Why Buy a Two-Foot Red Cloth When Purchasing a New Car?
2 Answers
Red symbolizes joy, auspiciousness, and good fortune, believed to ward off evil spirits and ensure safe travels. Below are some misconceptions about tying red cloth: Tying red strips on rearview mirrors: When the red strips sway in the wind in front of the rearview mirror, they can create a red tint, obscuring the view behind the car. This makes it difficult for drivers to assess the situation behind them, potentially leading to accidents. Tying red strips on tires: Before leaving the factory, tires are balanced for high-speed rotation to prevent shaking. Adding red strips immediately disrupts this balance, affecting vehicle stability. Additionally, a red cloth soaked with water and mud can weigh as much as a balancing lead weight, causing imbalance during high-speed rotation.
I understand that the custom of tying red cloth on new cars originates from traditional Chinese culture. Red symbolizes joy and auspiciousness, warding off evil and disasters, ensuring a safe journey for the new car. Ancient people hung red cloth on important objects, such as vehicles or houses, to pray for good luck and avoid misfortunes. Modern people continue this habit because new cars are susceptible to the influence of 'new' energy when they first hit the road, and the red cloth provides a sense of security, much like pasting couplets during the Spring Festival. This custom stems from Taoism or folk beliefs, where red represents yang energy and vitality, counteracting yin energy and risks. Besides red cloth, many people also place characters for 'fortune' or red envelopes in their cars to enhance the protective effect. Buying a new car is a joyful event, and hanging red cloth can make one feel more at ease, especially when traveling long distances, as it gives a sense of divine protection.
