Mid Autumn Festival（Mid-Autumn Festival）Also known as "Moon Festival", "Autumn Festival", "Mid Autumn Festival", "August Festival", "August Meeting", "Moon Chasing Festival", "Moon Playing Festival", "Moon Worship Festival", "Daughter's Day", "Reunion Festival", it is a traditional cultural festival popular among many ethnic groups in China.It was named because it was just half of the third autumn.It is said that the moon is the largest, roundest and brightest this night.From ancient times to the present, people have the custom of feasting and appreciating the moon on the night of the Mid Autumn Festival. The daughter-in-law who returns to her parents' home is bound to return to her husband's home every day to symbolize completeness and happiness.[19][30][33]It originated in the ancient times, popularized in the Han Dynasty, shaped in the early Tang Dynasty, and prevailed after the Song Dynasty. It, together with the Spring Festival, the Tomb sweeping Day, and the Dragon Boat Festival, is known as China's four major traditional festivals.[16]The Mid Autumn Festival originates from the worship of the celestial phenomenaSacrificing the moonIt evolved.Since ancient times, the Mid Autumn Festival has had folk customs such as offering sacrifices to the moon, appreciating the moon, eating moon cakes, watching lanterns, appreciating osmanthus flowers, and drinking osmanthus wine.[9]
According to the "Rites of Zhou Dynasty", there were activities of "greeting the cold on the night of the Mid Autumn Festival" and "praying to the moon on the eve of the autumnal equinox" in the Zhou Dynasty;In the middle of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when autumn crops are harvested again, people hold a series of ceremonies and celebrations to thank the gods for their protection, called "Autumn News".In the Mid Autumn Festival, the temperature is cool but not cold. The sky is high and the air is cool. The moon is bright and the sky is high, which is the best time to watch the moon.Therefore, later, the element of offering sacrifices to the moon was gradually replaced by appreciating the moon, and the color of offering sacrifices gradually faded, while this festival continued and was given new meanings.During the Northern Song Dynasty, the 15th day of August was officially designated as the Mid Autumn Festival. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Mid Autumn Festival began to be as famous as the New Year's Day, becoming the second largest traditional festival in China after the Spring Festival.[32]After several transformations in thousands of years of inheritance, the spirit of "family reunion" has finally become the main cultural connotation of today's Mid Autumn Festival.[27]
On May 20, 2006, the Mid Autumn Festival was included in the first national intangible cultural heritage list by the State Council.[17]On January 1, 2008, the Mid Autumn Festival was listed by the State Council as Chinalegal holidays 。[18]
The Mid Autumn Festival is the Mid Autumn Festival. In the second month of autumn, it is marked by the full moon of 15. This day is in the middle of the three autumns, so it is called the Mid Autumn Festival.The moonlight on this night is brighter than usual, which is also called "Moonlight Night".Because the Mid Autumn Festival is in autumn and August, it is also called "Autumn Festival" and "August Festival";Because sacrificing and worshipping the moon are also called "Moon Festival" and "Moon Festival";The Mid Autumn Festival is also called "Reunion Day" or "Daughter's Day" because the family members get together and the married daughters go home for reunion;In mid autumn, all kinds of melons and fruits mature and come into the market, which is called "Fruit Festival".Dong people call it "Pumpkin Festival", Mulao people call it "Afterlife Festival", etc.People gather to admire the moon, offer sacrifices and celebrate the harvest in the Mid Autumn Festival.[3]
The Mid Autumn Festival is also known as the "end of the first month".The record of "Reunion Festival" was first seen in the literary works of the Ming Dynasty.In The History of West Lake Tour, it is said: "The 15th day of the eighth month is the Mid Autumn Festival, and people send moon cakes to each other, meaning reunion." In The Imperial View, it is also said: "On the 15th day of the eighth month, when offering sacrifices to the moon, the cake will be round, the melon will be divided, the teeth will be wrong, and the petals will be carved like lotus flowers....... If a woman returns to peace, she will return to her husband's home on the day, which is called the Reunion Festival."[3]
At first, the festival was held on the 24th solar term of the Ganzhi calendar, the autumnal equinox. Later, it was moved to the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar.According to the Chinese calendar, the eighth month of the lunar calendar is in the middle of autumn, the second month of autumn, called "Mid Autumn", and the fifteenth day of August is in the middle of "Mid Autumn", so it is called "Mid Autumn".[14]
Mid Autumn and Mid Autumn
The term "Mid Autumn Festival" was first found in "Zhou Li, Xia Guansima, Dasima": "The Mid Autumn Festival is to teach and govern the army." Now some people also write "Mid Autumn Festival", which is strictly called "Mid Autumn Festival".Because the concept of time represented by "Mid Autumn" is a whole month in the middle of autumn.The Collection of Ancient and Modern Books records the whole August of the lunar calendar with the "Mid Autumn Department", and the Mid Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the eighth month with the "Mid Autumn Department".In this regard, Xu Ju of the Ming Dynasty quoted the preface of Ouyang Zhan, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, in "Play with the Moon" in his book "The Origin of Things", which said: "Autumn comes at the time, summer comes after winter; August comes in autumn, season begins and ends. Fifteen days in the night, and the moon comes in the middle of the month. According to the law of heaven, the cold and heat are equal; taking the number of months, the toad and the rabbit are round, so it is called" Mid Autumn Festival ". This day is also called the Mid Autumn Festival, which is also called the Moon Evening."[30]
Mid-Autumn Festival
Historical evolution
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Origin of festivals
The Mid Autumn Festival is a combination of various customs and events, such as the moon on the eve of the emperor, the autumn society, the moon watching, and the legend of the moon palace. It originated in the Pre Qin Dynasty and was finalized in the Tang Dynasty.
