What are the origins and legends of the Ghost Festival, and what activities are held during the Ghost Festival? July has beautiful names such as Qiao Yue, Gua Yue, Orchid Autumn, Zhao Qiu, Xin Qiu, Shou Qiu, Xiang Yue, Meng Qiu and Chu Qiu. If you want to know more about the seventh month of the lunar calendar in 2020, please follow Mr. Shui Mo’s website!The Origin and Legend of the Ghost FestivalLegend ①The story of Mulian saving his mother from distress is widely circulated among the people: "There was a monk named Mulian, who had great magical powers. His mother fell into the realm of hungry ghosts. As soon as food entered her mouth, it turned into flames. She suffered from excessive hunger and pain. Mulian was unable to save his mother from the distress, so he sought help from the Buddha, who recited the Ullambana Sutra and taught him to prepare the Ullambana Sutra on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month to save his mother." China began to follow this practice in the Liang Dynasty, and it became the Zhongyuan Festival. However, later on, in addition to setting up vegetarian meals for monks, other activities such as repentance and releasing hungry ghosts were also added. Legend ② There are many legends about the Zhongyuan Festival, the most important of which is that on the first day of the seventh lunar month every year, King Yama opens the gates of hell and releases a group of lonely ghosts who have no one to worship them into the world of the living to enjoy people's offerings. On the last day of July, before the gates of hell are closed again, these wandering ghosts have to return to the underworld. Therefore, July is also called Ghost Month. What activities are there during the Ghost Festival?Zhongyuan Festival Customs - Burning Paper <br /> During the festival, the most prominent folk belief of the Han nationality is burning paper. According to superstitious legends, paper in the world of the living is money in the underworld, and people burn paper to send money to their deceased ancestors and relatives. Usually when burning paper at the grave, people would leave a few sheets and burn them at the crossroads. The purpose was to give some alms to the wild ghosts that could return to their homes, so that they would not rob the money given to their ancestors.Zhongyuan Festival Customs - Ancestor Worship <br /> It is said that July 15th is the day when ancestors return home. Therefore, every household, regardless of their wealth, had to prepare coins, preserved fruits, fine wine and seasonal items to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. The Miao people in Yunnan and Guizhou celebrate the festival on the 14th and 15th day of the seventh lunar month every year. The custom of burning paper money and offering sacrifices to ancestors from afar is also very popular. July 14th is called Jiangnan Festival, and the 15th is called Jiangxi Festival. Zhongyuan Festival Customs - Burning Ghosts <br /> In the old customs, in addition to Qingming Festival and October 1st, the government also prepared wine, meat, soup and rice during the Zhongyuan Festival to worship the ghosts and gods that no one in the whole prefecture worshipped. People regard this day as the Ghost Festival. After dusk, people burn paper money at the intersections near their doors. It is commonly known as Shaoyou in Guangzhou and Zuoye Gengfan in Yixing. Those who believe in Buddhism raise funds to invite monks to hold the Ullambana Festival, offer food and light lanterns to pray for the souls of the dead. Fate determines one's entire life, while fortune determines one's current moment. In the method of fortune-telling based on the Eight Characters, the so-called fortune refers to the great fortune, which can be divided into forward and reverse fortune. Do you want to know when your good luck will come? Then take a look at the [Excellent Calculation] below, and may you have peace and happiness in your life! |
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