For homeowners in mainland China, selling a property has become so difficult that some are turning to xuanxue, a neo-Taoist philosophy that has morphed into internet slang for any superstitious ritual meant to enhance luck, from feng shui tweaks to cyber talismans.
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Praying in temples, buying ‘quick-sale’ talismans, or simply writing the word “sold” on a piece of red paper are just a few examples.
When a homeowner in Shanghai recently claimed on social media that she found a buyer after praying at Shanghai’s Jing’an Temple and touching the hand of a Buddha statue, hundreds piled on with a prayer-hand emoji – hoping some of her luck would transfer to them.
“Praying my apartment will sell fast,” many commented. “I have three to sell,” one added.
In the fifth year of the property market’s downward spiral, such superstitious practices among homeowners underline their pessimism and desperation as property prices continue to fall.
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Real estate agents said homes were taking longer to sell amid low demand, making buyers more aggressive in price negotiations. The longer sellers waited, the lower prices would go, they added.