The evening moon is the moon worshipped by the ancient emperor at the autumnal equinox.The Rites of the Zhou Dynasty, Spring Official Zongbo, Dianrui, Zheng Xuan's note: "The Son of Heaven always divides the sun in spring and the moon in autumn." Pei Yin's interpretation of the Chronicles of Filial Piety and Military Piety quoted Ying Shao's saying: "The Son of Heaven makes sun in spring, moon in autumn, and pays homage to the sun outside the east gate. The sun is the morning, and the moon is the evening." Now the Moon Altar in Beijing, formerly known as the Moon Altar, is the place where the Ming and Qing emperors worship the moon in autumn.
Because there is not necessarily a moon on the evening of the autumnal equinox, and the moon is not necessarily round, it would be a great eyesore, so people gradually put the autumnal equinox festival on the Mid Autumn Festival.
The Mid Autumn Festival in August is the harvest season. The ancients held a ceremony to worship the earth gods, called "Autumn News" and "Autumn Society".According to White Tiger Pass, "In the middle of the autumn, choose the first day and order the people's commune." The Divine Aid Deed says, "In the middle of the spring, pray for grain, in the middle of the autumn, harvest grain, and in the middle of the autumn, the newspapers offer sacrifices to the millet." "The Xiyue and the autumn commune can be regarded as the origins of the Mid Autumn Festival.[30]
Festival development
The Mid Autumn Festival was popular in the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty was a period of economic and cultural exchanges between the north and south of China, and the cultural exchanges between different regions were integrated and spread.According to records, in the Han Dynasty, there were activities of respecting and providing for the elderly on the Mid Autumn Festival or the beginning of the Autumn Festival, and giving male coarse cakes.In the Jin Dynasty, there were written records of the Mid Autumn Festival, but they were not very common.The Mid Autumn Festival was not popular in northern China before the Jin Dynasty.[11-12][15]
Popular in heyday
During the Tang Dynasty, the Mid Autumn Festival custom was popular in northern China.In the Tang Dynasty, the Mid Autumn Festival became a national festival officially recognized.《Tang script·Taizong Records records that "the Mid Autumn Festival on the 15th day of August".The custom of appreciating the moon in the Mid Autumn Festival was very popular in Chang'an area of the Tang Dynasty. Many famous poets have poems about the moon.And the Mid Autumn FestivalThe Goddess Chang's fly to the moon、Wu Gang attacked Guangxi、Yutu Tamping MedicineThe combination of fairy tales such as Yang Guifei's transformation into the moon god and Tang Minghuang's visit to the moon palace makes it full of romance, and the wind of playing the moon has just become popular.The Tang Dynasty was an important period for the blending and shaping of traditional festivals and customs, and its main part has been inherited to this day.[9][14]
During the Northern Song Dynasty, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month was officially designated as the "Mid Autumn Festival".In literary works, there is a seasonal food of "small cakes are like chewing the moon, with crispy and delicious".asMeng Yuanlao《Tokyo Dream Record》Said: "On the night of the Mid Autumn Festival, your family will decorate tables and pavilions, and people will compete to occupy restaurants and play the moon";Moreover, "the string is boiling again, and the residents near the city can hear the sound of Sheng Yu in the middle of the night, just like outside the clouds. In the middle of the night, children can get married overnight; in the night market, people can know everything about Piantian".[27]
Evolution to present
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the secular interest in festivals at the age of years became more and more strong.[13]In the activities of appreciating the moon in the Ming and Qing dynasties, "the fruit cakes must be round", and each family should set up a "moonlight position" to "worship the moon" at the direction of the rising moon.Lu Qihong《Beijing Suihuaji》"On the night of the Mid Autumn Festival, people have their own moon palace symbols, and the symbols are as free as people standing on them. Chen melons and fruits are in the court, and the cake surface is painted with moon palace toads. Men and women worship and burn incense, and burn them at once."《Scenery of Imperial Capital》It also says, "On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, when you sacrifice to the moon, the cake will be round, the melon will be divided into wrong teeth, and the petals will be carved like lotus flowers."
