TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Ghost Month officially began Thursday with the start of the seventh lunar month, when Taiwanese folklore holds that the gates of the underworld open and spirits enter the mortal realm.
During the month, many people observe traditional taboos intended to avoid attracting ghosts, often referred to respectfully as "good brothers" (好兄弟). Numerology expert Tang Chen-wei (湯鎮瑋) and folk custom expert Yang Teng-kei (楊登嵙) shared several customs they said could help people avoid negative energy, per UDN.
1. Avoid extreme sadness or anger
Tang said strong emotions such as grief and anger are believed to increase yin energy. Because Ghost Month marks a seasonal shift from yang to yin, people are thought to be more vulnerable to negative influences if they cannot regulate their emotions.
Maintaining emotional balance, Tang said, is believed to promote steadier fortune throughout the month.
2. Avoid nighttime adventures
Tang advised staying away from isolated or sparsely populated places after dark, particularly locations considered to have heavy yin energy. Exploring abandoned buildings or other eerie sites at night is traditionally believed to disturb spirits and attract unwanted supernatural attention.
3. Avoid moving or renovating at night
Moving house or beginning construction is not strictly prohibited during Ghost Month, Tang said, but such activities should be scheduled during daylight hours and on an auspicious date selected from the traditional farmer's almanac. He recommended completing renovations before 5 p.m. and avoiding last-minute nighttime moves.
Yang offered additional advice on clothing during Ghost Month. He said people born in the Year of the Rat, Ox, Rabbit, and Horse should be particularly cautious this year, per UDN.
4. Do not wear solid black, white, or red
According to Yang, all-black clothing is believed to attract spirits, while all-white attire may signal mourning and draw wandering ghosts. Solid red clothing is said to remind spirits of bloodshed and provoke unrest.
He suggested adding colorful accessories or choosing natural colors instead.
5. Avoid revealing your shoulders
Traditional belief holds that people possess three protective spiritual flames: one on the head and one on each shoulder. Yang said revealing the shoulders, particularly in places associated with yin energy such as cemeteries, hospitals, columbariums, slaughterhouses, and abandoned buildings, is thought to weaken this protection.
6. Avoid ghost-like clothing
Distressed or ripped clothing, wedding dresses, messy hair, and ghost costumes are also discouraged during Ghost Month, Yang said. Ripped clothing may cause spirits to mistake someone for a wandering ghost, while bridal attire and ghost-themed costumes are believed to attract unwanted supernatural attention.
UDN noted that the advice reflects folk belief and cautioned readers against excessive superstition. For many families, Ghost Month remains a time to show respect for ancestors and wandering spirits through offerings, temple ceremonies, and everyday acts of caution.
