Punish the villain (惩戒小人)

Punish the villain

Beating the Villain” is a long-standing folk ritual in Chinese tradition, which involves symbolic acts such as cutting out paper figures, striking, and burning them to drive away the “villain”—referring to negative factors hindering one’s fortune or those who engage in gossip. In modern society, this custom has evolved into a form of psychological release and cultural experience, blending psychological needs, cultural symbols, and folk heritage.