The origin, legends, allusions, stories, customs and culture of Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival in China, and it is also called the four traditional festivals of Han nationality in China along with Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Qingming Festival. According to historical records, the ancient emperors had the ritual system of offering sacrifices to the sun in spring and the moon in autumn, and the word "Mid-Autumn Festival" first appeared in the book Zhou Li. 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 recorded the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th. The prevalence of Mid-Autumn Festival began in Song Dynasty. The festival is on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, which coincides with the half of Sanqiu, hence the name "Mid-Autumn Festival", also known as "Mid-Autumn Festival"; Because this festival is in autumn and August, it is also called "Autumn Festival", "August Festival" and "August Meeting". There is also a belief in praying for reunion and related festival activities, so it is also called "Reunion Festival" and "Daughter's Day". Because the main activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival are all around the moon, it is also commonly known as the Moon Festival, the Moon Festival, the Moon Festival, the Moon Festival and the Moon Festival. In the Tang Dynasty, Mid-Autumn Festival was also called "Correcting the Moon". About the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival, there are roughly three kinds: it originated from the worship of the moon in ancient times, the custom of singing and dancing under the moon to find a spouse, and it is the legacy of paying homage to the land god in ancient autumn.

Mid-Autumn Festival has been a national legal holiday since 28. The state attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On May 2, 26, this folk custom was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.

The word "Mid-Autumn Festival" first appeared in Zhou Li. According to the ancient Chinese calendar, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month is in the middle of August in autumn, so it is called "Mid-Autumn Festival". There are four seasons in a year, and each season is divided into three parts: Meng, Zhong and Ji. The second month in Sanqiu is called Mid-Autumn, so the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called "Mid-Autumn". 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 husband's house in the future, which is called the Reunion Festival.

With the continuous development of society, the ancients endowed the moon with many legends, from the toad in the middle of the moon to the jade rabbit, from Wu Gang's cutting Guangxi to the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon, and the rich imagination painted a beautiful scene of many-hued for the world of the Moon Palace. From the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, poets of Mohist poets chanted about the moon and its events in succession, and the full moon on August 15th became an excellent moment to express their feelings. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the official officially designated August 15th as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which was intended to be in the middle of Sanqiu, and all the people would celebrate it at that time. On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, the bright moon is in the sky, and the brightness is scattered all over the earth. People regard the full moon as a symbol of reunion and August 15th as the day for family reunion. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called "Reunion Festival".

Mid-Autumn Festival has become an important festival in a year, and it has a very subtle relationship with imperial examinations. In feudal society of our country, it has always been an important event that the rulers attach great importance to. And the once-every-three-year autumn competition is just scheduled to be held in August. When the scenery is combined with passion, people will regard those who take the exam in senior high school as those who win the laurels in the middle of the month. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, it must be celebrated solemnly, which has become an important custom of the people of the whole society. It has been popular for generations, and the Mid-Autumn Festival has gradually become one of the three major festivals of the Han nationality in China (Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival).

the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon

According to legend, in ancient times, there were ten suns in the sky one year, which made the earth smoke and the sea dried up, making it impossible for ordinary people to live any longer.

This incident alarmed a hero named Hou Yi. He climbed to the top of Kunlun Mountain, used his divine power, drew his bow, and shot down nine redundant suns in one breath.

Hou Yi made great achievements in the world and was respected and loved by the people. Many people with lofty ideals came here to study as a teacher. The treacherous and cunning Peng Meng also mixed in.

Soon, Hou Yi 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.

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 immediately ascend to heaven and become immortal.

However, Hou Yi could not bear to leave his wife, so he had to temporarily give the immortal medicine to Chang 'e. Chang 'e hid the medicine in the treasure box of the dresser, only to be seen by Peng Meng.

Three days later, Hou Yi led his followers out hunting, and Peng Meng, who had ulterior motives, pretended to be ill and stayed.

Shortly 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 into 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 had already escaped. I was so angry that Hou Yi beat his chest and screamed. The grief-stricken Hou Yi looked up at the night sky and called for the name of his beloved wife. At this time, he was surprised to find that today's moon is particularly bright and bright, and there is a swaying figure resembling Chang 'e.

Hou Yi hurriedly sent someone to Chang 'e's favorite back garden, set up a table incense, put on her favorite honey and fresh fruit, and offered a remote sacrifice 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.

This story of the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon praises and praises Chang 'e with a bright attitude and gorgeous colors. Compared with the records of Chang 'e in ancient documents, it can be seen that people have done a lot of processing and modification to the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon's story, so that the image of moths is as beautiful as the moon and conforms to people's pursuit of beauty.

