Feed the white tiger, but don't put a curse on anyone

I came across a rather curious votive offering by a road in Yuen Long earlier this month. Two paper tigers, each about the size of a hand, were weighed down by a long piece of fatty meat placed across their heads. Next to them were two cracked eggs, their contents running onto the asphalt.

In the traditional Chinese calendar, the solar term “awakening of insects” (jingzhe) usually falls between what are March 6th and 21st in the Gregorian calendar. The Cantonese believe that this is the time to make offerings to the white tiger, which symbolises malevolent forces. Fatty meat and eggs are offered to feed the tiger and, thus sated, the beast will be less inclined to harm the one who feeds it.

There is a darker side to the white tiger custom, which can be seen under a bridge in Wan Chai where witches beat the “life” out of the paper tigers that represent their customers’ enemies. No matter how unpleasant your enemy may be, paying someone to put a curse on him or wish him physical harm or even death does not make you the better person. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Similarly, while mainland visitors may be causing problems for Hongkongers, locals shouldn’t respond with malice or violence.

Again – two wrongs don’t make a right.