Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 844

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festival differs greatly in different parts of China; in Canton it is not attended with much display.

Feb. 6th.-1st moon, 6th day. Ting-kwáng, a Budhist sage, born.

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

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

Feb. 10th.—Ist moon, 10th day. Wú tú shin-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

months.

Feb. 15th.-Ist moon, 15th day.Shái-tang, 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 Ex observed at Canton by merely hanging a lantern before the shop or house.

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

Feb. 21st.—Ist inoon, 21st 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 tsái tungtez'.

March 4th.—IId moon, 2d day. The household gods born. These are called Tú ti and Fuh-shin, gods of happiness; they include all classes of household deities. At this period plays are performed at the public offices, and in the streets; while rockets and other fireworks are let off.

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March 5th.-Ild moon, 3d day. Wancháng ti-kiun, god of learning born. His image is placed in the temples of Confucius and the offices of literary magistrates; scholars worship him.

|_ March 8th.—Ild moon, 6th day. Tung-wá Tí-kiun born; a god of the Tau sect.

March 15th.-Ild moon, 13th day. Hungshing, god of the south sea, born This is a southern deity, whose worship is chiefly confined to Canton, where it is celebrated with much pomp and diaplay. Samne day, the birthday of Yoh Fi, a faithful minister of the Sung dynasty.

March 17th.-Ild moon, 15th day. Láukiun horn. Láukiun, called also Láu-tsz', an ancient sage, and the founder of the Tau sect, was partly contemn- porary with Confucius. The latter in his youth took lessons from Láutsz' on the subject of sacrificial rites. The principal deities of the Táu sect are—Sán tsing, three pure ones,— Shángtí, a supreme ruler, auhordinate 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 his ininisters, aird in all the provinces by the head officers of the government.