Directory_and_Chronicle_1879 — Page 43

of war.

JAPANESE AND JEWISH FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.

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spirits of the southern measure descend. 16th.-The spirits of the northern measure descend (till 20th). 17th.-Birthday of Wu-yen, a Tauist saint. 21st. The earth spirit reigns. 23rd.-Birthday of Chun-ti or Durga, also of Chun-yang, a Tauist patriarch, and of Fung-tu, a ruler of Hades. Ascension of Kwan-ti, the national god 24th. The solar term, "hoar frost descends." Sun enters Scorpio. 25th. -Birthday of Yen-hwuy, a disciple of Confucius, canonised A.D. 1530. 29th.— Fifteenth day of the ninth moon. Fête day of Hiuen-tan, the Tauist god of the sombre altar, ruler of malaria. Birthday of Chu Hi, founder of modern Chinese philosophy (A.D. 1131). All the spirits report to heaven. 30th.-Birthday of the spirits of the loom. 31st.-Birthday of Kin-lung-wang, ruler of dragon spirits of the ground. Birthday of Chiao-ts'ai, the youthful god of wealth. Birthday of Koh-hung, a Tauist Cantonese philosopher and alchemist (circa 350 A.D.)

NOVEMBER. 1st.-Birthday of Tsui-ching, one of the inventors of the written. characters. 3rd.-A day of ill luck. 5th.-The spirits report to heaven. 6th.- Birthday of Su-ching-jin, a Tauist saint. 8th.-The solar term "winter sets in." Sun in Scorpio. 10th.-A day of mourning. 11th.-Birthday of Wa-kwong, the Tauist god of fire. Birthday of Ma-yen-shwui, a general under the god of the north- pole. 12th.-Anniversary of the death of an Empress. 13th.-Birthday of Vaidurya Buddha. 14th.-First day of the tenth moon. Birthday of the god of the Eastern mountain. A Tauist fast day. Birthday of Chau, an attendant of the god of war. 16th.-Birthday of one of the San-mau (three brothers) worshipped by Tauists. 18th.---Anniversary of the death (A.D. 529) in Canton of Bodhidharma, first Indian patriarch in China. 19th.-Birthday of the (inferior) spirits of all the heavens. 23rd. The solar term "lit le snow." Sun enters Sagittarius. 26th.-The spirits report to Heaven. 28th.-The fifteenth day of the tenth moon. Birthday of Ha-yuen, the Tauist regent of water. Birthday of Tau-shin, the Tauist god of small-pox. Birthday of Wan-yuen-shwui, attendant of the god of the north pole. Fête day of the got and goddess of the bedsteal. 30th.-A day of ill luck.

DECEMBER. 3rd.-Birthday of Hü-ching, a Tauist alchemist. An auspicious day for fasting and worship. 7th.-The solar term "great snow.” Sun in Sagitta- rius. 9th.-Birthday of the Tauist supreme god of the five mountains. 10th.- Birthday of Tsu-mi, Tauist star-god of malaria. 12th.-Birthday of Ma-ts'ien, attendant of the god of war. Féte day of General Chau, attendant of the god of war. 13th. First day of the eleventh moon. 16th.-Fête day of Confucius. 18th.-Birth- day of Yuh-wang, the highest god of the Tauist pantheon, a deified priest. Birthday of the Tauist god of the western mountain. Birthday of Ta-yib, Tauist star-god, guardian of all sufferers. 19th.-All the spirits report to Heaven. 22nd. The solar term "winter solstice." Sun enters Capricorn. 25th.-Anniversary of the death of Emperor Kang-hi (A.D. 1723). 27th.-The fifteenth day of eleventh moon. 29th.- Lunar Eclipse. Birthday of Amitabha Buddha. 31st.-A day of ill luck. Birtuday of the Bodhisattva, called "nine lotus flowers.”

JAPANESE.

NEW YEAR'S DAY.-First of January.

GEN-SHU-SAI. The festival of opening all public business.

KI-GEN-SETSU.—The 11th of February; the Commemoration of Jimmu-Yennō, the first emperor of the present dynasty.

TEN-CHO-SETSU.-The 3rd of November, the birth day of the reigning Emperor.

JEWISH.

The festivals of the Jews are held weekly, monthly, and yearly. Each seventh and fiftieth year, moreover, is kept with peculiar solemnities.

The weekly festival is the Sabbath, a day consecrated to rest and cheerful devo- tion. It was instituted when God rested, on the seventh day, from the work of creation, and the precept was renewed to the Hebrews in the wilderness of Sin (Ex. Chap. 16), ere yet the Decalogue had been given from Sinai. It is kept from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.