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Mid-Autumn Festival
Directory Introduction to Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival Customs
Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry
Mid-Autumn Festival Related
Mid-Autumn Festival SMS
Mid-Autumn Festival Blessings
Mid-Autumn Festival Idioms
. This is the middle of autumn, so it is called Mid-Autumn Festival. In China's lunar calendar, a year is divided into four seasons, and each season is divided into three parts: Meng, Zhong and Ji, so Mid-Autumn Festival is also called Mid-Autumn Festival. The moon on August 15th is rounder and brighter than the full moons in other months, so it is also called "Moon Night" and "August Festival". On this night, people look up at the bright moon in the sky like jade, and naturally look forward to family reunion. Wanderers who are far away from home also take this opportunity to pin their thoughts on their hometown and relatives. Therefore, Mid-Autumn Festival is also called "Reunion Festival".
In ancient times, the Chinese people had the custom of "Evening in autumn and the moon in the evening". The evening moon is to worship the moon god. In the Zhou dynasty, every mid-autumn night was held to welcome the cold and offer sacrifices to the moon. Set up a big incense table, and put moon cakes, watermelons, apples, red dates, plums, grapes and other sacrifices, among which moon cakes and watermelons are absolutely indispensable. Watermelon has to be cut into lotus shapes. Under the moon, put the moon statue in the direction of the moon, and the red candle burns high. The whole family worships the moon in turn, and then the housewife cuts up the reunion moon cake. The people who cut the moon cakes calculate in advance how many people there are in the whole family, at home and in other places, and they should all be counted together. They can't cut more or less, and the size should be the same.
According to legend, the ugly women in ancient Qi had no salt. When they were young, they were devout to Yue Bai. When they grew up, they entered the palace with superior moral character, but they were not favored. Seeing the moon on August 15th, the son of heaven saw her in the moonlight and thought she was beautiful and outstanding. Later, he made her the queen, from which the Mid-Autumn Festival Yue Bai came. In the middle of the moon, Chang 'e is famous for her beauty, so Yue Bai, a young girl, wishes to be "like Chang 'e, and her face is like a bright moon".
In the Tang Dynasty, it was quite popular to enjoy and play with the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival. In the northern song dynasty. On the night of August 15th, people all over the city, rich and poor, old and young, put on adult clothes, burn incense and express their wishes to Yue Bai, and pray for the blessing of the moon god. In the Southern Song Dynasty, people gave mooncakes to each other, which meant reunion. In some places there are activities such as dancing grass dragons and building pagodas. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival has become more popular. Many places have formed special customs such as burning incense, planting Mid-Autumn Festival trees, lighting tower lanterns, putting sky lanterns, walking on the moon and dancing dragon.
Today, the custom of playing under the moon is far less popular than in the old days. However, feasting to enjoy the moon is still very popular. People drink wine in asking for the moon to celebrate a better life, or wish their relatives far away healthy and happy, and have a wonderful time with their families.
There are many customs and forms of Mid-Autumn Festival, but they all entrust people with infinite love for life and yearning for a better life.
Origin and Legend
The Mid-Autumn Festival has a long history. Like other traditional festivals, it developed slowly. The ancient emperors had a ritual system of offering sacrifices to the sun in spring and the moon in autumn. As early as Zhou Li, the word "Mid-Autumn Festival" was recorded. Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival in China. According to historical records, the word "Mid-Autumn Festival" first appeared in the book Zhou Li. By the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there was a record of "telling Shangshu Town that cattle were confused, and mid-autumn evening and the left and right traveling incognito across the river". It was not until the early years of the Tang Dynasty that the Mid-Autumn Festival became a fixed festival. The Book of Tang Taizong records the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th. The prevalence of Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Song Dynasty, and by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was as famous as New Year's Day and became one of the major festivals in China. This is also the second largest traditional festival in China after the Spring Festival.
