Red Pen Superstition….
“Can I have your initials please?,’’ asked Jay , the new library assistant. Jay(*name changed) is new to Vancouver where she recently enrolled at a University. A native of Alberta, she speaks fluent Japanese and wishes to to be an expert.
“Is it alright if I use the this pen to log my work-hours today?” asked Jay, while pointing towards the pen holder and handing the time-sheet folder into my hands.
“Yes it is fine unless it is a red pen. Albert was not happy the last time few assistants logged in with red”, I explained.
“Is it because of the Asian culture, that superstition?”, she asked.
“Not sure, I think it is because the red pen is for restricted use by supervisors only. Professors and teachers use red pens at schools and universities to mark the student assignments, that must be a rather more obvious reason”, I explained in an unconvincing tone.
“It is a bad omen,” said Albert who could not help himself from overhearing our conversation. Albert, the library supervisor (61) has been working in library for the past twenty five years. Originally from Inner Mongolia, China, he had never spilled any of this Chinese superstition at workplace before. I was surprised to hear this coming.
“Writing one’s name in red ink means death in Chinese and Korean superstition. The use of red writing is meant to ward off evil spirits as one passes on. In the past, red ink was used to write the names of the deceased on the family register. Therefore, writing someone’s name in red ink meant they had either passed away, or, if they were still living, you were wishing harm or death upon them. It ultimately goes along with death”, he elaborated.
“It is a bad omen(* he meant it may cause death) so we request students not to write their names in red ink”, he assured in a rather caring tone.
“I told you so”, interfered Jay,overjoyed and now filled with confidence.
This incident reminded me that sometimes superstitions can last longer than modern colonial habits. Why do then teachers, professors and supervisors need to use a red ink to mark student assignments and exam sheets? I still feel helpless to find logic and answer to this question.
Jay’s moment of pride made me scratch my head instead. “Why didn’t I ever care to love one color more over the other?”, I asked myself. “Why are all ink colors dear to me?” Nothing !
Soon after my cohorts left, I was once again alone with these harbingers of rigor-mortis. With the twinkling of an eye, I replaced all the fancy but deadly red pens with my ‘old blue-ink Reynold 045’s’ ones. Never have I been prouder.
Arigato
Originally written on Nov 27th, 2019, Wednesday, Vancouver B.C.