Up to now, eating moon cakes has become a necessary custom for Mid Autumn Festival in northern and southern China.Mooncakes symbolize reunion. People regard them as festival food, and use them to sacrifice the moon and give gifts to relatives and friends.In addition to moon cakes, all kinds of seasonal fresh and dried fruits are also delicious food on the Mid Autumn Festival night.[1]During the Mid Autumn Festival, there are few clouds and fog, and the moonlight is bright and bright. There are a series of festival activities among the people, such as appreciating the moon, offering sacrifices to the moon, eating moon cakes, eating sweet potatoes, carrying lanterns, dancing grass dragons, building trees in the Mid Autumn Festival, and building pagodas.[13]
Festival Folklore
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Traditional activities
Sacrifice to the moon (worship the moon)
Offering sacrifices to the moon is a very ancient custom in China, which is actually a worship activity of the ancients to the "moon god".In ancient times, there was a custom of "autumn evening and evening moon".Xiyue is to worship the moon god.Since ancient times, in some areas of Guangdong, people have the custom of worshipping the moon god (moon mother, moon light) on the Mid Autumn Festival night.To pay homage to the moon, a big incense table is set up, with moon cakes, watermelons, apples, red dates, plums, grapes and other offerings.Under the moon, place the "Moon God" memorial tablet in the direction of the moon, and the candles will burn high. The whole family will worship the moon in turn and pray for blessings.Offering sacrifices to the moon, appreciating the moon and remembering the moon express people's good wishes.As one of the important sacrificial rites of the Mid Autumn Festival, offering sacrifices to the moon has lasted since ancient times.[1]
Mid Autumn Festival Activities
admire the full moon
The custom of appreciating the moon in the Mid Autumn Festival was formally formed in the Tang Dynasty.According to "The Legacy of Kaiyuan Tianbao", on the night of August 15, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty prepared a banquet of wine and played the moon with all the scholars in the Forbidden City.Later, on August 15 every year, we would enjoy the moon as usual.In order to watch the moon with Concubine Yang, he also ordered to build a hundred zhang high platform on the west bank of Taiye Pool. Due to the outbreak of An Shi Rebellion, it was not completed.Since Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, a large number of Mid Autumn Moon chanting poems have appeared.For example, Bai Juyi, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, said in "Watching the Moon at the Penting on the 15th of August": "Where is the place to look at the hometown in the northwest? How many times will the moon be round in the southeast?" Wei Zhuang's "Send Li Xiucai back to Jingxi" said: "The moon is full in the mid autumn of August, and send you to the magnolia boat." Sikongtu's "Mid autumn" said: "If there is no moon on this night, the autumn will pass in vain for a year." Su Dongpo's "Water Melody Head" of the Northern Song Dynasty said: "When will the moon be bright?Ask the sky about the wine. "They are all beautiful lines about the Mid Autumn Festival.Not only did the literati appreciate and chant the moon, but the common people also "watched the dew from thousands of homes and felt the sky was clear from thousands of miles".The custom of appreciating the moon on the Mid Autumn Festival was very popular in the Song Dynasty."Before the Mid Autumn Festival, all stores were selling new wine, making new appearances, colorful buildings, flower heads, painted poles, and drunken immortal brocade banners. People in the city struggled to drink until late afternoon... On the Mid Autumn night, your family tied decorations and pavilions, and people competed to occupy the taverns and play with the moon... Children played all night long, and the night market was full of people."[30]
Mid Autumn Moon Appreciation
Chasing the moon
The so-called "chasing the moon" means that after the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, there is still a lot of fun. So the next night, many people invited relatives and friends to continue to enjoy the moon, called "chasing the moon".According to the preface of the Lingnan Miscellaneous Notes by Chen Zihou, a native of the Qing Dynasty, "Those who do good deeds in central Guangdong, on the 16th night of August, gather relatives and friends to drink, eat, and enjoy the moon, which is called chasing the moon."
Riddle
On the night of the full moon on the Mid Autumn Festival, many lanterns were hung in public places. People gathered together and guessed what was written on the lanternsRiddle, because it is a favorite activity of most young men and women, and love stories also spread on these activities, so guess the Mid Autumn FestivalLantern riddleIt also derived a form of love between men and women.
Eating mooncakes
Moon cakes, also known as moon cakes, harvest cakes, palace cakes, reunion cakes, etc., are the ancient Mid Autumn Festival tribute to the moon god.At first, mooncakes were used to offer sacrifices to the moon god. Later, people gradually took the Mid Autumn Festival moon watching and tasting mooncakes as a symbol of family reunion.Mooncakes symbolize reunion. People regard them as festival food, and use them to sacrifice the moon and give gifts to relatives and friends.Up to now, eating moon cakes has become a necessary custom for people across China to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival. On this day, people eat moon cakes to show their "reunion".[31]
People often eat moon cakes to appreciate osmanthus flowers during the Mid Autumn Festival, and eat all kinds of food made of osmanthus flowers, especially cakes and sweets.On the night of the Mid Autumn Festival, looking up at the mid moon osmanthus, smelling bursts of osmanthus fragrance, drinking a cup of osmanthus wine, and celebrating the sweetness of the family have become a beautiful enjoyment of the festival.In modern times, people often use red wine instead.
