Brian Kennedy has an excellent intro to daoist talismans in the latest issue of Kungfu Taichi magazine. I didn’t know this whole article was up (ahem!). Here is part of the article to whet your appetite:
It was March of 2006. A pregnant woman and her unborn baby had been murdered. The Taiwanese police had narrowed their suspects down to one person, the boyfriend. A police raid is conducted on his house and the police find a most eerie thing when they burst through the doors.
The murderer has plastered hundreds of Taoist talismans over every square inch of his apartment. His purpose was obvious, at least to Taiwanese observers, and that was to protect himself from the ghost of his murdered girlfriend and their unborn murdered child (fn. 3).
Although Taoist priest and pundits were quick to try and distance “legitimate” Taiwanese Taoism from the dark evilness of the murderer, nonetheless folk belief in Taiwan is that such talismans are, for better or worse, “morally neutral,” meaning they will work regardless of the motive or personal morality of the users. It is noticeable to any observer of Taiwanese Taoism or any observer of Taiwan’s criminal element that the two things often go hand in glove. For example Taiwanese gangsters often wrap their illegal firearms or knives in Taoist talismans.
9 responses so far ↓
1 renli // Aug 22, 2007 at 1:32 pm
That’s really funny. I don’t mean to step on anyone’s beliefs, but I can almost imagine the conversation that took place when the police busted down his door…
I know that the talismans were there to protect him against his girlfriend’s ghost or something, but it sure does feel tempting to make some kind of joke about how the talismans didn’t work. I’m really trying hard here not to mention polar bear repellent, for example
2 chessman71 // Aug 22, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Well, I was thinking he should have had a few talismans to protect him from the police.
3 Weakness With a Twist » Talisman (Fu) // Aug 25, 2007 at 8:58 am
[…] Formosa Neijia posted the last two paragraphs of this article by the Author of Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals, Brian Kennedy. The Dark side of Talismans It was March of 2006. A pregnant woman and her unborn baby had been murdered. The Taiwanese police had narrowed their suspects down to one person, the boyfriend. A police raid is conducted on his house and the police find a most eerie thing when they burst through the doors. […]
4 Joanna // Aug 25, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Scott appears to be trying to broaden the meaning of “fu” out to mean ANY kind of contract between the living world and the “unseen” world. I couldn’t find this definiton of “fu” anywhere, and (although I could be wrong) I suspect it is a tactical one rather than a completely honest one, in order to prove that any symbol of commitment in any culture could be seen in this way. That said, even were the definition entirely accurate I must suggets that such a definition takes on a very different contextual meaning within a polytheistic setting (one with various malevolent spooks, spirits, ghosts and ancestors floating around) to that of a monotheistic culture with a single spiritual component to the universe (such as God a.k.a Waheguru in Sikhism).
I thought “fu” in its Chinese cultural context here meant something like “talisman” “charm” or “incantation” (my knowledge of the Chinese language is quite limited, so maybe your readers will be able to help out).
Obviously I cannot have this debate on Scott’s own blog as he has now edited two of my comments - I just can’t risk being misrepresented there any more than I have been already.
I suppose really the best thing to do is not give Scott any more attention, but I thought if the fu thing could be cleared up here at least by a knowledgable Chinese speaker then it might help people to be less convinced by his arguments.
5 Joanna // Aug 25, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I fact, the point of the last sentence of my first paragraph might be made stronger by an additonal word - benevolent.
“I must suggets that such a definition takes on a very different contextual meaning within a polytheistic setting (one with various malevolent spooks, spirits, ghosts and ancestors floating around) to that of a monotheistic culture with a single benevolent spiritual component to the universe (such as God a.k.a Waheguru in Sikhism).”
6 Joanna // Aug 25, 2007 at 7:27 pm
… consequently, while fu might translate as talisman within a polytheistic world view, it does not necessarily follow that talisman translates as fu with a monotheistic one.
7 chessman71 // Aug 26, 2007 at 12:59 am
Well, as far as I know fu does mean something like talisman, with fuzhou being a charm or amulet. So I agree with you there. I think that Scott’s writing is trying to extend the concept using his understanding of the religious background.
But this: “consequently, while fu might translate as talisman within a polytheistic world view, it does not necessarily follow that talisman translates as fu with a monotheistic one..” I don’t agree with.
If you try to take the language out of it’s cultural context, then there’s just no way that you’re going to get exact matches on vocabulary. You’d have to find the best equivalent in the language (and therefore, culture) that you’re trying to translate into. Translating talisman as “fu” or “fuzhou” is likely the best you can do.
If this interests you, you should try talking to some ex-missionaries at your local Christian churches. I’m sure the will tell you how hard this is.
8 Joanna // Aug 26, 2007 at 3:18 am
Hi chessman71 - I don’t disagree with your comment, I think I just made my last point unclearly. I meant that the term “fu” may be a broader and more generic term than talisman, so while it may be true to say that talismans are covered within the remit of the term “fu,” it is not true to say that everything that might be termed “fu” in a polytheistic culture would be considered to be a talisman in a monotheistic one.
I think that for Scott to take the broadest definition of the term “fu” and then imply that everything that falls within its remit in China should be considered talismanic in the context of Western culture is misleading.
I hope I’ve explained that a little better. Basically I agree with everything you just said
9 chessman71 // Aug 26, 2007 at 8:43 am
Oh, okay. I see what you’re saying. Actually, you’re right. The term “fu” is a bit broader, as you’ve just said.
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