Directory_and_Chronicle_1877 — Page 53

CHINESE FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.

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an annual settlement of accounts, prevents many failures. This is perhaps the reason why it is called shu-seih, “the evening of dismissal."-First moon, first day.

CHE TA-YUEN-SHWAI; a deified warrior.-First moon, second day.

TIN KWANG.-Tin-kwang, a Buddhist sage, born.-First moon, third day. YIN-JIH.-Yin-jih, or "man-day," The first ten days of the year, and named after varions animals, "fowl-day," "dog-day," &c., of which the seventh, "man-day," is the greatest. Some persons have supposed there is an obscure or ancient reference in these days to the order followed at the creation. First moon, seventh day.

WU-TU-SHING-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.-First moon, tenth day.

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-TUNG-TSZ.-The 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-tung-tsz.-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 princial deities of the Tau sect are Sau-tsing, three pure ones, Shangtai, a supren e 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 tomps. 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, twenty-scond 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-JU.-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.