Local characteristics
Huguang Lamp
On the night of the Mid Autumn Festival, it is a custom to light lanterns to help the moon.Nowadays, there is still the custom of building towers with tiles and lighting lanterns on them in Huguang area.In Jiangnan area, there is a custom of making lightboats.In modern times, the custom of lighting lanterns became more popular.Today's Zhou Yunjin and Concubine He Xiangfei said in their article, "There are most lanterns in Guangdong. Every family ties lanterns with bamboo strips ten days before the festival. They make fruit, birds and animals, fish and insects, and words like 'Celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival'. They paste colored paper and paint all kinds of colors.The internal combustion candle of the Mid Autumn Festival night light is tied to a bamboo pole with a rope, and is erected high on the tile eaves or terrace, or is built into a shape or various shapes with a small light, and hung on the high place of the house, commonly known as the 'Mid Autumn Festival in Trees' or' Mid Autumn Festival in Upright '.The lamp hanging from a rich and noble family can be as high as ten feet. Family members gather under the lamp to enjoy themselves. Ordinary people put up a flagpole and two lanterns to enjoy themselves.The city full of lights is like a world of colored glaze. "The custom of burning lanterns in the Mid Autumn Festival seems to be second only to the Lantern Festival in scale.[28]
Tide watching in Zhejiang
In ancient times, in addition to watching the moon in the Mid Autumn Festival, watching the tide in Zhejiang was another Mid Autumn Festival event.The custom of watching the tide on the Mid Autumn Festival has a long history, which dates back to Mei Cheng in the Han Dynasty《Seven hair》Fu has a fairly detailed description.After the Han Dynasty, the Mid Autumn Festival became more popular.brightZhu Tinghuan《Add old stories of Wulin》And Song and Wu self herding《Dream Liang Record》There are also records of tide watching.
Mid Autumn Festival in Guangdong
In some parts of Guangdong, there is a traditional and interesting custom called "Tree Mid Autumn Festival".The tree also stands up, which means that the lights will stand up, so it is also called "Vertical Mid Autumn Festival".Children, with the help of their parents, tie bamboo paper into bunny lamps, carambola lamps or square lamps, hang them horizontally in a short pole, and then erect them on a high pole. They hold them high and shine with colorful light, adding another scene to the Mid Autumn Festival.Children often compete with each other to see who can stand tall, stand more, and have the most exquisite lights.At night, the city lights, like stars, compete with the bright moon in the sky to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival.
Shuo Lu Zi
"Shuo Lu Zai" was a popular children's game in the Mid Autumn Festival in the past. It was carved with pomelo shells and hung with lights in the middle. Children walked along the street with groups of amusement, or with lights in the shape of various animals and fruits, singing "Shuo Lu Song": "Shuo Lu Zai, Shuo Lu Zai, light the lights.People who know how to be literate value literate. Reading is the first thing in the world. Don't say that articles are useless. Gu Yun is worth a thousand gold words. There are noble people in his own books... "The children dispersed after enjoying themselves and went home to eat moon cakes and fruits.
Tie a lantern
In ancient times, when the Mid Autumn Festival was approaching in Guangdong, children, with the help of their parents, tied bamboo paper into bunny lamps, carambola lamps or square lamps.In addition, many children will tie lanterns with fruit skins.In addition, there are papaya lights, banana lights, etc. The most simple is the "pomelo skin light", which can be done by almost every child.In addition to being used for "Mid Autumn Festival in the tree", there are more couples holding lanterns to watch the moon.
Liangguang Lantern
Mid Autumn Festival, there are many games and activities, the first is playing lanterns.The Mid Autumn Festival is one of the three Lantern Festivals in China.Of course, the Mid Autumn Festival is not likethe lantern festivalIn such a large light show, playing with lights is mainly between families and children.As early as the Northern Song Dynasty《Old events in Wulin》In the record of the Mid Autumn Festival custom, there is an activity of putting the "little red" light into the river to float and play.Mid Autumn Festival lanterns are mostly played in the south.asAutumn in FoshanAt the meeting, there were all kinds of colorful lights, which was amazing.In Nanning, Guangxi, in addition to making various kinds of lanterns with paper bamboo for children to play, there are also very simplePomelo lamp, pumpkin lantern, orange lantern.There are simple household autumn lanterns in Guangxi, which are made of six bamboo strip circles, pasted with white gauze on the outside and inserted with candles. They are hung beside the moon sacrificing table for sacrificing the moon, and can also be played by children.Nowadays, in many areas of Guangdong and Guangxi, lantern shows are arranged on the Mid Autumn Festival night, and large modern lanterns lit by electric lights are made, as well as various new lanterns made of plastic for children to play with, but they lack the simple beauty of the old lanterns.
Jiangsu Shaodouxiang
In Jiangsu, Douxiang is burned on the night of Mid Autumn Festival.The incense bucket is covered with gauze and painted with the view of the moon palace.There are also joss sticks woven with incense sticks, on which paper bound kuixing stars and colored banners are inserted.Shanghai people also have the custom of burning incense and fighting.
Chaoshan Ancestor Worship
The custom of the Mid Autumn Festival in Chaoshan, Guangdong.In the afternoon of the Mid Autumn Festival, every family hall will set up a stage to offer sacrifices, place the main card of the ancestor god, and offer various offerings.After the sacrifice, cook the sacrifice one by one and have a big dinner with the family.[4]
Fire dragon dance is the most traditional custom of Hong Kong Mid Autumn Festival.From the evening of August 14 of the lunar calendar each year, the Dakeng area of Causeway Bay has held a grand fire dragon dance for three consecutive nights.The fire dragon is more than 70 meters long. It is made of 32 sections of pearl grass and is filled with longevity fragrance.On the night of the festival, the streets and alleys in this area are full of winding and undulating fire dragons dancing happily under the lights and dragon drum music, which is very lively.
