The Unlucky List: 10 Feng Shui Bad Luck Gifts to Never Give (and What to Do If You Get One)

Giving a gift is a wonderful way to show you care about someone. We spend time thinking about what the person might like, hoping our gift will make them happy. As we get close to the end of 2025 and the gift-giving season, this caring intention matters more than ever. However, in the ancient practice of Feng Shui, the energy and meaning of an object can sometimes send an unintended message. Certain items are considered traditional feng shui bad luck gifts, capable of bringing negative energy into a person's life and home, even when the giver has good intentions.

This isn't about superstition or fear. It's about being thoughtful and understanding the deeper energy language of the objects around us. In this guide, we will explore this concept with clarity and practicality. You will learn:

• The main reasons why some gifts carry negative energy.
• A complete list of 10 gifts to avoid giving.
• A powerful and simple solution if you ever receive one.
• A helpful list of positive alternatives to gift with good fortune.

The Core Principle

To understand why some items are considered unlucky, we must first understand three basic concepts in Feng Shui and its cultural origins. This isn't about random rules; it's a system built on observing energy, symbolism, and language over thousands of years.

First is the concept of Chi (or Qi). Chi is the vital life force energy that flows through everything—our bodies, our homes, and the objects within them. The goal of Feng Shui is to encourage Sheng Chi (positive, life-enhancing energy) and reduce or redirect Sha Chi (negative, draining energy). Certain objects, because of their nature or shape, can create or attract Sha Chi, disrupting the harmony of a space.

Second is the great power of Symbolism. In Feng Shui, objects are not just objects; they are powerful symbols that represent bigger ideas, hopes, and outcomes. A healthy, growing plant symbolizes growth and vitality, while a sharp, pointed object symbolizes conflict and aggression. When we give a gift, we are also giving the powerful symbolism it carries. The energy of that symbol can quietly influence the recipient's environment and mindset.

Third, and especially important in Chinese culture where Feng Shui originated, is the role of Linguistic Puns. The Chinese language has many homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings. Often, an object's name sounds identical or very similar to a word associated with a negative outcome like separation, sorrow, or even death. Gifting such an item is seen as an unintentional curse or a bad omen, purely based on its sound.

Understanding these three pillars—Chi, Symbolism, and Linguistic Puns—moves the conversation from superstition to a thoughtful awareness of the energetic and cultural layers of gift-giving.

The Ultimate Unlucky List

Here is a clear, detailed list of ten common items that are considered feng shui bad luck gifts. We will explore the specific reason behind each one, referencing the principles we've just discussed.

1. Clocks and Timepieces

A clock or a watch might seem like a sophisticated and practical gift. However, in Mandarin, the phrase for "giving a clock" (送鐘, sòng zhōng) is a direct homophone for "attending a funeral rite" or "seeing someone off to their end" (送終, sòng zhōng). This makes it the most well-known and strongly avoided unlucky gift in Chinese culture. It symbolically suggests that you are counting down the recipient's final moments or that their time is running out. It is a gift that directly wishes an end upon someone's life, making it a serious taboo.

2. Sharp Objects

This category includes anything with a sharp point or cutting edge: kitchen knives, letter openers, scissors, or even a sword for decorative purposes. From a Feng Shui perspective, these objects give off "Sha Chi," or cutting energy. Symbolically, giving a sharp object implies an intention to sever or "cut" the relationship between the giver and the recipient. It introduces an energy of conflict, danger, and division into the recipient's home and life.

3. Shoes

Gifting shoes is another mistake rooted in linguistic puns and symbolism. The word for shoes (鞋, xié) in Mandarin sounds identical to the word for evil or bad luck (邪, xié). Giving someone shoes is like giving them a dose of bad luck. Furthermore, shoes are associated with walking and movement. Gifting them to a partner can imply that you want them to "walk away" from you, creating an underlying energy of instability and separation in the relationship.

4. Handkerchiefs

Handkerchiefs are objects traditionally associated with wiping away tears and sorrow. They are given out at funerals as a symbol of grief and goodbyes. Gifting a handkerchief suggests that you are expecting the recipient will have many occasions for sadness and crying in the future. It is a symbolic offering of future grief. In some dialects, the word for handkerchief also sounds like a term for "goodbye forever," reinforcing its connection to permanent separation.

5. Thorny Plants

While plants are generally excellent Feng Shui gifts, those with sharp thorns or spikes, like cacti or certain varieties of roses, should be avoided. These sharp points create small arrows of Sha Chi, or hostile energy. Placing such a plant inside a home can encourage arguments, tension, and a "prickly" atmosphere. They are seen as defensive and aggressive rather than nurturing and welcoming. If used at all, they belong outside the home, where their protective energy can ward off intruders, not inside where they can harm the inhabitants.

6. Umbrellas

This is another gift to avoid due to a linguistic pun. The Mandarin word for umbrella (傘, sǎn) sounds exactly like the word for "to break apart" or "to separate" (散, sàn). Giving an umbrella as a gift to a friend, business partner, or romantic partner carries the unfortunate implication that you wish for your relationship with them to fall apart. It symbolically introduces the energy of separation and dispersal.

