Directory_and_Chronicle_1879 — Page 40

EASTERN FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES,

FOR THE YEAR 1879.

CHINESE.

JANUARY.-3rd.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 4th.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 5th.-Solar term "Little Cold." Sun in Capricorn. 7th.-Fifteenth day of the twelfth moon. Birthday of a deified warrior, Wen- -yuen,

of the Han dynasty. 8th.-Birthday of Nam-yob, the Tauist god of the Southern Mountain. Birthday of the philosopher Lao-tsze (B.C. 604) the founder of Tauism. The earth spirit reigns. 12th.-Birthday of Lu-pan, the popular god of carpenters and masons. 13th.-Birthday of the Tauist deity called the supreme ruler of the Heavenly Dragon. 16th.-The god of the hearth ascends to heaven to report on domestic life. Thankofferings to the god of the hearth. Worship of Yub-wang, the supreme god. Auspicious time for worship and offerings. 17th.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 20th.-A solar term "Great Cold." Sun enters Aquarius. 21st.-Birthday of Padma-vyûha, a fabulous Bodhisattva, worshipped by Buddhists. The gods of the Northern Bushel descend. All the Buddhas descend to search out good and evil in mankind. Auspicious time for worship and offerings. 22nd.— New Year's day. Fowl day. A Tauist fast. 23rd.-Dog day. Birthday of Che- ta-yen-shwui, a deified warrior. 24th.-Pig day. Anniversary of the death of Em- pero Kien-lung (A. D. 1736). Birthday of Sun-ching-jin, a deified physician. 25th Sheep day. 26th.-Cow day. 27th.-Man day. Birthday of the god of weal, worshipped by Tauists. Birthday of Dipamkara Buddha. 28th.-Grain day. Anniversary of the death of Emperor Yung-ching (A.D. 1723). 29th.-Hemp day.__30th.--Pea day. 31st.- Birthday of a dragon spirit of the ground.

FEBRUARY.-1st.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 2nd.—A day of ill luck. 3rd.-Birthday of Wan and Wü, two warriors worshipped at Fatsba'n. 4th. A solar term "Spring sets in."

Spring sets in." Sun in Aquarius. Ceremony of meeting the Spring, by breaking the clay figure of a buffalo. Anniversary of the death of Em- peror Tao-kwang (A.D. 1850). 5th.-Fifteenth day of the first moon. The feast of lanterns. Birthday of the Tauist god Shang yen, a heavenly ruler. 6th.--An un- lucky day. 11tb.-Birthday of Shen-ts'ai, a Buddhist saint of the retinue of Kwan- yin (the goddess of mercy). Auspicious day for praying for wealth. Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 13th.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 18th.- Day of ill luck. 19th.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress.

A solar term "Rain water." Sun enters Pisces. 21st.-The first day of the second moon. Birthday of the judge in the first court in hell. 22nd.-Birthday of the philosopher Mencius (B.C. 371). Birthday of one of the dragon spirits of the ground. 23rd.-Birthday of the star-god of literature. 24th.-Auspicious day for obtaining Heaven's pardon. 26th.-Birthday of Tung-yoh, the Tauist god of the Eastern Mountain. 27th.--All the spirits report to Heaven. Anniversary of the death of an Empress. Birthday of the god of the Canton river.

MARCH.-2nd.-Birthday of a dragon spirit of the ground. 3rd.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 5th.-Fête day of the god of the Cauton river. 6th.-- A solar term "Movement of larvæ." Sun in Pisces. 7th.-The fifteenth day of the second moon. Fête day of the philosopher Lao-tsze, the founder of Tauism. Birthday of Yoh-fei, a deified warrior of the Sung dynasty (A.D. 1103-1141). 10th.-Birthday of the judge of the fourth court in hell. 11to.-Birthday of Kwan-yin, the goddess of mercy (Avalokiteshvara), and of a goddess of the sea. 12th.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. Birthday of Samanta-bhadra, patron of the (Buddhist) Lotus- school. 15th.-A day of ill luck. 17th.-Birthday of Hiuen-tien-shing-fu, a Tauist deity, father of the god of the sombre heavens. 18th.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 21st.-A solar term "Vernal Equinox." Sun enters Aries. 23rd.— The first day of the third moon. Birthday of the judge of the second court in hell. 24th. --Birthday of Hiuen-tien (god of the sombre heavens), or Peh-ti (god of the north pole).

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