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, we should wear cornelian cherry, eat pong bait, drink chrysanthemum wine, in order to seek longevity; Han Gaozu Liu Bang's beloved consort, Mrs. Qi, was tragically killed by Empress Lu, the courtesan Jia Mou was also expelled from the palace, and the custom was introduced into the folklore.
In ancient times, the folk on the day of the custom of climbing high, so the Chongyang Festival is also known as the "high festival". It is rumored that this custom began in the Eastern Han Dynasty. There are many poems of the Tang Dynasty, most of which are about the customs of the Chongyang Festival; Du Fu's seven rhymes, "Ascending", is a famous piece of writing about the Chongyang Festival. There is no standardized rule on where to go, but generally it is to climb high mountains and towers. There is also the custom of eating "Chongyang cake". The delicate Chongyang cake should be made into nine layers, like a pagoda, the top is also made into two small sheep, in line with the meaning of Chongyang. 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.
Chongyang Festival, but also appreciate chrysanthemum drink chrysanthemum wine, originated in Tao Yuanming. Tao Yuanming famous for seclusion, famous for poetry, famous for wine, but also famous for love of chrysanthemums; the later followers of the example, so there is the custom of the Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum. In the old days, the scholars also combined chrysanthemum-appreciation with banquets and drinks, in order to get closer to Tao Yuanming. 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, chrysanthemum appreciation custom is particularly prosperous, and is not limited to September 9, but is still the most prosperous before and after the Chrysanthemum Festival.
The custom of inserting cornelian cherry on the Chongyang Festival, in the Tang Dynasty has been very common. Ancient people believe that in the Chongyang Festival this day insert cornelian cherry can take refuge from disasters; or wear in the arm, or as a bag of cornelian cherry on the inside of the belt, there are inserted in the head. Mostly women, children wear, some places, men also wear. Chrysanthemum Festival to wear cornelian cherry, in the Jin Dynasty Ge Hong "Western Scripture Miscellany" has been recorded.
In addition to wearing cornelian cherry on Chongyang Festival, also inserted chrysanthemums. This was already the case in the Tang Dynasty and has been practiced throughout the ages. During the Qing Dynasty, the custom of the Chongyang Festival in Beijing was to stick chrysanthemum branches and leaves on doors and windows, "to lift the evil, in order to attract good luck." This is a variation of the custom of hairpin chrysanthemum. Song Dynasty, there will be colored silk cut into cornelian cherry, chrysanthemum to give each other to wear.
With the development of the times, social progress, Chung Yeung Festival and endowed with new meaning, in addition to the original activities are still retained, and is designated as the Elderly Festival or Respect for the Elderly Festival. In addition to the wishes of the elderly, but also injected a lot of respect for the elderly to honor the substance of the connotation. Reflects a new social morality and new social customs, so that the ancient Chongyang Festival has gained a new life.