Salt in My Pocket: A Brush With Ancient Chinese “压胜术”

At the beginning of 2025, I was on the phone with my old nanny—the woman who basically raised me when I was little. Out of nowhere, she told me in that no-nonsense voice I still remember:

“If you trust me, don’t ask why, but you and your girlfriend need to carry a vial of salt with you this year so you can be safe.”

I didn’t understand it. I didn’t ask. But I’ve been carrying that tiny vial of salt in my pocket the whole year. Because honestly? Better safe than sorry, right?

Image: A cartoon man in outdoor clothes pours salt from a shaker onto two giant, stacked, green slugs. Both slugs have wide, alarmed mouths in a forest setting.

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Turns out, what she said has deep roots in something old, strange, and fascinating: the Chinese tradition of 压胜术 (yàshèng shù)—an archaic form of spiritual defense, protection, and sometimes… mystical sabotage.

What is 压胜术?

The term literally means “to suppress and prevail.” It’s a mix of folk belief, proto-fengshui, and ritual magic. The idea? That unseen forces—ghosts, curses, hostile energy—can be “pressed down” or neutralized by stronger symbols, objects, or rituals.

• In good hands, it’s like spiritual first-aid: keeping away misfortune, guarding a household, ensuring the dead rest in peace.
• In bad hands, it becomes a weapon: a curse, a hex, a way to drag someone into sickness, poverty, or disaster.

Some legends even credit the invention of 压胜术 to the legendary craftsman 鲁班 (Luban) of the Warring States era, though historically it’s more likely the practice grew out of early burial customs and fengshui rituals.

✨ Five “Good” 压胜 Examples

Image: Dark, chilling bedroom scene where a young woman sleeps soundly, unaware of three menacing, glowing-eyed demons lurking behind her. A large sword leans against the headboard, casting a faint glow.

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1. Stone Lions (石狮子) – Placed at gates to ward off evil spirits.
2. Stone敢当 – A stele set at road intersections to “cut off” harmful energy rushing toward homes.
3. Copper Coins or Swords – Strung together to invite wealth and push away bad luck.
4. Peachwood Talismans – Hung in the home to keep ghosts at bay.
5. Salt and Ash – Common household tools used to cleanse and purify a space (yes, nanny was on brand).

Image: A golden charm with a red tassel hangs from the rearview mirror, glistening in sunlight, as the casually dressed driver navigates through a sunlit, green landscape.

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☠️ Five “Evil” 压胜 Examples (Don’t Try This at Home, ROFL)

Image: Dim, unsettling room with an old-fashioned interior. A wooden coffin hangs from the ceiling by a chain, centered over people lying motionless on a patterned rug.

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1. Burying Figurines – Secretly placing cursed dolls at a rival’s doorstep to bring illness.
2. Reverse Talismans – Writing protective charms upside-down to twist their energy into a hex.
3. Grave Sabotage – Placing hostile objects in someone’s ancestral tomb to disturb the dead and ruin descendants.
4. Blood Ink Curses – Writing a target’s name in blood on special paper, then sealing it in a jar.
5. “压小人” Rituals – Crafting a paper effigy of someone and stabbing it with pins to ruin their fortune.

Image: Furious woman in a blue robe stabs a pin into a cloth doll. Her expression is intense, while someone in the background reacts with apparent pain.

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Final Thoughts

    

Whether you see it as superstition, psychology, or metaphysical reality, 压胜术 is a fascinating window into how our ancestors understood safety, power, and danger. And if you ask me, I’ll keep my little vial of salt handy. After all, it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of ancient insurance on your side.

Check out more of my projects and art at 👉 www.tigertactile.com and www.johnnytiger.com.

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