Listening to incense is an ancient Mid Autumn custom in Taiwan.In ancient times, young girls who wanted to get a good wife first burned incense in front of the gods at home, told their worries, and asked the gods to indicate the direction of listening to the incense. Then they remembered the first sentence they overheard on the way according to the direction, and threw bamboo shoots at home to judge the good or bad fortune of the divination.For example, when Bu Zhan ends his life with a big event, if he hears that he eats cookies or flowers and the moon is full, it means good luck and a happy event is near.
The Mid Autumn Festival lantern is different from the Lantern Festival lantern.The Mid Autumn Festival lights pagoda lanterns, which are popular mainly in the south.The pagoda lamp is a lamp shaped like a pagoda, which is picked up by village children.In the Qing Dynasty, the villagers in Suzhou built a seven level pagoda with tiles in the wilderness. The middle was for the King of Land and Tibet, and the surrounding area was lit with lights, which was called "tower lights".Guangzhou children burn "fanta lamps" with broken tiles;There are also pomelo skin lamps, which use red pomelo skin to carve various figures, flowers and plants. A glass lamp is placed in the middle, and the red light shines everywhere.In addition, the game of burning tile lamp (or burning flower tower, burning tile tower, burning fan tower) is also widely spread in the south, and has spread in Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places.For example, in the fifth chapter of the National Customs Annals of China: "On the Mid Autumn Festival night in Jiangxi, children usually pick up tiles in the field and pile them into a round tower with many holes. At dusk, they put them in a wood tower under the bright moon and burn them. When the tiles burn red, they pour kerosene on the fire and add fuel to the fire. Suddenly, the fields are red and shine like the day. Until late at night, no one can watch them, and they start to pour their breath. It is called a tile burning lamp".The burning tile tower in Chaozhou, Guangdong, is also a hollow tower made of bricks and tiles, filled with branches and burned.At the same time, smoke piles are also burned, that is, grass and firewood are piled up and burned after the end of the month worship.The Shaofan Tower in the border area of Guangxi is similar to this activity.Also in Jinjiang, Fujian“Burning towerZai "activities.
Mid Autumn Feast Custom
In ancient China, the royal court was the most refined and elegant in the Mid Autumn Festival banquet custom.As in the court of the Ming DynastyCrab。After the crabs are steamed in cattail bags, people sit around and taste them, accompanied by wine and vinegar.Drink Su Ye soup after eating and wash your hands with it.The banquet table area is full of flowers, pomegranates and other fresh things to perform the myth and drama of the Mid Autumn Festival.In most Qing palaces, a screen is placed in the east of a courtyard, and it is placed on both sidesCelosia, edamame technology, taro, peanut, radish, fresh lotus root.One in front of the screenSquare tableOn the top is a huge moon cake, surrounded by cakes and fruits.After sacrificing the moon, the royal population cut the moon cake into several pieces, and each person took a symbolic taste, which is called "eating reunion cake".The size of Qinggong mooncakes is unimaginable.Like the last emperor Pu Yi who rewarded the minister in charge of internal affairsShaoyingOne of the mooncakes is "about two feet in diameter and about twenty jin in weight".
Play with rabbit master
Playing with rabbit master is a Mid Autumn custom popular in northern China.The Mid Autumn Festival custom of playing rabbit master started around the end of the Ming Dynasty.During the Mid Autumn Festival in "Old Beijing", in addition to eating moon cakes, there is also a custom for the rabbit master.The "rabbit master" is a rabbit with a head and a body. He is armoured, wears a protective flag, sits or stands, smashes a pestle or rides a beast, and has two big ears.At first, "Master Rabbit" was used to worship the moon during the Mid Autumn Festival.By the Qing Dynasty, "rabbit master" was gradually transformed into children's Mid Autumn Festival toys.[10]
MingrenJi KunThe Remaining Draft of Huawang Pavilion: "The Mid Autumn Festival in Beijing is mostly in the shape of a rabbit made of mud, dressed like a man, and worshipped by children."the Qing dynasty，rabbitIts function has changed from sacrificing the moon to children's Mid Autumn Festival toys.The rabbit master is made of mud. The rabbit has a head and a body, with armour, a flag on its back, a face covered with gold mud, and a body painted with colored paint. He sits or stands, pestles or rides animals. He has two big ears, which is solemn and harmonious.Yanjing Chronicle of the Year: "Every Mid Autumn Festival, people who are skillful in the city use loess to make a toad rabbit for sale, which is called" Rabbit God ". The court of the Qing Dynasty called the Jade Rabbit in the middle of the month" Taiyin King ".However, people in Beijing call it "Rabbit Lord".In the folk customs around Beijing, the Mid Autumn Festival is not solemn enough to offer sacrifices to rabbit masters, but more games.[5]
ethnic flavor
Mongolian
Mongolians love to play the game of "chasing the moon".People step on the steed and gallop on the grassland under the silver moonlight.They galloped toward the west, and the moon rose from the east and fell to the west.Persistent Mongolian riders will not stop chasing the moon until it sets in the west.
the zang or tibetan people
The custom for Tibetan compatriots in some areas of Tibet to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival is to "look for the moon".That night, young men and women and children, along the river, followed the reflection of the bright moon in the water, covered the moon shadows in the surrounding ponds, and then went home to eat moon cakes.
