Directory_and_Chronicle_1876 — Page 50

CHINESE FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.

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SHAI-Tang, or Feast of LanterNS.-Shai-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 is observed at Canton by merely hanging a lantern before the shop or house.-First moon, fifteenth day.

YUH-HWANG.-Shangti's birthday: this deity is the highest of the Tau sect, and, more than any other, answers, in the Chinese mythology, to the Jupiter of the Greeks.-First moon, fifteenth day.

CHANG-CHUN.-Chang-chun, a celebrated physician, born; deified by the Tauists. His shrine is placed in doctors' shops.-First moon, nineteenth day.

SHEN-TSAI-TUNGTSZ'.-Two images of children are placed at the back of dwellings for protecting them and increasing the prosperity of the inmates; they are called Shen-tsai-tungtsz'.-First moon, twentieth day.

TU-TI.-The household gods born. They are called Tu-ti, and also Fu-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 fire- works are let off.-Second moon, second day.

WANCHANG-TI-KIUN.-Wanchang-ti-kiun, god of learning, born. His image is placed in the temples of Confucius, and the offices of literary magistrates; scholars worship him.-Second moon, third day.

day.

TUNG-WA-TI-KIUN.-Tung-wa born; a god of the Tau sect.-Second moon, sixth

HUNGSHING.-Hungsbing, god of the Canton River, born.-This is a southern deity, whose worship is chiefly confined to Canton, where it is celebrated with much pomp and display.-Second moon, thirteenth day.

The birthday of Yoh-Fi, a faithful minister of the Sung dynasty.-Second moon, fifteenth day.

LAUKIUN.-Laukiun born. Laukiun, called also Lautsz, an ancient sage, and the founder of the Tau sect, was partly contemporary with Confucius. The latter in his youth took lessons from Lautsz on the subject of sacrificial rites. The principal deities of the Tau sect are Sau-tsing, three pure ones,-Shanghai, a supreme ruler, subordinate to those three, and an infinity of inferior gods and deified men.-Second moon, fifteenth day.

TSING-MING. Tsing-ming term.-Festival of the tombs. At this period of the year the Chinese everywhere repair to the tombs with offerings of food, which after the spirits of the deceased have fed on the spiritual portion, they themselves partake of. The weather at this time being usually fine, the weeds and dirt are cleared away from the tombs, and any repairs requisite in the brickwork are made. From this custom, the rite is often called Sum-fun, sweeping the tombs. Long slips of paper are laid on the grave after the ceremonies are over, as a proof that the sacrifices have been made.--- Third moon, tenth day.

KWANYIN.-Kwanyin's birthday; she is often called the goddess of mercy, and is the great goddess of the Buddhists. There are supposed to be more temples erected to this idol in the city of Canton than to any other.-Second moon, nineteenth day.

HIUEN-TIEN SHIN-FU.-Hiuen-tien shin-fu, birthday of the father of the Shangti of the Sombre Heavens; a god of the Tau sect.-Second moon, twenty-fifth day.

AGRICULTURAL CEREMONY.-On a fortunate day in the third moon, the grand agricultural ceremony is performed at Peking by the Emperor and his ministers, and in all the provinces by the head officers of the government. The ceremony consists in holding a plough, highly ornamented, which is kept for the purpose, while the bullock which drags it is led over a given space. The rule is that the Emperor ploughs three furrows; the princes, five; and the high ministers, nine. These furrows are, however, so very short, that the later monarchs of the present dynasty have altered the ancient rule laid down by the predecessors of Confucius, ploughing four furrows, and returning again over the ground. The ceremony finished, the Emperor and his ministers repair to the terrace for inspecting the agricultural labours, and remain till the whole field has been ploughed by husbandmen. The Emperor often appoints a proxy.