writing Asian names in red

Factual Questions
1

Just heard this one today.

As a teacher attending a multi-cultural education session the instructor mentioned that teachers who prefer grading papers in red-colored ink might want to avoid writing the names of students of Asian descent in that color. Why? According to the instructor, in Asian countries death certificates always feature the deceased name’s in red and to see one’s name in that color is a bit startling.

Even if the student doesn’t say anything, s/he most likely took offense to it.

Now this was to apply to immigrant students who are arriving to the U.S. without speaking English nor knowing anything about the culture. The meeting was about ESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) so this doesn’t apply to someone of Asian descent who was born and raised in this country.

ANYway… this strikes me as something that was either heard from someone who heard it from someone else or the old standby that it was simply “read somewhere”.

I will believe nothing until someone authenticates it here.

2

I have a friend who was born in China. When I was first learning calligraphy I happened to have red ink in the pen.

She grew very agitated upon seeing this and told me that writing someone’s name in red meant you were wishing them death.

I found this somewhat interesting, since I knew in some Asian cultures women wear red during their wedding, and white clothing symbolizes death.

I realize this is merely anecdotal evidence, but I am at work and cannot research the matter further.

3

Well, since on most paper you can’t very well write with white ink to symbolize death, what’s the next closest thing? That’s right, MARRIAGE! :smiley:

4

I’m totally confused. I thought Asian artists and caligraphers stamped their signatures with red ink.

5

Hm…They do, though I’ve seen them in black ink as well.

Although I could see where there might be a difference in perception of someone else writing my name in red, and me stamping my name but not actually writing it.

6

Well, I’m American-born, so I can’t be of a lot of help, but if you go into the Chinese section of any cemetery large enough to have a ‘Chinese section’, you’ll see some tandem headstones that have one name (in calligraphy, of course) painted red. The tradition, as it’s been explained to me, is that when one parent dies, the kids buy this tandem headstone, and the SURVIVING parent’s name is in red, while the deceased’s name is in black.

7

You’re referring to the ‘chop’…and you’re right. When you have a chop carved with your name on it, they usually give you a little tin of red paint, too.

8

When I was told this, it was specified that the meaning was held by Koreans. I found a link to support this view.

9

The red ink being rude also seems to apply to Taiwan, according to a travel book I bought a while back.

10

This holds true in Japan too, from what I’ve been told.
My company was asked to make a change to a product we wanted to release in the Japanese market for this reason.

11

I just asked my Chinese girl friend and she mentioned the color of blood but she says it’s just one of those traditional conventions. All cultures have them for the only purpose of showing you are part of the culture.