Dong nationality in Guangxi
The Dong nationality in Guangxi has the custom of "walking on the moon".On the Mid Autumn night, the Lusheng song and dance teams of each mountain stronghold followed the moonlight all the way to the nearby mountain stronghold, where they gathered with the villagers to enjoy the moon, singing and dancing, and had a long night of fun.
De'ang nationality in Yunnan
YunnanDe'ang nationality“Cross the moon”。The young men and women of the De'ang nationality in Luxi, Yunnan Province, when the Mid Autumn Moon is high and particularly bright, from time to time, a melodious and beautiful hulusheng comes from the top of the mountain. The young men and women together "string the moon" to talk about their feelings.Some also send betelnut and tea to make an engagement by "stringing the moon".
Yi people in Yunnan
The traditional custom of the Yi people in Yunnan for the Mid Autumn Festival is“moon dance”。At night, men, women, old and young in all villages of the ethnic group gathered in the open area of the village. Girls with waist drapes and boys with head bandages, as well as old men, old women and young children, all sang and danced enthusiastically, especially the duets of young men and women expressing their love. It seemed that the moon was also moved by them, becoming more charming and bright.
Gelao nationality
Gelao nationalityBefore the festival“Tiger Day”The whole village slaughtered a bull together and left the heart of the bull for the Mid Autumn Festival night to worship the ancestors and welcome the New Valley. They called it the "August Festival".
the Korean nationality
The Korean people use wooden poles and pine branches to build the "Moon Watching Frame".When the moon rises, please ask several elected old people to climb up to the moon watching frame.After the old man looks at the moon, he lights the moon watching frame, plays the long drum, blows the flute, and dances the "Peasant Music Dance" together.
Zhuang nationality in western Guangxi
The activity of "offering sacrifices to the moon and inviting gods" of Zhuang people in western Guangxi is more typical. Every year, in the middle of August of the lunar calendar, some people set up a sacrificial table in the open air at the head and tail of the village for offering sacrifices and incense burners. On the right side of the table, there is a tree branch or bamboo branch about a foot high, which symbolizes the tree and also serves as a ladder for the moon god to go down to earth and heaven. Here, the ancient moon myth factors are preserved.The whole activity is divided into: invite the moon god to come down to earth, and one or two women will be the spokesmen of the moon god;God man duet;The moon god divines;Singers sing the song of sending the god's curse and send the moon god back to heaven in four stages.
Li nationality
Li nationalityCall Mid Autumn Festival“August Meeting”Or“Tonal stanza”。At that time, each market town will hold a song and dance party, and each village will be led by a "Tiaosheng Tou" (i.e. the leader) to participate in the party. They will give each other moon cakes, fragrant cakes, sweet cakes, flower scarves, color fans and vests, which will flow in groups.At night, they gathered by the fire, roasted game, drank rice wine, and sang duets. Unmarried young people took the opportunity to find future partners.
In Korean, it is called "추석 (Autumn Eve)", "중추추추 Example (Mid Autumn Festival)", "가추 Dialog Box (Mid Autumn Festival)" "가추 Dialog Box (Mid Autumn Festival)" "중추가 Example (Mid Autumn Festival)".It is the day to visit the tomb and offer sacrifices to ancestors with newly harvested grains and fruits.It is also a custom to return home to visit relatives and send gifts to relatives and friends.Therefore, the Mid Autumn Festival on the Korean Peninsula is also called "South Korea" in EnglishThanksgiving”（Korean Thanksgiving Day）。[6]
Vietnam?
Mid Autumn Festival is also a festival for Vietnamese children.That night, the children listened to the legend of Ah Gui, went to see the lion dance, and some got their father to buy him a lion for lion dance to play with friends.Vietnamese children will carry carp and fish lanterns to play on Mid Autumn night, which also indicates that they will grow up“Jumping Dragon Gate”Meaning.
Japan
The traditional Mid Autumn Festival in Japan is called the Fifteen Nights, also known as the Mid Autumn Moon and the Taro Moon.The Japanese eat rice dumplings when enjoying the moon, which is called "moon dumplings".Since this period is the harvest season of various crops, the Japanese will hold various celebrations to express their gratitude for the natural benefits.The Japanese also appreciate the moon, which is called "moon seeing". The house will display moon watching dumplings, mango grass, taro, etc.[7]
Singapore
Singapore is a country where Chinese people account for the vast majority of the population, and has always attached great importance to the annual Mid Autumn Festival.For Chinese in Singapore, the Mid Autumn Festival is a heaven sent opportunity to connect and express gratitude.Relatives, friends and business partners present moon cakes to each other to express greetings and wishes.[8]
Malaysia
Eating mooncakes, appreciating the mooncarry the lantern aroundParade is a Mid Autumn custom passed down from generation to generation by Malaysian Chinese.As the Mid Autumn Festival approaches, time-honored businessmen all over Malaysia have launched various mooncakes.capitalKuala LumpurEach major shopping mall in the city has a mooncake counter. Newspapers and television stations are flooded with advertisements for mooncakes, creating a festive atmosphere for the Mid Autumn Festival.Chinese associations in some places in Kuala Lumpur are currently holding lantern parades to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival. In addition to dragon and lion dances, floats carrying "Chang'e" and "Seven Fairies" roam through the festival, and artists and young people in bright costumes sing and dance.
