A superstitious Chinese custom known as “borrowing longevity” involved performing a ritual to pray to the gods when a relative was seriously ill. During this ritual, individuals would voluntarily offer to shorten their own lifespans in hopes of extending the patient’s life.
In ancient China, people held a profound belief in fate, considering a person’s lifespan predetermined and unchangeable. However, they also believed that life expectancy could be borrowed or exchanged.
When parents were…
How ancient China ‘borrowing longevity’ custom helps to extend lifespan of seriously ill people
