2006-10-04 15:51:41 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I worked in two oriental homes. Each person in these homes had slippers at the door openings of every room. Why? They even wanted me to do the same, company policy forbids removing my steel toed workboots so I couldn't. They were very understanding about it. Is this a religious or feng shuei thing?
2006-10-04 15:56:08 · update #1
It is a form of respect for the person whose house you are about to enter. To remove one's shoes, is a respect given to the Gods as well, like entering a temple or mosque one is required to reomove one's shoes.
because our footwear has tread thru the dusty and dirt ridden roads, and as a respect for the host we do not want to bring the dirt in.
Like in India for example, when asking for forgiveness from elders, the person will touch the feet of the Elder, symbolising I bring myself to the lowest and humbly I show my respect ( symbolisim is similar for bows and prostrations)
2006-10-04 15:58:31 · answer #1 · answered by Tiara 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Muslims believe that outside shoes should be taken off just inside the front door because the house is a place of prayer and should not be defiled. I believe Buddhists think that the dirt of the world is carried on the outdoor shoe, but I have never heard of shoe being changed at every door to new rooms in the house,must do some favors for Shoe Makers, maybe they are behind it.
2006-10-04 23:06:06 · answer #2 · answered by alantreloar1955 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an "oriental person" and I don't know if other cultures besides my own see it differently, but as far as I know there's no religious reasoning for removing shoes in the house. It's all about being clean.
I don't understand why people have no problem with walking around on their carpets with their shoes on and making everything filthy, and then wonder why someone else prefers to be clean.
I've seen plenty of houses with filthy floors and carpets, and dirty shoes are the number one reason.
If you were wearing your work boots while working, then of course you don't need to remove them, but people relaxing at home while wearing dirty shoes makes no sense.
2006-10-04 23:26:29 · answer #3 · answered by Everyone 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To keep the house clean because you don't know what you've stepped on outside.
If you're a visitor, it's a sign of respect to the owners of the house. Same reason.
2006-10-04 22:55:22 · answer #4 · answered by beetee 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Different shoes for inside and outside the house - it's a form of respect.
2006-10-04 22:53:03 · answer #5 · answered by Sam 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They don't change them each time they enter a room, they take their outside shoes off and then wear house slippers.
2006-10-04 22:52:47 · answer #6 · answered by Country Girl for Life 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Keep the floor clean.
2006-10-04 22:53:09 · answer #7 · answered by I luv THICK gurlz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to match the interior
2006-10-04 22:54:13 · answer #8 · answered by Polity 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
to keep virus and microbia out
2006-10-04 23:06:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I didn't know they did. I know many Asian Americans and they don't do that.
2006-10-04 22:52:38 · answer #10 · answered by lucy02 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