1917
CHINESE FESTIVALS AND OBSERVANCES IN 1917
Ping Sin Jan. XII. Moon.
6
13
5=23
13
20
27
"ing Tsz
16
23
17
24
20
23
I. Moon. 1
Feb. 1
10
4
13
6
15
7
16
22
23
2
24
3
Mar. 6
13
8
15
12
19
21
28
Slight Cold.
lxxi
Festival of Lu Pàn, the patron saint of carpenters and masons. He is said to have been a contemporary of Confucius. Among the many stories related of his ingenuity it is said that, on account of his father having been put to death by the men of Wu, he carved the effigy of one of the genii with one of its hands stretched towards Wu, when, in consequence, drought prevailed for three years. On being supplicated and presented with gifts from Wu, he cut off the hand, and rain immediately fell. On this day carpenters refuse to work.
Worship of the god of the hearth at nightfall. The god of the hearth reports to heaven. Great Cold
Chinese New Year's Day.
Fête day of the Spirits of the Ground.
Beginning of Spring.
Feast of Lanterns, Fête of Shang-yuen, ruler of heaven.
Fête of Shen and Ts'ai, the two guardians of the door. Auspicious day for
praying for wealth and offspring, as well as for rain.
II. Moon. 1 Fête day of the Supreme Judge in the Courts of Hades.
April II. Moon. Int.
5
14
May III. Moon.
Mencius born, B.C. 371. Spring worship of the gods of the land and grain. Fête of the god of literature, worshipped by students.
Fête day of Hung-shing, god of the Canton river, powerful to preserve people
from drowning, and for sending rain in times of drought. Birthday of Lao Tsze, founder of Tauism, B.C. 604.
Fête of Kwanyin, goddess of mercy.
Vernal Equinox,
Tsing-ming or Tomb Festival. Fête of Hiuen Tien Shang-ti, the supreme ruler of the sombre heavens and of Peh-te, Tauist god of the North Pole.
Fête of I-ling, a deified physician, and of the god of the Sombre Altar, wor-
shipped on behalf of sick children.
Beginning of Summer.
Fête of Heu Tu, the goddess worshipped behind graves, of the god of the
Central mountain, and of the three brothers.
Fête of Tien Heu, Queen of Heaven, Holy mother, goddess of sailors. Fête of Tsz Sun, goddess of progeny.
National Festival of Ts'ang Kieh, inventor of writing.
IV.Moon. 4 Fête of the Bodhisattva Mandjushri; worshipped on behalf of the dead.
Fête of San Kai, ruler of heaven, of earth, and of Hades; also a fête of Buddha. Fête of the dragon spirits of the ground.
5
15
6
16
8
18
13
23
16
26
18
28
24
28
8
30
10
31
11
June 3
14
6
17
9
20
18
28
19
22
23
223
V. Moon.
145
4
29
11
July 1
13
4
16
00
20
Anniversary of the death of Confucius.
Fête of Lü Sien, Tauist patriarch, worshipped by barbers. Fête of Kin Hwa, the Cantonese goddess of parturition.
Fête of the goddess of the blind.
Fête of Yoh Wang, the Tauist god of medicine.
Fête of the god of the South Pole. Summer Solstices.
National fête day. Dragon boat festival and boat races. On this day the Cantonese frantically paddle about in long narrow boats much ornamen- ted. The festival is called Pa Lung Shun or Tiu Wat Uen, and is held to commemorate the death of Wat Uen, who drowned himself about B.C. 500, for his master the prince of Tsó refused to accept his faithful advice. National fête of Sheng Wang, the tutelary god of walled towns. National fête of Kwan Ti, god of war. and of his son General Kwan. Anniversary of the Formation of Heaven and Earth. Fête of Chang Tao-ling
(A.D. 34), ancient head of the Tauist sect. His descendants still continue to claim the headship. It is said "the succession is perpetuated by the transmigration of the soul of each successor of Chang Tao-ling, on his decease, to the body of some youthful member of the family, whose heirship is supernaturally revealed as soon as the miracle is effected." Fête Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Slight Heat.