The origin of the Chongyang Festival can be pushed back to the early Han Dynasty. It is said that in the imperial palace, on September 9 every year, one should wear cornelian cherry, eat pong bait and drink chrysanthemum wine in order to live a long life. The custom was introduced to the people's mind when Mrs. Qi, the beloved consort of Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, was tragically murdered by Empress Lu, and Jia, a palace maid, was also expelled from the palace.
Anciently, there was a custom of ascending the heights on that day, so the Chongyang Festival was also called the "Festival of Ascending Heights". It is rumored that this custom began in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty, a lot of poems, most of them are written on the Chongyang Festival custom; Du Fu's seven rhymes "to ascend the heights", is written on the Chongyang ascension of the famous piece. The place where the ascent is made, there is no uniform regulation, generally is to climb high mountains and towers.
There is also the custom of eating "Chongyang cake". The delicate Chongyang cake to be made into nine layers, like a pagoda, the top is also made into two small sheep, in line with the meaning of Chongyang (sheep). Some also inserted a small red paper flag on the cake, and light candles. This is probably the "light", "eat cake" instead of "high", with a small red paper flag instead of cornelian cherry.
The Chrysanthemum Festival is also to appreciate chrysanthemums and drink chrysanthemum wine, which originated from Tao Yuanming. Tao Yuanming famous for seclusion, famous for poetry, famous for wine, but also famous for love of chrysanthemums; the later follow, so there is a Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum Festival custom.
The old time scholar, but also more will appreciate chrysanthemum and banquet combination, in order to and Tao Yuanming closer. In Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, chrysanthemum appreciation was very popular, and there were many kinds of chrysanthemums at that time. After the Qing Dynasty, the chrysanthemum appreciation custom is especially prosperous, and is not limited to September 9, but is still the most prosperous before and after the Chrysanthemum Festival.
Expanded Information
1, the Warring States period
Chrysanthemum Festival was already a festival, but at that time only in the royal family activities.
2. Wei and Jin Dynasties
The atmosphere of the festival grew stronger, and it was much recited by literati and writers. Jin Dynasty literati Tao Yuanming said in the preface to the poem "Nine Days of Idleness": "I live in idleness, love the name of the ninth day. Autumn chrysanthemums fill the garden, and hold the mash by, empty service nine Chinese, sends the mind in the words." Here both chrysanthemum and wine are mentioned. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there was the custom of enjoying chrysanthemums and drinking wine.
3, the Tang Dynasty period
Chongyang Festival was designated as an official holiday, according to records, officially the ninth day of the ninth month of the Lunar Calendar as a nationally recognized holiday is in the Tang Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Dezong Li Shih (around 780 A.D.) Chuangyang Festival, along with the New Year's Eve, Ching Ming, and Chinese New Year's Day, are known as the four major traditional Chinese ancestor worship festivals. Since then, folk and court **** celebrate Chongyang Festival together and organize various commemorative activities on this day.
4, the Song Dynasty period
Chongyang Festival has become a more important festival, more lively, "Tokyo Dreaming Records" has recorded the Northern Song Dynasty when the Chongyang Festival.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Chongyang Festival