Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 39

Mar. II. Moon.

CHINESE FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.

31

1 First day of the second moon. Fête day of the Supreme Judge in the Courts of Hades.

9

10 11

2

3

E2

21

23

25

25

27

April. 5

Mencius born B.C. 371. Spring worship of the gods of the land and grain. Fête of the god of literature, worshipped by students.

13 Fête day of Hung-shing, god of the Canton river, powerful to preserve

people from drowning, and for sending rain in times of drought.

15 Birthday of Lao Tsze, founder of Tauism, B.C. 604. The fête of Yoh Fei, A.D. 1103-1141. A canonized statesman of the Sung dynasty, He was a celebrated commander in the civil wars of the Sung Kao Tsung, and was an inflexible opponent of the Tartars of the Kin dynasty. As he would never consent to make peace with these "barbarians;" he was removed from his command, committed to prison, and subjected to rial which only served to demonstrate the falsity of the charges brought a inst him. Nevertheless his enemies succeeded in obtaining an Imperial ma cate for his execution, which was forthwith carried into effect. This act he ben attended by the undying execration of the historians and of the Chinese people.

17 Spring worship of the Spirits of land and grain.

19 Fête of Kwanyin, goddess of mercy; for a full description of the de mas

connected with this goddess, see Eitel's Hand Book, page 18.

28 Tsing Ming, or Tomb Festival.

III. Moon.

7 1

3

First day of the third moon.

Fête of Hiuen T'ien Shang-ti, the supreme ruler of the Sombre heavens, or Peh-te, Tauist god of the North Pole.

4 Fête of Chang Fi (see 22nd August).

15 Fête of I-ling, a deified physician, and of the god of the Sombre Altar,

worshipped on behalf of sick children.

18 Fête of Heu Tu, the goddess worshipped behind graves; of the god of

the Central mountain, and of the three brothers.

Fête of Tien Heu, Queen of Heaven, Holy mother, goddess of sailors.

Fête of Tsz-sun, goddess of progeny.

National Festival of Ts'ang Kieh, inventor of writing. "Summer sets in."

IV. Moon.

1 First day of the fourth moon,

4 Fête of the Bodhisattva Mandjushri, worshipped on behalf of the dead.

9

10

21

24

29

23

May.

2

26

4

28

6

30

7

10

14

16

20

21

15

23

17

24

26

29 June.

23

Fête of Samanta Bhadra, patron of monasteries.

3

28

Fête of Yoh Wong, the Tauist god of medicine.

V. Moon.

5

1

9

5

15

11

First day of the fifth moon. Fête of the god of the South pole. National fête day: dragon boat festival and boat races. National fête of Sheng Wang, the tutelary god of walled towns,

2222

8 Fête of San Kai, ruler of heaven, of earth, and of hades; also a fête of Buddha.

10 Fête of the dragon spirits of the ground.

14 Fête of Lü Sien, Tauist patriarch, worshipped by barbers.

Fête of Chung Li-kien, discoverer of the elixir vita.

Fête of Kin Hwa, the Cantonese goddess of parturition.

18 Fête of Wa-to, a deified physician, and of Tsz-mi, the star god of

malaria.

20 Fête of the goddess of the blind.