according to the Chinese calendar, the eighth month of the lunar calendar is in the middle of autumn, which is the second month of autumn, and the fifteenth day of August is in the middle of autumn, so it is called Mid-Autumn Festival. There are many nicknames for Mid-Autumn Festival: it is called "August Festival" and "August and a half" because it falls on August 15th; Because the main activities of Mid-Autumn Festival are all around the "moon", it is also commonly known as "Moon Festival" and "Moon Festival". The full moon in Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes reunion, so it is also called "Reunion Festival". In the Tang Dynasty, Mid-Autumn Festival was also called "Correcting the Moon". The record of "Reunion Festival" was first seen in the Ming Dynasty. "Notes on the Tour of the West Lake" said: "August 15th is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and people send mooncakes as a token of reunion". "A Brief Introduction to the Scenery of Dijing" also said: "On the 15th of August, when the moon is sacrificed, the cakes will be round, the melons will be wrongly divided, and the petals will be carved like lotus flowers. ..... Those who are married and mothering will return to their in-laws' homes, saying "Reunion Festival"? quot; . On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, there is a custom of "reunion" in most parts of our country, that is, a small cake symbolizing reunion and similar to moon cakes is branded, which contains sugar, sesame, osmanthus and vegetables, and the moon, osmanthus trees and rabbits are pressed outside. After the moon festival, the elders in the family will divide the cake into pieces according to the number of people, one for each person, and if someone is not at home, leave a copy for them to show family reunion.
Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the custom of autumn worship and Yue Bai in ancient China. "The Book of Rites" contains "The son of heaven is in the spring, the sun is shining, and the moon is in the autumn. Asahi is facing the DPRK, and the evening is in the evening. " "Evening Moon" here means Yue Bai. It took shape in the Han Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, the custom of enjoying the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival became popular and was designated as the Mid-Autumn Festival. Ouyang Zhan (785 ~ 827 AD) said in Preface to Poems about Playing with the Moon in Chang 'an: "August is in autumn. The season begins and ends; The fifteenth day is in the night, and the moon is in the clouds. If you take it from heaven, it will be cold and hot, and if you take it from the number of months, it will be round, so it is called Mid-Autumn Festival. "
enjoying the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival is the most prosperous in the Song Dynasty. "Dream of Tokyo" records: "On the Mid-Autumn Night, the nobles decorate the pavilions, and the people compete for the restaurant to play with the moon." On this day, all restaurants in Tokyo have to redecorate their facades, put up silk arches and sell newly opened good wine. The shops are full of fresh fruits, and the night market is lively, which is rare in a year. Distinguished officials and rich families are enjoying the moon in their pavilions, and their harps and instruments are sonorous. Ordinary citizens are scrambling to occupy the restaurant, in order to see the moonlight first, and arrange family banquets to reunite their children. "Hundreds of thousands of' Little Red' sheepskin ice lanterns were released in Zhejiang this evening, floating all over the water like stars" (see Old Wulin Story). And the "Jingshi Moon Appreciation Meeting" is different from other counties. The children of the whole city can go to the twelfth or thirteenth by themselves, regardless of their wealth. They all wear adult clothes, and they go upstairs or in Yue Bai in the atrium, each with its own time: men would like to go to the toad hall early and climb the fairy laurel. Women are willing to look like Chang E, as round as the moon. " (See "The Newly Edited Notes on Drunken Weng")
Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, people have paid more attention to the Mid-Autumn Festival. "Journey to the West Lake, Zhiyu Xichao Pleasure" says: "The folks take moon cakes as a legacy and take the meaning of reunion. It's evening, and people have a feast to enjoy the moon. On top of Su Causeway, singing together is no different from daytime. "
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, Reunion Festival, August Festival, etc., is a traditional festival of the Han nationality and most ethnic minorities in China, and is also popular in neighboring countries such as North Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Because the July, August and September of autumn (referring to the lunar calendar), August is in the middle, and in the thirty days of August, it is in the middle, so it is called the Mid-Autumn Festival. Therefore, there are more people in the sky than family reunion at night, so it is also called the reunion festival.
Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the custom of autumn worship and Yue Bai in ancient China. "The Book of Rites" contains "The son of heaven is in the spring, the sun is shining, and the moon is in the autumn. Asahi is facing the DPRK, and the evening is in the evening. " "Evening Moon" here means Yue Bai. It took shape in the Han Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, the custom of enjoying the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival became popular and was designated as the Mid-Autumn Festival. Ouyang Zhan (785 ~ 827 AD) said in Preface to Poems about Playing with the Moon in Chang 'an: "August is in autumn. The season begins and ends; The fifteenth day is in the night, and the moon is in the clouds. If you take it from heaven, it will be cold and hot, and if you take it from the number of months, it will be round, so it is called Mid-Autumn Festival. "
Mid-Autumn Festival, Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival are also called the three traditional festivals in China. Investigating the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival is closely related to myths and legends such as "the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon", "Wu Gang cutting Guangxi" and "Jade Rabbit tinkering with medicine". Therefore, the folk customs of Mid-Autumn Festival are mostly related to the moon. Appreciating the moon, Yue Bai and eating reunion moon cakes all come from this.
Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival are also called the three traditional festivals in China. Investigating the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival is closely related to myths and legends such as "the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon", "Wu Gang cutting Guangxi" and "Jade Rabbit tinkering with medicine". Therefore, the folk customs of Mid-Autumn Festival are mostly related to the moon. Appreciating the moon, Yue Bai and eating reunion moon cakes all come from this.
The legend of Mid-Autumn Festival is very rich, and fairy tales such as the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon, Wu Gang's felling of Guangxi and Jade Rabbit's smashing medicine are widely spread.
One of the Mid-Autumn Festival legends-[the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon]
According to legend, in ancient times, there were ten days in the sky at the same time, and the crops were scorched to death, and the people were miserable. A hero named Hou Yi had boundless strength. He sympathized with the suffering people, climbed the top of Kunlun Mountain, took full advantage of his divine power, drew his bow, shot down more than nine suns in one breath, and ordered the last one to rise and fall on time.
Hou Yi was respected and loved by the people. He married a beautiful and kind wife named Chang 'e. In addition to hunting, Hou Yi spent all his time with his wife, and people envied this beautiful and loving couple.
Many people with lofty ideals have come here to study as teachers, and Peng Meng, who has ulterior motives, has also mixed in.
One day, Hou Yi went to Kunlun Mountain to visit friends and seek the Tao. He happened to meet the Queen Mother who passed by and asked her for a pack of elixir. It is said that taking this medicine can instantly ascend to heaven and become immortal. However, Hou Yi could not bear to leave his wife, so he had to give the immortal medicine to Chang 'e for the time being. Chang 'e hid the medicine in the treasure box of the dresser, only to be seen by the villain Peng Meng. He wanted to steal the immortal medicine and become immortal himself.
Three days later, Hou Yi led his followers out hunting, and Peng Meng, who had ulterior motives, pretended to be ill and stayed. Soon after Hou Yi led the crowd away, Peng Meng broke into the backyard of the inner house with a sword in his hand, threatening Chang 'e to hand over the elixir. Chang 'e knew that she was no match for Peng Meng. When she was in a crisis, she made a decisive decision, turned around and opened the treasure box, took out the elixir and swallowed it in one gulp. Chang 'e swallowed the medicine and immediately floated off the ground, rushed out of the window and flew to the sky. Because Chang 'e was concerned about her husband, she flew to the nearest moon and became a fairy.
In the evening, Hou Yi came home, and the maids cried about what happened during the day. Hou Yi was both surprised and angry, and drew his sword to kill the villains. Peng Meng fled early. Hou Yi was so angry and heartbroken that he looked up at the night sky and called out the name of his beloved wife. At this time, he was surprised to find that today's moon was exceptionally bright and bright, and there was a swaying figure resembling Chang 'e. He chased after the moon desperately, but he chased three steps, the moon retreated three steps, he retreated three steps, and the moon advanced three steps, but he couldn't catch up with him anyway.
Hou Yi was helpless and missed his wife, so he had to send someone to Chang 'e's favorite back garden, set up a table incense, put on her favorite honey and fresh fruit, and pay a tribute to Chang 'e in the moon palace. After hearing the news that the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon became an immortal, people set up incense tables under the moon to pray for good luck and peace to the kind Chang 'e.
Since then, the custom of Yue Bai in Mid-Autumn Festival has spread among the people.
Legend No.2 of Mid-Autumn Festival-[WU GANG won the laurel]
There is another legend about Mid-Autumn Festival: It is said that the laurel tree in front of the Guanghan Palace on the moon grows luxuriantly, with a height of more than 5 feet. A man often cuts it down below, but every time he cuts it down, the cut place is immediately closed. For thousands of years, this laurel tree can never be cut down. It is said that this tree-chopping man named WU GANG, a native of Xihe, Han Dynasty, once followed the immortal to the heaven, but when he made a mistake, the immortal relegated him to the Moon Palace, and did this kind of futile drudgery every day to show his punishment. In Li Bai's poems, there is a record that "if you want to be in the middle of the moon, you will pay for the cold."
the third legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival-[Zhu Yuanzhang and the Moon Cake Uprising]
It is said that eating moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Yuan Dynasty. At that time, the broad masses of people in the Central Plains could not bear the cruel rule of the ruling class in the Yuan Dynasty and rebelled against the Yuan Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang joined forces with various resistance forces to prepare for the uprising. However, the officers and men of the imperial court searched very closely and it was very difficult to pass on the news. Strategist Liu Bowen came up with a plan and ordered his subordinates to hide the note containing the "August 15th night uprising" into the cake, and then sent someone to send it to the uprising troops in various places separately to inform them to respond to the uprising on August 15th night. On the day of the uprising, all the rebels responded together, such as single spark can start a prairie fire.