7. Mirrors

Mirrors are powerful and tricky tools in Feng Shui. They can be used to expand a space and redirect Chi, but they are also believed to attract and trap energy. It is said that mirrors can invite spirits or "yin" energy into a home, especially if they are old or their history is unknown. Giving a mirror is considered unlucky because you may be unknowingly passing on negative energetic attachments to the recipient. Furthermore, mirrors are easily broken, and a broken mirror is a classic symbol of bad luck and broken ties.

8. Objects in Sets of Four

In both Mandarin and Japanese, the word for the number four (四, sì) sounds nearly identical to the word for death (死, sǐ). This sound similarity is so strong that many buildings in East Asia skip the fourth floor, and items are rarely sold or gifted in sets of four. Giving anything in a quartet—four cups, four bowls, four of anything—is a serious cultural misstep, as it is a direct and ominous reference to mortality.

9. Empty Wallets or Purses

Giving a wallet, purse, or money clip is a gesture meant to wish someone prosperity. However, giving an empty one is a major Feng Shui mistake. An empty wallet symbolizes a state of lack and financial emptiness. It sets a precedent of financial hardship for the recipient. To turn this into a positive gift, you must always place some money inside—even a single, crisp bill or a lucky coin. This "seeds" the wallet with the energy of wealth and ensures you are wishing abundance, not scarcity, upon the receiver.

10. Depictions of Struggle

This refers to art, photographs, or statues that show scenes of tragedy, war, struggle, loneliness, or sadness. While a piece of art might be technically brilliant, its subject matter carries a heavy energetic weight. Hanging a picture of a crying person, a shipwreck, or a battle scene in your home invites that same energy of struggle and sorrow into your daily life. It acts as a constant subconscious reminder of negative emotions, which is the opposite of what a home's energy should be.

Cures for Bad Luck Gifts

Discovering you've received one of these items can be unsettling, but it's important not to panic. The positive intention of the giver still holds significant weight, and Feng Shui is a practice of balance and remedy, not a system of unbreakable curses. In our practice, the most effective and time-honored method we recommend to clients is a simple, powerful symbolic transaction.

The primary cure is to "buy" the gift from the person who gave it to you. This simple act of handing over a single coin—a penny, a dime, any small denomination—fundamentally changes the energy of the transaction. It is no longer a "gift" carrying inauspicious symbolism; it is now a "purchase" that you have made. This act symbolically nullifies any negative connotations and puts you in control of the object's energy.

Here is how to do it with grace:

1. Acknowledge the gift with gratitude. Thank the giver sincerely for their thoughtfulness. Their intention was almost certainly positive.
2. At a suitable moment, either immediately or soon after, explain calmly and lightly. You can say something like, "This is beautiful! In our tradition, we have a little custom for a gift like this to ensure good fortune."
3. Offer a small coin to the giver. Say, "I'd like to 'buy' this from you for good luck." Most people, especially if you explain it as a charming tradition, will be happy to play along.
4. Once they accept the coin, the energetic exchange is complete. The item is now yours by purchase, and any negative symbolism associated with "gifting" it is dissolved. We've seen this simple gesture bring immediate peace of mind to many.

What if you can't "buy back" the gift? Perhaps it was sent from afar, or the situation doesn't allow for it. You still have options:

• Energetic Cleansing: You can cleanse the object to neutralize its energy. This can be done by leaving it in direct sunlight and moonlight for 24 hours, smudging it with sage or palo santo smoke, or placing it in a bowl of sea salt for a day.
• Change Its Use: For a thorny plant, move it outside a window or door to act as a protective guardian rather than an internal aggressor.
• Re-gifting or Donating: If the object still makes you uncomfortable, it is perfectly acceptable to pass it on. You can donate it or re-gift it, but it's good practice to be mindful and perhaps even cleanse it before you do. Do not, however, re-gift it to someone who also understands Feng Shui without performing the "buy back" ritual with them.

Shifting to Good Fortune

Now that we know what to avoid, let's focus on the positive. Gifting with Feng Shui principles in mind is a wonderful way to offer a blessing of good fortune. The best gifts are those that are rich with positive symbolism, promoting wealth, health, and harmony.

Here is a guide to thoughtful Feng Shui gifts, perfect for any occasion.

Mindful Gifting

The world of Feng Shui is rich with symbolism, offering a deeper layer of meaning to our actions and our environment. Understanding the concept of feng shui bad luck gifts is not about creating anxiety but about cultivating mindfulness. It encourages us to think more deeply about the energy we are exchanging when we give and receive.

We've identified the items to avoid and, more importantly, the reasons why. We have also provided a simple, powerful cure to neutralize any negative energy if you receive such a gift, empowering you to maintain harmony. Finally, we have explored a wealth of beautiful, meaningful alternatives that actively wish good fortune upon the people we care about.

Ultimately, the most powerful component of any gift is the sincere, positive, and loving intention behind it. Feng Shui is not a rigid set of rules to be feared but a beautiful tool to help us live with greater awareness.

Use it to enhance your life and relationships, creating more harmony, connection, and joy with every thoughtful gesture.