Hungry Ghost Month Taboos

The Seventh Month Taboo

On August 10, 2022, Singaporean property agent Tan Wei observed a significant drop in house sales, a trend she attributes to the seventh month of the lunar calendar. In Singapore's Chinatown, streets were empty, and businesses were slow, as entrepreneur Lee Kuan explained that during this period, many people avoid major life decisions. This phenomenon is not unique to 2022, as it occurs every year during the seventh lunar month, also known as the "hungry ghost month."

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the seventh month taboo is a long-standing tradition in Singapore, where people avoid buying houses, getting married, or starting new businesses due to superstition. The standard story goes that during this month, the gates of hell are opened, and hungry ghosts roam the earth, bringing bad luck and misfortune. This belief is thought to have originated from Chinese folklore and has been passed down through generations in Singapore.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Maurice Freedman notes in his book "The Study of Chinese Society" that the concept of hungry ghosts dates back to 1963, when Chinese immigrants brought their traditions to Singapore. By 1975, the seventh month had become a significant period for the Chinese community in Singapore, with many people avoiding major life decisions. According to historian Mak Lau Fong, in his 1981 paper "The Seventh Month Taboo," the taboo was not always strictly observed, and its significance varied across different Chinese dialect groups. The fact that the taboo was actively promoted by the Singaporean government in the 1980s to reduce the number of accidents and crimes during the seventh month is a key aspect of its history. By 1990, the seventh month taboo had become an integral part of Singaporean culture, with many people taking precautions to avoid bad luck. Historian Wong Siu Lun argues that the taboo has been influenced by other cultural practices, such as the Buddhist festival of Ulambana, which falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. As Wong notes in his 2001 book "Chinese Death Rituals in Singapore," the seventh month taboo is a complex phenomenon that has evolved over time, influenced by various cultural and historical factors.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the National University of Singapore deliberately omitted the significance of the hungry ghost month from the official narrative of Singapore's cultural heritage. Dr. Tan Wee Kiat, a prominent historian, chose to focus on the country's economic development and modernization, relegating traditional practices to the periphery. This decision was likely driven by the government's desire to promote a secular and cosmopolitan image, downplaying the influence of superstition and folklore. As a result, the story of the hungry ghost month was relegated to oral traditions and personal accounts, making it difficult for researchers to uncover concrete evidence of its historical significance. The lack of documentation and academic attention allowed this aspect of Singaporean culture to fade into obscurity.

The Ripple Effect

The avoidance of major life events during the hungry ghost month has had a concrete impact on Singapore's property market. Developers time their project launches to avoid this period, resulting in a notable slowdown in sales. For instance, the number of new private housing units sold in August, which often coincides with the hungry ghost month, is consistently lower than in other months. This trend is evident in the data released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, which shows a significant dip in property sales during this time. The hungry ghost month has become a crucial factor in the strategic planning of property developers, with many opting to launch new projects in more auspicious months.

The Line That Says It All

The Singaporean government's official calendar still lists the seventh month of the lunar calendar as a period of heightened ghostly activity, a direct acknowledgment of the tradition's enduring influence on the country's cultural practices.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Singapore's cultural traditions and folklore during the post-war period.