26 May, 2006

China Bans Voodoo

Newsweek reports the Beijing has outlawed Voodoo Dolls, concerned that they promote feudalism and feudal beliefs.:

Not content with jailing subversive reporters and restricting access to prodemocracy Web sites, the Chinese government has turned its attentions to a new destabilizing influence: voodoo dolls. Central government authorities are so bothered by the political implications of the dolls that they banned them entirely from Beijing’s retail stores in April.

VoodooThe dolls have become increasingly popular among the Middle Kingdom’s misanthropes and trend-conscious teens. Customers purchase a doll (pin included), attach a piece of paper bearing the name of their enemy to the doll and then stab away. Voodoo Dolls Online offers a wide range of dolls in assorted colors. “Do you want to make your enemy feel as if someone is always stalking him behind his back?” reads the caption next to a doll clad in black. ” ‘The Magic Shadow Killer’ will thoroughly destroy his spirit.” Another popular item is the “Little Angel,” which purportedly brings good luck and helps its owner find true love.

Authorities at Beijing’s Industrial and Commercial Management Department claim the dolls encourage superstition and “promote feudalism and feudal beliefs.” When officials first cracked down on the import of dolls from Thailand two months ago, Chinese entrepreneurs filled the growing demand by making the toys themselves, wrapping colorful yarn around wire skeletons and adorning each with a crude felt heart. The toys were a marvel of marketing: told that one doll could not be used to harm multiple enemies, the youths who bought them kept coming back for new ones as their hit lists grew in length. Moreover, some stores offered protective dolls that could ward off attacks from other would-be witch doctors.

The above image is taken from the Virtual Voodoo Doll, which is not yet banned in China. Story tip via China Challenges.

Technorati Tags: , , ,

by @ 12:01 am. Filed under China, Asia, East Asia, Northeast Asia

3 Responses to “China Bans Voodoo”

  1. the chief Says:

    Really weird story.
    My company provides quality control in chinese (and asian) factories. We have been conducting inspection on thousands of products (before shipping). Theses products include dolls, of course. And, if we have found, from time to time, remaining pins on some of these dolls, they were never voodoo ones. I never heard of these dolls.

  2. the chief Says:

    (well don’t mislead me, I’m not saying these voodoo dolls won’t be an export success, now that their market in China seems to be a little bit compromised…). People who marketed theses dolls will find a clever solution…

  3. The Moderate Voice Says:

    China Cracks Down …

    …this time on voodoo dolls….

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