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EASTERN FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES,
FOR THE YEAR 18Ɛ1.
CHINESE.
JANUARY. 4th.-Death of Emperor T'ung-chi (1875). 5th.-Solar term, "little cold"; sun in Capricorn. Death of an Empress. Fête day of Julai Buddha. A Tauist fast day. 10th.-The spirits report to Heaven. Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 11th.-Death of an Empress. 14tb.-Fifteenth day of the twelfth moon. Birthday of Wen, a deified warrior. 15th.-Birthday of Nam-yob, Tauist god of the Southern Mountain. Birthday of Lao Tszu (B.C. 604); first Tauist philosopher. 16th. The earth spirit reigns. 19th.-Fête day of Lu Pan, god of carpenters and masons. 20th. Solar term, "great cold;" sun enters Aquarius. Birthday of the Supreme (Tauist) ruler of the celestial dragon. 23rd. The god of the hearth reports to Heaven. Auspicious day for worship. 24th.-Death of an Empress. 28th.- Birthday of Padma Vyuha, a fabulous Bodhisattva. The gods of the northern bushel descend. 29th.-Auspicious day for worship. Al the Buddhas descend and search out the merits and demerits of mankind. 30th.-New Year's day. Fowl day. A Tauist fast day. 31st.-Dog day. Birthday of Che Ta-yen, deified warrior.
FEBRUARY.-1st.-Pig day. Death of Emperor Kien-lung (A.D. 1736). Birth- day of Sun Ching-jin, a deified physician. 2nd.-Sheep day. 3rd. Cow day. Solar term, "spring sets in ;" sun in Aquarius. Ceremony of meeting the Spring, by breaking a clay figure of an ox. 4th. Grain day. The spirits report to Heaven. Birthday of the god of wealth, and of Dipamukara Buddha. 5th.-Man day. Death of Emperor Yung chêng (A.D. 1735). 6th.-Hemp day. 7th.-Pea day. 8th.- Birthday of a dragon spirit of the ground. 9th.-Death of an Empress. 11th.— Birthday of Wen and Hü, warriors worshipped at Fatshán. 12th.-Death of Em- Heaven peror Tao-kwang (A.D. 1850). 13th.-Fifteenth day of the first moon. forgives sins. Feast of lanterns. Birthday of Shang-yuen, a (Tauist) celestial ruler, ard of Yu-shing, a Tauist saint. 14th.-Birthday of Shen-ts'ai, a Buddhist saint. 17th.-Auspicious day for prayers for wealth and progeny. 18th.-The Solar term "rain water;" sun enters Pisces. 19th.-Death of an Empress. 21st.-Death of an Empress. 27th.-Death of an Empress. 28tb.-First day of the second moon. Birthday of judge in first court of hades.
MARCH.-1st.—Auspicious day for prayers for wealth and progeny. Birthday of the philosopher Mencius (B.C. 371), and of a dragon spirit of the ground. 2nd.-
፡፡ movement of larvae;" Birthday of the star god of literature. 5th.-The Solar term,
sun in Pisces. Birthday of ged of the Eastern Mountain. 6th.-Death of an Em- press. Birthday of a Tauist saint. 7th,- Day of ill-luck. 9th.-Birthday of a god of the ground. 10th.-Death of an Empress. 12th.-Birthday of god of Canton river. 14th.-Fifteenth day of the second moon. Fête day of founder of Tauism, Lao Tszu; and of Yoh-fei, deified warrior. 17th.-Birthday of judge in fourth court of
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