CHINESE FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.
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GOD OF FIRE.-God of Fire born. This deity is frequently propitiated by exhibitions of plays. In China there are no regular theatres: sheds are erected in the streets, and a platform being raised about four feet above the ground, the spectators all stand in the street in front; the expenses are paid by private subscription, usually of several merchants. Gentlemen have them also at their own houses; where in some instances there are substantial buildings erected for the performance of the players, and accommodation of persons invited to see the play. Even in this case, an open space is left for the free admission of the people. Almost all the theatrical performances of the Chinese are held on the birthday or festival of some god, and are therefore of a religious character. They are particularly numerous in honour of the God of Fire-Also Kwán-shing Tai-ti, the Chinese God of War, died. Má Wáang- shin, the God of Horses, worshipped to avert disease from horses, and by horsemen to become skilful in equestrian feats.-Sixth moon, twenty-fourth day.
WANG-LING-KWAN-SHING.-Wáng-ling-kwan-sbing, a deified statesman, worship-
ped for the averting of punishment.-Sixth moon, twenty-sixth day.
TSIH-KUNG-SIEN-NU.-Tsih-kung-sien-nu, the female genii of the seven palaces descend; a festival observed by women, who worship these fairies to avert disease, and get skill in domestic work.-Seventh moon, seventh day.
TI-TSANG-WANG.-A deified Buddhist, worshipped for remission of sins.-Seventh moon, thirtieth day.
SHAU-I.-Or Burning-clothes festival. At this period, which lasts fifteen days, clothes made of various coloured papers are burnt, that they may so pass to the invisible world for the benefit of the deceased relatives. Prayers also are recited and food offered, chiefly for those who have been drowned at sea. This festival is much observed by the people of Fuhkien province. The custom arises from a tradition respecting a young man who obtained admission to Tartarue, and brought his mother from thence.-Seventh moon, fourteenth day.
Tsang-fun TsaI-SHIN.-God of Happiness and Wealth; placed in niches at the doors of shops. This deity, the Plutus of the Chinese, is seldom carved into an image, but a piece of paper is pasted on the back niche near the door; the shrine is called tou pao tan. i.e., Hall of Collected Values.-Seventh moon, twenty-second day.
TU-CHING-HWANG-TAN.-Festival of the Municipal Deity of the City, worshipped by officers and people; he might be termed the Palladium Deity, as he has a temple in every inwalled city in China. On this day, the Cantonese resort to a temple on the White Cloud Hills, north of the city, in great numbers, to worship Chin-sien, a deified official of the Ming dynasty.-Seventh moon, twenty-fourth day.
SHE-TUH TA-WANG.-Great Prince of the Agricultural gods.--Eighth moon, second day.
SZ-MING TSAU-KIUN.--The Lord who orders the Prince of the Furnace; worship- ped to preserve the health of households.-Eighth moon, third day.
LUI-SHING TA-TI.-God of Thunder.-Eighth moon, fifth day.
AUTUMN FESTIVAL.-This festival continues from the first to the sixteenth of the moon, during which period families visit and feast with each other, and friends interchange presents of moon cakes. These are round white cakes, with figures of men and women painted on them; they derive their name from a legend of an Emperor of the Tang dynasty, who being led one night to the palaces of the moon, saw there a large assemblage of female divinities, dancing and playing on instruments of music, on his return he instituted plays in commemoration of it.-Eighth moon, first day.
CHUNG-TSIU.-Mid-autumn. This being the middle day of autumn, is the chief day of the autumnal festival; oblations are made to the moon on this day. On the following day young people amuse themselves by "pursuing the moon;" it is also called ho yuch "congratulating the moon." On the evening of this day, every householder and boatman raises a lantern upon the top of a ship's pole from the highest part of his house or vessel, on which is inscribed hing ho chung tsin, "joyfully congratulate the middle of autumn." From the foreigners' Feast of Lanterns-Eighth moon, fifteenth day.
NAN-TAU-SING-KIUN.-Starry god of the south Pole descends; this god belongs to the sect of Rationalists.-Ninth moon, first day.
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