the Philippines
The Mid Autumn Festival is a traditional festival that overseas Chinese living in the Philippines attach great importance to.The Chinatown in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is very busy. The local overseas Chinese held activities to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival.The main commercial streets in the areas where overseas Chinese live are decorated with lanterns. Colorful banners are hung on the main intersections and the small bridges that enter Chinatown. Many stores sell homemade or imported moon cakes.Mid Autumn Festival celebrations include dragon dance parade, national costume parade, lantern parade and float parade.[8]
Intangible Cultural Heritage Project
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National intangible cultural heritage
batch
entry name
Declaration area/unit
reference material
First batch
Mid-Autumn Festival
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
[19]
The second batch
Mid Autumn Festival (Mid Autumn cake)
Xiamen, Fujian Province
[20]
The second batch
Mid Autumn Festival (autumn in Foshan)
Foshan City, Guangdong Province
[21]
The third batch
Mid Autumn Festival (Zezhou Mid Autumn Festival custom)
Zezhou County, Shanxi Province
[22]
The third batch
Mid Autumn Festival (Autumn Eve)
Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province
[23]
The third batch
Mid Autumn Festival (Fire Dragon Dance in Dakeng)
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
[24]
The fourth batch
Mid Autumn Festival (Korean Autumn Festival)
Tieling City, Liaoning Province
[25]
The fourth batch
Mid Autumn Festival (the custom of burning pagodas in Ji'an)
Anfu County, Jiangxi Province
[26]
Folklore
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Myth Story
The Goddess Chang's fly to the moon
The myth of "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" originated from ancient people's worship of stars. The story of Chang'e Flying to the Moon first appeared in《Return to Tibet》。Later, folk stories were further developed into multiple story versions.Chang'e went to the moon palace. According to Huainanzi in the Western Han Dynasty, it was because she stole the elixir that her husband Hou Yi asked for from the Queen Mother of the West. She flew into the moon palace and became a toad to pound medicine.[5]
The Goddess Chang's fly to the moon
Wu Gang attacked Guangxi
Wu Gang went to the moon palace to win the laurel. According to the novel Youyang Zazu of the Tang Dynasty, it was because Wu Gang, who was in the west, made a mistake, that he was punished to cut osmanthus trees in the middle of the month.The cinnamon tree grows as it is cut, and will never be cut again.[5]Li Bai wrote in his poem "To Cui Sihu Wenkunji": "If you want to carve the laurel in the middle of the month, you will be paid by those who are cold."
Wu Gang attacked Guangxi
Yutu Tamping Medicine
The rabbit went to the moon palace to stamp medicine, which was first seen in Qu Yuan's Tianwen, "What are the benefits of Jue, while Gu and Dou are in the stomach?".It means that Gu and Tu are in the belly of the moon. What's good for the moon?How did the rabbit get to the moon palace?Gu is a toad, and dodder is a white rabbit.Fu Xuan of the Jin Dynasty also said in his "Quasi Tianwen": "What happens in the middle of the month? White rabbits pound medicine." According to Mr. Wen Yiduo's research, this "white rabbits pound medicine" was changed from "toad pound medicine".[5]
Chang'e has aJade Hare。It is said that Chang'e's body became lighter, and when she began to fly, she picked up the white rabbit she had been feeding in fear.The white rabbit followed her to the moon.The Jade Rabbit has a pestle in the Moon Palace. At nightMedicine mortarIt is the elixir of immortality.When this myth was spread to Japan, it became a rabbit pounding rice cakes.
Yutu Tamping Medicine
Unofficial folk history
Tang Wang's Moonlight Tour
Legend has it thattang xunzongWatching the moon with Shen Tianshi and Taoist Hongdu during the Mid Autumn Festival, Xuanzong suddenly started the idea of touring the Moon Palace, so the Tianshi did it, and the three of them walked up to Qingyun together, roaming the Moon Palace.However, there are heavy guards in front of the palace, so you can't enter it. You can only overlook the Chang'an Imperial City from outside.At this time, I suddenly heard the sounds of immortals. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was familiar with the music, so he remembered it by heart.This is exactly: "This song should only be heard in the sky, and it can be heard several times in the world!" Later, Xuanzong recalled the music and songs of the Moon Palace Fairy, composed his own music and dance, and created the famous《Nishang Feather Clothes Song》。
Tang Wang's Moonlight Tour
Mooncake uprising
It is said that eating moon cakes on the Mid Autumn Festival began in the Yuan Dynasty.It is said that at that time, the majority of people in the Central Plains could not bear the cruel rule of the ruling class of the Yuan Dynasty and revolted against the Yuan Dynasty.Zhu Yuanzhang united all rebel forces to prepare for the uprising.However, the court officers and soldiers searched very closely, and it was very difficult to convey information.Military adviser Liu Bowen came up with a plan and ordered his subordinates to hide the note containing the "August 15th Night Uprising" in the cake, and then sent people to send it to the local uprising army separately, informing them to respond to the uprising on August 15th night.On the day of the uprising, all the rebel armies responded together.
