Red Ink
Horror Stories - Red Ink
It is common for people to use colored inks like red. Most people use red because red stands out, out of a lot of colors. But you probably shouldn't write in red ink when you are writing down someone's name especially in Korea or China. A long time ago people in China they would use the color red to mark the names of criminals that would be sentenced to the death penalty.
Because of how long ago this was they didn't have red ink so they would use chicken blood as a substitute. Due to the similar colors of red and blood it was seen as a color of pain and death. Gravestones would have red text and the names of dead people would be written in red ink as well. It is really unknown how this belief spread across Korea but many people believe that this may have happened because of the way many Korean traditions were taken from Chinese customs.
They would often use red ink to record those who had passed away and began to believe that if a name was written in red that person had passed away. A living persons name written in red ink was often seen as a bad omen also. It was seen that the writer was wishing death towards the person and cursing them, bringing death there way.
Nowadays some people in Korea and China may use red ink although most people who use red ink are teachers and accountants. Red has also shifted to Chinese ideology over the years and is now seen as a color of happiness. Because of this it is often used in Chinese New Years and is typically forbidden at funerals.
However it may still be offensive when you write a living persons name in red ink. I know it sounds ridiculous that someone might take it offensive and thinking that you wish them death by writing there name down in red ink. Well to sum it up for you it's considered as a more impolite action in modern society than a death threat. Many Korean citizens don't think you are sending a death threat towards them or that your going to kill them by writing down there name, but more of consider it as rude and a hateful gesture to do.
If you go to Korea or live there it's a possibility that you will run into someone who knows of this, and will most likely irritate them if you write there name down in red ink. If I were you I would just avoid using red ink when visiting Korea and China to prevent any mishaps. If you have to write in red ink I recommend that you don't write anyone's name down.
Because of how long ago this was they didn't have red ink so they would use chicken blood as a substitute. Due to the similar colors of red and blood it was seen as a color of pain and death. Gravestones would have red text and the names of dead people would be written in red ink as well. It is really unknown how this belief spread across Korea but many people believe that this may have happened because of the way many Korean traditions were taken from Chinese customs.
They would often use red ink to record those who had passed away and began to believe that if a name was written in red that person had passed away. A living persons name written in red ink was often seen as a bad omen also. It was seen that the writer was wishing death towards the person and cursing them, bringing death there way.
Nowadays some people in Korea and China may use red ink although most people who use red ink are teachers and accountants. Red has also shifted to Chinese ideology over the years and is now seen as a color of happiness. Because of this it is often used in Chinese New Years and is typically forbidden at funerals.
However it may still be offensive when you write a living persons name in red ink. I know it sounds ridiculous that someone might take it offensive and thinking that you wish them death by writing there name down in red ink. Well to sum it up for you it's considered as a more impolite action in modern society than a death threat. Many Korean citizens don't think you are sending a death threat towards them or that your going to kill them by writing down there name, but more of consider it as rude and a hateful gesture to do.
If you go to Korea or live there it's a possibility that you will run into someone who knows of this, and will most likely irritate them if you write there name down in red ink. If I were you I would just avoid using red ink when visiting Korea and China to prevent any mishaps. If you have to write in red ink I recommend that you don't write anyone's name down.