The eighth day of the first lunar month is Shunxing Festival.

The eighth day of the first lunar month is Shunxing Festival.
Introduction: The first month of the lunar calendar is the first month of the Spring Festival, and there are many festivals in this month, and different festivals have different meanings. So, the eighth day of the first lunar month is "Shunxing Festival", what is its meaning? Now, let’s follow the editor to learn about it. A year's plan begins with spring, and the Spring Festival is an important traditional festival of ours. Do you want to know more about the Spring Festival? Come and take a look at the Spring Festival special topic carefully prepared by Mr. Shui Mo!

What is Shunxing Festival?

The eighth day of the first lunar month is also known as Shunxing Festival, one of the traditional Chinese lunar festivals. The main purpose of this day is to learn about astronomy by reading the names of the stars listed on the star god horse invited from the incense and candle shop. The star worship ceremony of Shunxing Festival is held at night. Rich families put up 108 lanterns, while ordinary families can put up 49 lanterns, and the minimum is 9, representing the nine fortune-telling stars: sun, moon, water, fire, wood, metal, earth, Luo Hou and Ji Du. The lamp bowl is shaped like a small goblet, made of clay or copper, with soybean oil inside, and the wick is made of "lamp flower paper".
According to Chinese folklore, the eighth day of the first lunar month is Guzi’s birthday. If the weather is clear on this day, it means a good rice harvest this year; if it is cloudy, it means a poor harvest.

Is there any saying about Shunxing Festival?

The Chinese people regard the eighth day of the first lunar month as the day when all the stars descend to the earth. They make small lanterns and light them to offer sacrifices to them, which is called Shunxing, also known as "offering sacrifices to the stars" and "receiving the stars".
According to Taoism and astrologers, each person has a star in charge every year, also called the "annual star" (the nine stars, namely Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Wood, Venus, Saturn, Luohou and Ketu, take turns to be in charge of the year). A person's fate for the year is entirely controlled by the star in charge of the year. The eighth day of the first lunar month every year is the day when all the star gods gather, and it is also said to be the day when "all the stars descend to the world". Therefore, by offering sacrifices to the star god (i.e. Shunxing) on ​​this day, it is possible to obtain the star god's blessing. Therefore, some people go to the Baiyun Stargazing Temple (also known as the Yuanchen Temple) to burn incense and pray to the stars. But no matter whether one goes to the temple to burn incense or not, on that evening, after all the stars come out in the sky, every family will hold a star-following sacrificial ceremony.
Two god codes are used in sacrifice. The first one is printed with Xingke, Suzaku, Xuanwu, etc., and the second one is "Benming Yannian Shouxingjun". The two pieces were put together front and back, clamped on a paper clip, and placed in the middle behind the table in the courtyard for worship. In front of the god's code, there are lamp flowers made of yellow and white lamp paper soaked in fragrant oil, which are placed in a "lamp bowl" with a diameter of about an inch and lit. Then serve cooked Yuanxiao and tea. After dusk, sacrifices are made to the Big Dipper. After the sacrifice, when the remaining lights are about to go out, burn the god code, incense roots, sesame straw, and pine and cypress branches together to complete the sacrifice.
Shunxing is also known as Jixing. On the eighth night of the first lunar month, regardless of whether people go to the temple to burn incense and worship the Star God (i.e. Shunxing) or not, after all the stars in the sky come out, each family will hold a Shunxing worship ceremony.
After worshiping the "Star God Horse", the housewife will place these lanterns on the desks, kang edges, cabinets in the bedroom, kitchen, and living room, as well as on the steps, corners, and doorways in the courtyard, just like a candlelight party, and it is called "scattered lanterns". At this time, among this mysterious group of lanterns, the elders should tell their children and grandchildren the truth that "time is money" and the importance of "being cautious when alone", because "the stars that shine on one's fate" are always watching everyone's every move, "If you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself." Scattering lanterns are extremely romantic, allowing you to look forward to and imagine until all the lanterns are burned out. Then, after the whole family says "Happy New Year" to each other, the lights can be turned back on and firecrackers can be set off. The pine branches in the "money basin" in the yard are lit, just like a bonfire, which makes people think of different things.
Summary: Through the above article, we have a certain understanding that the eighth day of the first lunar month is the "Shunxing Festival", and we also know that it has a great connection with astrology. I hope you will like the above content. I wish you all good fortune and luck in the new year!

After reading this article, there are more exciting content in the Spring Festival special topic, let’s take a look!

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