The Owl Eye Magazine Issue 9

Owl Myth and Lore
What people think of owls around
the world...
Owls in Chinese Culture
In Chinese culture, owls are seen as a connection to
death, even though owl, called mao-tou-ying (cat-headed
hawk) and xiao (bravery) in Chinese suggests a positive
viewing. However, the owl being a nocturnal bird, it
is seen as representing mystery, mysticism, secrets,
intelligence, and death.
The sound that an owl makes, the hu, in Chinese means
digging , which associates the owl more to the meaning
of death, or below the ground or as the Greeks call it,
the underworld. Owl figurines were also found in the
burial cermaics of the Han Dynasty.
“When an owl is seen around a house, dried bushes are
burned to keep the owl away because of the smell. Also,
people put brooms upside down, outside the house to
protect the house and the household from the owls
as it’s believed that the owls have spiritual powers that
could lead to supernatural consequences. That’s why it’s
never preferred to attempt to kill or even touch the
owl. Another reason to stay away from the owls is the
belief that they snatch away the souls. Despite the fear
of the owls, in some parts of China, they are associated
with the gods of thunder and lightning and therefore,
owl effigies are put on top of the roofs for protection.”
info and quote taked from full article by:
(Inci Yilmazli, bellaonline.com)
Replica of Chinese Owl bronze, 1st Dibs.com