By Maija Devine
Anxious about what the New Year may hold, South Koreans flock to some 40,000 shamans, fortunetellers, or "yuk hak philosophers." Such visits, however, are often viewed as shady. So, fortunetellers' cafes in Miari Philosophers' Village in northeastern section of Seoul, for example, often keep alleyways dimly-lit and locations set back from main streets.
Skeptics may regard this centuries-old anecdote, repeated here, as a proof of the enigmatic nature of fortunetelling.
Three Confucian scholars travelling to take civil service exams asked a seer about their chances. The fortuneteller merely held up one finger (not the middle one). Each scholar believed that this gesture signified he'd be the one to succeed, and they continued the journey.
The sage's assistant asked, "Master, does the one finger mean only one of them will pass the exams?"
"Correct."
"What happens if two of them succeed?"
"Then, only one of them will fail the exams."
"What if all three of them pass?"
"Then, it means not one of them will fail."
What would such a "wise man" say about the fortune of female babies to be born this Year of the Dog? Will some be aborted? Since 1970s, when sex-detection procedures were introduced to Asia, fetuses' survival began to depend on their sex, boys being preferred in countries including South Korea, China, India, and Vietnam. In 1994, for example, 30,000 female fetuses were aborted in South Korea because of their sex (The U.S. CIA World Factbook).
Such practices are compounded by beliefs in zodiac signs. Thus, in South Korea, the Horse Years of 1978 and 1990 saw alarming spikes in abortions of female fetuses. Women of that sign are believed to develop male characteristics—independence, love of freedom and travelling, high energy, impatience, and constant self-assertion to have things done their way — undesirable in girls.
As a result, South Korea's sex ratio at birth (SRB) in 1990 Horse Year showed 117 boys to 100 girls (World Factbook), a dangerous imbalance level. That ratio signified nearly 27,000 abortions of female fetuses that year.
In 2010, a Tiger Year, another unlucky year for girls, China showed a 119 to 100 ratio (The Economist). In 2016, the Year of the Goat, girls fared better in China (115/100), India (112/100), Vietnam (111/100), Singapore (107/100), and Nigeria (also patriarchal) (106/100) (World Factbook).
In the same year, South Korea, which strove in recent decades to bring about a decline in sex-selective abortions — partially due to Christian anti-abortion campaigns — listed a rate of 107/100. N. Korea, on the other hand, showed 105/100. The SRB of 104-5/100 being the norm societies dedicated to achieving balanced population aim for, North Korea seems to have won the SRB prize.
The Year of the Dog (Feb. 16 to Feb. 4, 2019) seems favorable to female fetuses. Generally, small animal years are deemed suitable for girls. But since the other three of the four "pillars" — the birth month, day, and hour — weigh as heavily as the birth year in deciphering fortunes, the birth year alone may not cut it for girls, or anyone else. In fact, the birth hour is considered to be the key determinant. If expectant parents take zodiac signs seriously, the folks must accurately predict the month, day, and even the hour of their girl babies' arrival. If negative predictions become available early enough in pregnancy, they could even tip the scale toward termination.
Such complicated beliefs may cause one's eyes to roll. What to do? If one asks a sage, hopefully, the seer will provide an answer more articulate than a single raised digit.
The author of an autobiographical novel about Korea, "The Voices of Heaven," and a book of poetry, "Long Walks on Short Days," she is working on her next books ― a nonfiction book and a novel about comfort women of WWII. Contact: www.MaijaRheeDevine.com or maijadevine@gmail.com.
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Skeptics may regard this centuries-old anecdote, repeated here, as a proof of the enigmatic nature of fortunetelling.
Three Confucian scholars travelling to take civil service exams asked a seer about their chances. The fortuneteller merely held up one finger (not the middle one). Each scholar believed that this gesture signified he'd be the one to succeed, and they continued the journey.
The sage's assistant asked, "Master, does the one finger mean only one of them will pass the exams?"
"Correct."
"What happens if two of them succeed?"
"Then, only one of them will fail the exams."
"What if all three of them pass?"
"Then, it means not one of them will fail."
What would such a "wise man" say about the fortune of female babies to be born this Year of the Dog? Will some be aborted? Since 1970s, when sex-detection procedures were introduced to Asia, fetuses' survival began to depend on their sex, boys being preferred in countries including South Korea, China, India, and Vietnam. In 1994, for example, 30,000 female fetuses were aborted in South Korea because of their sex (The U.S. CIA World Factbook).
Such practices are compounded by beliefs in zodiac signs. Thus, in South Korea, the Horse Years of 1978 and 1990 saw alarming spikes in abortions of female fetuses. Women of that sign are believed to develop male characteristics—independence, love of freedom and travelling, high energy, impatience, and constant self-assertion to have things done their way — undesirable in girls.
As a result, South Korea's sex ratio at birth (SRB) in 1990 Horse Year showed 117 boys to 100 girls (World Factbook), a dangerous imbalance level. That ratio signified nearly 27,000 abortions of female fetuses that year.
In 2010, a Tiger Year, another unlucky year for girls, China showed a 119 to 100 ratio (The Economist). In 2016, the Year of the Goat, girls fared better in China (115/100), India (112/100), Vietnam (111/100), Singapore (107/100), and Nigeria (also patriarchal) (106/100) (World Factbook).
In the same year, South Korea, which strove in recent decades to bring about a decline in sex-selective abortions — partially due to Christian anti-abortion campaigns — listed a rate of 107/100. N. Korea, on the other hand, showed 105/100. The SRB of 104-5/100 being the norm societies dedicated to achieving balanced population aim for, North Korea seems to have won the SRB prize.
The Year of the Dog (Feb. 16 to Feb. 4, 2019) seems favorable to female fetuses. Generally, small animal years are deemed suitable for girls. But since the other three of the four "pillars" — the birth month, day, and hour — weigh as heavily as the birth year in deciphering fortunes, the birth year alone may not cut it for girls, or anyone else. In fact, the birth hour is considered to be the key determinant. If expectant parents take zodiac signs seriously, the folks must accurately predict the month, day, and even the hour of their girl babies' arrival. If negative predictions become available early enough in pregnancy, they could even tip the scale toward termination.
Such complicated beliefs may cause one's eyes to roll. What to do? If one asks a sage, hopefully, the seer will provide an answer more articulate than a single raised digit.
The author of an autobiographical novel about Korea, "The Voices of Heaven," and a book of poetry, "Long Walks on Short Days," she is working on her next books ― a nonfiction book and a novel about comfort women of WWII. Contact: www.MaijaRheeDevine.com or maijadevine@gmail.com.
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