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JAPANESE FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.
TATM-MU-YUEN-KIUN,—Mother of the Dipper; a goddess adored to obtain happiness and long life. This day is also observed as a time to visit graves, and for children to fly kites; it is called from this, tang kau, “ascending on high."-Ninth moon, ninth day.
COCOON FESTIVAL-On a fortunate day of the ninth moon, the Empress, either per- sonally or by proxy, accompanied by a train of princesses and honourable ladies, repairs to the altar sacred to the discoverer of silkworms. After sacrificing, the Empress with golden, and the princesses with silver implements, collect mulberry leaves to feed the imperial silkworms. They then wind off some coroons of silk, and so end the ceremony. This very ancient festival is considered as the counterpart of the agricultural one observed by the Emperor in the spring.-October.
SIEN-FUNG-YANG-82-YE-'YE.—Lord of the Front Spear; worshipped to obtain success and profit in life and business.-Ninth moon, seventeenth day.
WA-HWANG TA-TI.---God of Fire; worshipped by all classes with great parade to preserve houses and shops from fire. The temples dedicated to this idol in the city of Canton are more numerous than to any other deity.--Ninth moon, twenty-eighth day.
TUNG-HWANG-TA-TI.—Eastern August Great Ruler: a god of the Rationalists.-Tenth
moon, first day.
TATSIAU.—The nine gods of the Great Bear descend; worshipped by the Rationalists, and generally also by the people, tradesmen, and others, for peace. This period is usually chosen for worshipping wandering spirits as well as these gods; the rites are called Ta tsian. They are in Canton among the most showy idolatrous ceremonies. People living in three or four streets combine, and ornament the street with chandeliers, puppets, figures, and scrolls, and fit ap a room for religious exercises to appease the wandering krei. -Tenth moon, first to ninth day.
TAC-SHIN LIU-Sz'.--God of Small-pox; his name was Liú, and he is accommodated with a niche in other temples.-Tenth moon, fifteenth day.
PEH-KIH TZ-SWI.-Also Wit Yoh Wi Ti, the festival of gods of the Five Hills and the Five Rulers, names of five places and five deities collectively worshipped. The Five hills are Tai-shan in Shantung, Haug-shan in Human, Heva-shan in Shendi, Hang-shan in Chibli, and Sung-shan in Honan. The Five Rules are the Azure, Red, Yellow, White and Black, Shangti.—Tenth moon, twenty-seventh day.
FESTIVAL OF CONFUCIUS.—Confucius born; his festival observed by officers of govern- ment and scholars, who repair to his temple.—Eleventh moon, fourth day.
TUNG-CHI.—Or winter solstice, a festival observed by all classes; it is also called Chang shi tsich, or the time when the long days come, because then the sun begins to return, and the days grow longer. Officers go in state to worship the Emperor's tablet, and the people adore their lares.-Eleventh moon, eighth day.
OMETO FUH, the present Budba.-Eleventh moon, seventeenth day.
KWANYIN. Festival of Kwanyin.--She has three during the year, all of which are observed by the people.-Eleventh moon, ninteenth day.
JAPANESE.
REIBI. The first, fifteenth and twenty-eighth of every month throughout the year are holidays, called Reibi, or days for visiting.
NEW YEAR'S DAY.—The first seven days of Shogwats (first month), or of the New Year, are festival holidays, and on these days congratulatory visits are exchanged.
HATSMOMA. The first day of Nigwats (second month) is called Hatsmoma, the Feast
of Inari, the patron of farmers against fire and thieves.
MOMO-NE-REKI, or DOLL FEAST.-The third of Sangwats (third mouth), is a special
holiday for the Girls, and is called Momo-né-reki, or the Doll Feast.
TANABATA. This is a holiday for homage to the Milky Way, or Heavenly River, on
the seventh Schig-wats (seventh month).
BONTORO. The fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth of Schig-wats (seventh month) are special holidays, called Bontoro, or the Feast of the Ancestors.
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