Beliefs in magic casting a spell on educated youngsters

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 17, 2003

Beliefs in magic casting a spell on educated youngsters

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Huang is a Shenzhen highschooler who always wears yellow on Wednesday. It's not a fashion choice, but a spiritual ritual. She read in a book that yellow is her protective colour and if she wears it every Wednesday, she'll be safe for the rest of the week.

Huang is not alone.

A recent survey by China Association for Science and Technology revealed that over one fourth of the nation's population believes in fortune-tellers, and there are even more who have sought their services.

More surprising than that is the demographics. The biggest group is not illiterate grandmas or housewives with too much spare time, but teenagers who have an unprecedented exposure to science and knowledge.

Education and superstition are supposed to be archenemies. Educators are scratching their collective heads: How come the best educated generation has turned out to be most vulnerable to astrology and all kinds of hocus-pocus?

It is easy to dismiss the phenomenon as a fleeting fad, but the seriousness and obstinacy with which the young pursue their lucky numbers and horoscopes cannot be brushed aside.

Of all sampled students from elementary or secondary school, 13.4 per cent believe their fate is predetermined; 37.8 per cent believe in psychic powers; 22.3 per cent lucky numbers; and 85 per cent qigong (body energy) effectiveness.

Experts explain that youngsters are victims of relentless commercialism.

Businesses, in an effort to sell bric-a-brac, would invent all kinds of talisman such as "good-luck bottles" or "serendipity tassels". Horoscope guides are a big seller in bookstores.

Most teenagers would not be caught dead visiting a streetside psychic because it is considered old-fashioned. But once the same scheme is moved online and renamed "the digital oracle", they would be willing to shell out their pocket money for a glimpse of their future paramours or careers.

Most portal websites have astrology sections and students are the most frequent visitors.

Sociologists argue that young people have a natural curiosity. They tend to seek moorings of certainty in a world full of ambiguities.

With a competitive job market and no more iron-rice bowl to fall back on, they are the first generation of new China to face a survival-of-the-fittest economic environment.

Teenagers have a strong sense of belonging. When it is considered chic to wear charms or read palms, those with no such inclination would be under huge peer pressure to "convert".

Publishers of entertainment products are also blamed. In their greed to make a fast buck, they would not hesitate to blur the line between fortune-telling for fun and die-hard voodoo. In the same vein, witch masters of all stripes would exaggerate the healing effects of psychic powers.

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