Soon, Xu Da captured the capital of Yuan Dynasty, and the uprising was successful. When the news came, Zhu Yuanzhang was so happy that he quickly gave a message that all the soldiers would have fun with the people in the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, and he would give the "moon cakes" that were sent in secret when he started fighting that year as seasonal cakes to his ministers. Since then, the production of "moon cakes" has become more and more elaborate, with more varieties, such as discs, and has become a good gift. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the custom of eating moon cakes spread among the people.
Mid-Autumn Festival custom
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people's main activities are enjoying the moon and eating moon cakes.
Moon viewing
In the Tang Dynasty, Moon viewing and playing in the Mid-Autumn Festival were quite popular. In the Song Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival was more popular to enjoy the moon. According to "Dream of Tokyo", "On the Mid-Autumn Night, your family decorated the Taiwan Pavilion, and the people competed for the restaurant to play with the moon". On this day, all the shops and restaurants in Beijing have to redecorate their facades, tie silk on the archway, sell fresh fruits and refined food, and the night market is very lively. Many people board the balcony, and some rich families enjoy the moon on their own pavilions, and arrange food or family banquets to reunite their children.
After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the custom of enjoying the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival remained the same. In many places, special customs such as burning incense, planting Mid-Autumn Festival trees, lighting tower lanterns, putting sky lanterns, walking on the moon and dancing dragon were formed.
Eating moon cakes
People in urban and rural areas in China have the custom of eating moon cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. As the saying goes, "August 15th is full, and the Mid-Autumn Festival moon cakes are sweet and fragrant". Moon cakes were originally used as sacrifices to the moon god. The word "moon cakes" first appeared in Wu Zimu's Dream of Liang Lu in the Southern Song Dynasty. At that time, it was just a cake-shaped food like Linghua cake. Later, people gradually combined the Mid-Autumn Festival with mooncake tasting, which symbolizes family reunion.
moon cakes were originally made at home, and Yuan Mei in Qing Dynasty recorded the practice of moon cakes in the Sui Garden Food List. In modern times, with workshops specializing in making moon cakes, the production of moon cakes has become more and more elaborate, with exquisite fillings and beautiful appearance. There are also various exquisite patterns printed on the outside of moon cakes, such as "the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon", "jathyapple on the Milky Way" and "Three Tans Printing the Moon". It has become the wish of people all over the world to show people's reunion with the full moon, to show people's eternal life with the full moon cake, to pin their thoughts on their hometown and their loved ones, and to pray for a bumper harvest and happiness. Mooncakes are also used as gifts to send relatives and friends and to connect feelings.
Watch the tide
"I know that the Jade Rabbit is very round, and it has been frosty and cold in September. Send a message to shut the door and close the key, and the night tide will stay in the moon. " This is the poem "Watching the Tide on August 15th" written by Su Shi, a great poet in the Song Dynasty. In ancient Zhejiang, besides enjoying the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival, tide watching is another Mid-Autumn Festival event. The custom of watching tide in Mid-Autumn Festival has a long history, and it was described in detail in Mei Cheng's "Seven Fats" in Han Dynasty. After the Han Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival tide watching became more popular. There are also records of watching the tide in Zhu Tinghuan's Supplementing the Past Events of Wulin in the Ming Dynasty and Meng Liang Lu by Zimu in the Song and Wu Dynasties. The spectacular tide watching in these two books shows that the Mid-Autumn Festival tide watching reached an unprecedented peak in the Song Dynasty.
Light the lamp
On the Mid-Autumn Festival night, the sky is as clear as water and the moon is as bright as a mirror, which can be described as a beautiful scene. However, people are not satisfied with this, so there is the custom of lighting the lamp to help the moonlight. In Huguang area, it is customary to stack tiles on the tower and burn lights on it. In the south of the Yangtze River, there is a custom of making lanterns. In modern Mid-Autumn Festival, the custom of burning lanterns is more prosperous. Today, Zhou Yunjin and He Xiangfei said in their article "Talking about Seasons in Leisure": "Guangdong has the most prosperous lanterns, and families tie lanterns with bamboo strips ten days before the festival. Make fruit, birds and animals, fish and insects and the words' Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival', and paint various colors on paste paper. Mid-autumn night light internal combustion candle