Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 696

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⠀ Feb. 17th.-Ist moon, 6th day. Ting-kwáng, a Budhist sage, born.

Feb. 18th-1st moon, 7th day.—kin jih, ‘man day,' The first ten days of the year are named after various aniınale, ‘fowl-day,' dog-day,' &c., of which ́the seventh, ‘man-day,' is the greatest. Semne persons have supposed thero was an obscure or ancient reference in these days to the order followed at the creation.

Feb. 20th.-Ist moon, 9th day. Yuh-bwáng Shángti's birthday ; this deity is the highest of the Táu sect.

Feb. 21st.-Ist moon, 10th day. Wú tú shia kiun, five lares of the household; they are this day placed on the ground in various quarters of the house for its protection; and the ceremony is repeated on the tenth of the four following mouths.

- Feb. 20th.—lat moon, 15th day.—Shái-tarig, or feast of lanterns, so called by Europeans. At night all classes illuminate the temples, shops, &c. with fanciful lanterns, and assemble at convivial parties, called lantern feasts. Offerings of lanterns are made at the temples of the gods. This festival is observed at Canton by merely hanging a lantern before the shop or house.

March 24.-Ist moon, 19th day. Cháng-chun, a celebrated physician born; deified by the Táuists. His shrine is placed in doctor's shops.

March 4th-Ist moon, 21at day. Two images of children are placed behind the doors of dwellings for protecting it, and increasing the prosperity of the inmates ; they are called Shen toái tunglsz”.

March 15th.-Ild moën, 2d day. The household gods born. Thèse dře called Tú tí, and Fub-shin, gods of happiness; they include all class

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· household deities. At this period plays are performed at the public offices, and in the streets; while rockets and other fireworks are let off.

March 16th.-IId moon, 3d day. Wancháng tí-kiun, god of learning bora. His image is placed in the temples of Confucius and the offices of literary magistrates; scholars worship bim.

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March 19th.-Ild moon, 6th day. Tung-wá Ti-kiun born; a god of the Tail sect.

March 26th.~[Id moon, 13th day. Hongshing, god of the month sea, barn.

•This is a southern deity, whose worship is chiefly confined to Canton, where it is celebrated with much pomp and display. Same day, the birthday of Yoh Fi, a faithful minister of the Sung dynasty.

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March 28th.-Ild moon, 15th day. Láukiun bora. Lávkjun, called also Láy-tsz', an ancient sage, and the founder of the Táu sect, was partly contem- porary with Confucius. The latter in his youth took lessons from Lautsṛ' an the subject of sacrificial rites. The principal deities of the Táu sect are-Sán tsing, three pure ones,-Shangtí, a supreme ruler, subordinate to those three, and an infinity of inferior gods, and deified men.

April-About the middle of this month, on a fortunate day in the 3d moon, the grand agricultural ceremony is performed, at Peking by the emperor and bis ministers, and in all the provinces by the head officers of the government.