Soon, Xu Da captured Yuan Dadu and the uprising was successful.When the news came, Zhu Yuanzhang was so happy that he hurriedly passed on an oral order to let all the officers and men enjoy the coming Mid Autumn Festival with the people, and gave the "moon cake", which was used as a secret message when the troops were launched, to the officials as a seasonal cake.Since then, the production of "moon cakes" has become more sophisticated and diversified.Then the custom of eating moon cakes on the Mid Autumn Festival spread among the people.
Festival Meaning
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The biggest feature of the Mid Autumn Festival is to place the good wishes of people and nature in the sky.The Mid Autumn Festival is the season of agricultural harvest. Moon cakes and fruits are not only the medium of worship, but also the specific symbol of people's good mood to celebrate the harvest.While people pursue the beautiful scenery of happy life and full moon, they also strengthen their kinship relationship. Therefore, this traditional festival is of great value for building a harmonious society.At the same time, the Mid Autumn Festival is a happy and lively festival. Although its advocating content is fading, entertainment, festival food and other activities are still quite active.[19]
The formation and development of festivals and their folk activities are the result of the joint action of political policies, belief culture, folk economy and other factors in a certain period.It not only reflects the thinking mode and aesthetic taste of a nation or a group, but also is an important mechanism to deepen ethnic ties and continue national culture.The evolution of festivals and the changing process of various customs and symbols are of great significance for us to deeply understand the connotation of Chinese culture and strengthen the sense of national community.[27]
The above is only a part of the content. Because there are many poems, they are no longer displayed
Some references:[29]
ballad
There are many folk songs and nursery rhymes about the Mid Autumn Festival, such as "Moon Worship Mother", "Chairwoman", "Mid Autumn Moon Worship Song", "Moon Worship Girl", "Family Moon Worship"《Mid Autumn Night》, Sister Moon《Moonlight》, Moon Cake;Taiwan folk song "Mid Autumn Festival Travel"《Homesickness on a moonlit night》, suffering, etc.
proverb
July 15Ghost Festival, August 15 People's Day (Zhangjiakou)
In August, October and May, just to the south, fruits and pomegranates are all on the table (Xingtai)
Men don't worship the moon, women don't worship the kitchen (Shijiazhuang)
Eating moon cakes in disorder will kill your father-in-law (Jixian County, Jixian County custom: the new daughter-in-law will spend the Mid Autumn Festival in her husband's home for several consecutive years in the first year, and the same is true in her parents' home, otherwise, you can eat moon cakes in disorder)
Back to Hong Kong Steak in MayDragon BoatIn June, the harvest is rich, and in July, the paper is burnedYulan FestivalIn August, earn money to buy cakes and taste the Mid Autumn Festival (Maoming)
Not enough in winter, not enough in summer, not enough in August 15 (Guangzhou, Mid Autumn Festival, rich fruit supply)
Those who stopped working on August 15, winter solstice festival, teaching (in Shanxi, workers stopped working on the Mid Autumn Festival, and teachers were invited to dinner on the winter solstice)
In the Mid Autumn Festival, we can feel the autumn (Tujia in western Hubei)
In August, picking pomelos and hugging melons is not stealing. (Touching autumn: custom, stealing other people's pastoral fruits on a moonlit night is not considered stealing. It is commonly believed that the mother who gave birth to a child will go down to earth this day, so married women who have not given birth can have children early if they are not found touching autumn.)
Eating mooncakes on the 15th of August - a festival delicacy
Celebration on August 15 -- Reunion for People and Months
Birth on August 15 -- It's time for the festival
Look at osmanthus flowers on the 15th day of August - a happy life
Eating New Year Cake on August 15 -- It's still early
Watching lanterns on August 15 - half a year late
Celebrating the Chinese New Year on the 15th of August - poor solar terms
Holiday
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Since 2008, the Mid Autumn Festival has been listed as a legal holiday in mainland China. If the day coincides with Saturday and Sunday, the next Monday will be off.[2]
Mainland China
Mid Autumn Festival
Basis document
From September 19 to 21, 2021, there will be 3 days off in lieu.Go to work on September 18 (Saturday).
In Taiwan, there is one day off on the day of the Mid Autumn Festival. If it overlaps with Saturday and Sunday, there will be no additional compensatory leave. However, if it is only one working day away from the weekly holiday, the working day will be changed to a holiday, and another Saturday will be chosen to make up classes.
Hong Kong, China
The official Mid Autumn Festival in Hong Kong is on August 16 of the lunar calendar (Mid Autumn FestivalThe next day）。If it happens to be a Sunday, make up a day off on Monday;If there is a Saturday, there is no compensatory leave.
the republic of korea
South Korea lists the Mid Autumn Festival as a legal holiday, with a three-day holiday.
Cultural relics protection
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On October 31, 2023, the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Project Protection Units was announced, and the Mid Autumn Festival project protection units were evaluated by the Ministry of Culture and TourismGrid.[35]
