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CHINESE FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.
HIUEN-TIEN SHANGTI.-Hiuen-tien Shangti, the Supreme Ruler of the Sombre Heavens; the festival of the second deity in the pantheon of Rationalists. He is also usually called Pethi, god of the North Pole, and his festival is very generally observed. Third moon, third day.
CHUNG-YANG WU-TAU.-Chang-yang Wu-tau born.-Third moon, thirteenth day. HIUN-TAN YUEN-SHWAI.-Hiun-tan Yuen-shwai born; worshipped in households. I-ling Tai-ti born: a celebrated physician, worshipped by sick persons.-Third moon, fifteenth day.
HAU-TU NIANG-NIANG.-Hau-tu Niang-niang, the goddess of earth.—Third moon, eighteenth day.
TIEN-HAU.-Tien-hau, or the Queen of Heaven, born. This female deity was a native of Fuhkien; and has become the goddess of sailors, who are mostly of that province. She corresponds in many respects to the Amphitrite of the Greeks, though some of her names and attributes seem to have been derived from the Virgin Mary. Her temples are numerous, and her worship is costly.-Third moon, twenty-third day. TSZ-SUN NIANG-NIANG.-The goddess of children, worshipped by those who wish children. Third moon, twenty-sixth day.
SAN-KIAI SHING-YE.-San-kiai Shing-yè, or Holy Lords of the three Borders; worshipped in the yards of the courts of houses to propitiate the powers of nature. Same day is the festival of the present Budha, Shibkia Ji-lái.-Fourth moon, eighth day.
LUI-SHEN-YANG SIEN.-Lui-shen-yang-sien, one of the eight genii, also called Luitunk-pin.-Fourth moon, fourteenth day.
CHUNG-LI-TSU-sz'.—Chung-li-tsú-sz', one of the eight genii.-Fourth moon,
fifteenth day.
KIN-WAH-FUJIN.-Kin-wah-fujin, the Juno Lucina of the Cantonese; women worship her when with child, and also for aid in childbirth. She is supposed to have originated in Canton, and a famous temple to her is built within the Old City. Another temple to this goddess is situated opposite the Foreign Factories of the suburb of Honam.-Fourth moon, seventeenth day.
WA TO-SIEN-SZ.-Wa_To-sien-sz, a physician, spoken of in the San Kwok Chi; worshipped by the sick.-Fourth moon, eighteenth day.
YEN-Kwang SHING-MU.-Yen-kwáng Shing-mú, Holy Mother of Bright Eyes, a goddess worshipped by the blind, and those with diseased eyes.-Fourth moon, twentieth day.
YOH WANG.-Yoh Wáng, king of Medicine, the Esculapius of Chinese mythology.-Fourth moon, twenty-eight day.
NAN-KIH TA-TI.-Nah-kib-Tátí, the Great Ruler of the South Pole; a god of Rationalists.-Fifth moon, first day.
TWANG-WU.-Festival of dragon boats, called in Chinese Twang-woo or Twáng-yáng, and also Tienchung. On this day many people race backwards and forwards in long narrow boats, which, being painted and ornamented so as to resemble dragons, are called lunchuen, dragon boats. From the narrowness of the boats, and the number of persons on board, there being sometimes from sixty to seventy paddles, it not unfrequently happens that several of the boats break in two; so that the festivities seldom conclude without the loss of several lives. The magistrates endeavour to repress the ardour of the people by issuing their prohibitions, but the people are led on by the excitement. The races are attended by thousands, and rowers are inspirited by the sound of drums and pipes; these noises are supposed to terrify evil spirits and ward off disease; consequently the sports are attended with double zest when sickness prevails. Tradesmen's accounts are cleared off at this period.-Fifth moon, fifth day.
SAI-I-FUH.-Sai-í-fuh, festival of airing clothes. It is a fancy that clothes aired on this day are not liable to be injured by insects.-Sixth moon, sixth day.
LU-PAN.-Lú-pàn, the god of Carpenters and Masons, on which day these crafts- men take holiday. Tsing-shim Lung-wang, god of Wells and Dragon-king, worship- ped by sailors and others to avert calamity and storms.-Sixth moon, thirteenth day. KWANYIN.-Assumption of Kwanyin; she ascends to heaven.-Sixth moon, nineteenth day.
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