AVOID BUYING SHOES DURING THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH
Caller: Master, there is a folk belief that we should not buy shoes or clothes throughout the 7th lunar month simply because it is the Ullambana Festival. Master has advised against buying shoes during this period, what is your view about buying clothes then?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Who said so? That is a superstition.
Caller: It is an urban legend.
Master Jun Hong Lu: This is because these are homophonic words. The word ‘shoes’ (鞋, xie) in Chinese sounds like an evil (邪, xie). Hence, if you buy shoes, you are very much like taking in evil energy.
Caller: I understand.
Master Jun Hong Lu: It is a Chinese tradition to pay respect to ancestors during the Ullambana Festival. This festival is also known colloquially as the ‘mid-7th month’ and a time ‘to give to the dead’. What does this mean?
It means giving to the dead and lone spirits. In fact, ‘Feeding the Spirits’ or ‘Festival of the Underworld’ is a festival governed by the Underworld Officials. It’s like a holiday. Not surprisingly, there is a long list of taboos for the Ching Ming Festival and the Ullambana Festival of the 7th lunar month. This is why it is not recommended to give others shoes as a gift because by doing so, you are essentially giving them evil energy.
Caller: I understand.
Source: Wenda20180831 14:55, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program