3. Some people don't fear the dark - that's because they know what's out there. They are!
sam239:
Yeah, but it's quite widespread, judging by the fact that a high proportion of people outside here at 1 AM are western people, but something like 1 in 1000 people here are western. Clearly they stay inside at night. Makes no sense to me, even if there are such things as "spirits". It's cold and pleasant and you're not going to get hit by a car. Cheers
happywanderer:
Yeah but if you add in that no one is really into late night activities - like going to bars, they have to be good boys and girls because they live with their parents for the rest of their lives, and no one can think independently so they do what they've always done (eat, sleep, work). It starts to make sense.
Generally Chinese people are brought up to be scared of most things. It's a good tool for controlling the population. The rulers conveniently do not educate the population.
Black people can walk around at night unseen
sam239:
Why, do you have some secret hoodoo powers? some vexes you keep to yourselves?
I think this is the biggest reason: Some criminals work at night.
They target at victims who are alone (nobody can help, no police patrols around; there is less visibility during the night, then less attention would be attracted). So it's more dangerous to go out alone during the night.
Chinese police don't work as hard as those we see in Hollywood movies. Even in the day, when some victims report a case, the police may say:" that is no in the range where I'm responsible for. Please tell who who who...". Let alone in the night.
That is to say individuals tent to be more vulnerable in the night. Well, if you are a Martial art master, don't worry, you would be less vulnerable. But still keep alert as some robbery criminals may drive a knife into your body when you are not aware.
Do some physical exercise in the night is a good way of life though. As being said, the air is cleaner, the cars are less. Tips for night outdoors: when you find a suspected criminal approaching you, run away!
