Directory_and_Chronicle_1893 — Page 23

CHINESE FESTIVALS AND OBSERVANCES

FOR THE YEAR 1893,

xvii

1893.

Yam.son Year.

Jan. XI. Moon.

Fête of the Genius of the North (one of the five evil genii). Festival of the Angel of Sunlight

Great Buddhistic Festival.

13

16

26 29

XII. Moon.

25

8

31

1-4

The Great Cold.

Feb.

20

Festival of Lu Pàn, the patron saint of carpenters and masons. He is said to have been a contemporary of Confucius. Among the many stories related of his ingenuity, it is said that, on account of his father having been put to death by the men of Wu, he carved the effigy of one of the genii with one of its hands stretched towards Wu, when, in consequence, drought prevailed for three years. On being supplicated and presented with gifts from Wu, he cut off the hand, and rain immediately fell. On this day carpenters refuse to work.

Worship of the god of the hearth at nightfall. The god of the hearth reports to heaven.

9 10

23

24

Kwei-szi Yr.

I. Moon.

17

1

Chinese New Year's day.

26

10

Fête day of the Spirits of the Ground.

Mar.

3

15

4

16

18

1

19

2

20

3

30

13

April.

1

15

5

19

14

28

III. Moon.

18

3

30

15

May.

3

18

8

23

11

26

13

28

IV. Moon.

19

4

23

8

25

10

29

14

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

II. Moon.

**

Feast of Lanterns, Fête of Shang-yuen, ruler of heaven.

Fête of Shen and Ts'ai, the two guardians of the door. Auspicious day for

praying for wealth and offspring.

Fête day of the Supreme Judge in the Courts of Hades.

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

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

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

Birthday of Lao Tsze, founder of Tauism, B.C. 604.

Fête of Kwanyin, goddess of mercy.

Tsing Ming, or Tomb Festival.

Fôte of Hiuen T'ien Shang-ti, the supreme ruler of the Sombre heavens,

Peh-te, Tauist god of the North Pole.

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

shipped on behalf of sick children.

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.

Fête of the Bodhisattva Mandjushri; worshipped on behalf of the dead. Fête of San Kai, ruler of heaven, of earth, and of hades; also a fête of Buddha. Fête of the dragon spirits of the ground.

June.

1

17

4

20

Fête of Kin Hwa, the Cantonese goddess of parturition. Fête of the goddess of the blind.

12

28

V. Moon.

14

18

15

1

5

225

24

}}

26

13

Fête of Yoh Wong, the Tauist god of medicine.

Fête of the god of the South pole.

National fête day. Dragon boat festival and boat races. On this day the Cantonese frantically paddle about in long narrow boats much orna- mented. In each boat is a large drum and other musical instruments used to incite the crew to greater exertions. The festival is called Pa Lung Shun or Tiu Wat Uen, and is held to commemorate the death of the Prince of Tsoo, who, neglecting the advice of his faithful Minister Wat Uen, drowned himself about B.C. 500.

National fête of Sheng Wang, the tutelary god of walled towns. National fête of Kwân Ti, god of war, and of his son General Kwan.