Contrary to the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon, which is widely spread in modern times, Lingxian, a series of All Ancient Chinese Texts, records the story of "Chang 'e changed into a toad": "Chang 'e, his wife, stole the queen mother's immortal medicine and took it to the moon. Will go to, occupy the yellow. Huang Zhan-zhi said,' Ji, you will return to your sister, and you will sail west alone. When the sky is gloomy, you will not be surprised or afraid, but you will be prosperous later.' Chang 'e entrusted herself to the moon for the sake of toads. "After Chang 'e became a toad, she was punished all day in the moon palace and lived a lonely and miserable life. Li Shangyin once lamented Chang 'e in a poem:" Chang 'e should regret stealing the elixir, and stay awake at night. "

Japanese people don't eat moon cakes on the Mid-Autumn Festival

In Japan, the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month is called "the fifteenth night" or "the moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival". Japanese people also have the custom of enjoying the moon on this day, which is called "see you on the moon" in Japanese. The custom of enjoying the moon in Japan originated from China. After it was spread to Japan more than 1 years ago, the local custom of holding a banquet while enjoying the moon began to appear, which was called "Moon Watching Banquet". Unlike China people who eat moon cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Japanese people eat glutinous rice dumplings while enjoying the moon, which is called "seeing dumplings on the moon". Because this period is the harvest season of various crops, in order to express gratitude to nature, the Japanese will hold various celebrations. Although Japan abolished the lunar calendar and switched to the solar calendar after the Meiji Restoration, the custom of enjoying the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival is still maintained in all parts of Japan, and some temples and shrines hold special moon-watching parties during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival children play the leading role

With the approach of the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th of the lunar calendar, the "moon cake war" and "toy war" among merchants have made the festive atmosphere in various parts of Vietnam particularly strong. Unlike the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival features children playing the leading role. There are all kinds of moon cakes, colorful lanterns, colorful children's toys and other holiday foods and toys with different tastes in the market, and children's faces are full of longing for festivals. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, shops selling moon cakes along the streets of Hanoi, the capital, are red and green, red lanterns with the words "Moon Cake" are hung in front of the shops, and moon cakes of various brands are filled with shelves.

Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, lantern festivals are held all over Vietnam, and the design of lanterns is evaluated, and the winners will be rewarded. In addition, some places in Vietnam also organize lion dances during festivals, which are often held on the nights of August 14th and 15th of the lunar calendar. During festivals, local people sit on balconies and yards, or go out to the wild with their families, and put on moon cakes, fruits and other snacks, enjoying the moon and tasting delicious moon cakes. Children are carrying all kinds of lanterns and having fun in groups.

With the gradual improvement of Vietnamese people's living standards in recent years, the custom of the Millennium Mid-Autumn Festival has quietly changed. Many young people gather at festivals or at home, sing and dance, or go out together to enjoy the moon, so as to enhance the understanding and friendship between their peers. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam, in addition to the traditional family reunion accident, is adding new connotations and is gradually favored by young people.

Singapore: Mid-Autumn Festival also plays a "tourist card"

Singapore is a country where Chinese make up the vast majority of the population and has always attached great importance to the annual Mid-Autumn Festival. For Chinese in Singapore, Mid-Autumn Festival is a godsend opportunity to connect feelings and express gratitude. Friends, relatives and business partners exchange moon cakes to express greetings and wishes.

Singapore is a tourist city, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to attract tourists. Every year when the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the local famous Orchard Road, Singapore Riverside, Chinatown and Yuhua Garden are newly decorated. At night, the lights are on, and the whole street is red and exciting.

This Mid-Autumn Festival, a giant dragon lantern of Xiangyun, which is 3 meters long and 4.5 meters high, was made at a cost of 7, US dollars. Whenever night falls, the giant dragon lanterns with water spray shine all over the body, reflecting the river in Singapore in a fiery red, and the scene is spectacular. In Chinatown, a traditional Chinese settlement, besides the giant lanterns imported from Nepal, Vietnam and other countries, 44 little dragons consisting of 1,364 small red lanterns add a lot of color to Chinatown. The Royal Garden, which has the charm of an ancient Chinese garden in Singapore, is currently holding a large-scale dream lantern festival. There are not only the popular Disney series lighting, but also the huge Beijing Temple of Heaven and the dragon-shaped lighting, which is particularly eye-catching.

Malaysia, Philippines: Overseas Chinese don't forget Mid-Autumn Festival

Eating moon cakes, enjoying the moon and holding lanterns are Mid-Autumn Festival customs handed down from generation to generation by Chinese in Malaysia. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, time-honored merchants from all over Malaysia have launched various kinds of moon cakes. There are mooncake counters in all major shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, and mooncake advertisements in newspapers and TV stations are overwhelming, creating a festive atmosphere for celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. Chinese communities in some places in Kuala Lumpur recently held lantern-carrying parades to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Apart from dragon and lion dances, floats carrying Chang 'e and the Seven Fairys roamed among them, and artists and young people with bright costumes sang and danced, which was very lively.

Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival that overseas Chinese living in the Philippines attach great importance to. Chinatown in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, was very lively on the 27th, and local overseas Chinese held a two-day activity to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The main commercial streets in overseas Chinese communities are decorated with lanterns, the main intersections and the small bridges entering Chinatown are hung with colorful banners, and many shops sell various kinds of moon cakes made by themselves or imported from China. Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations include dragon dance parade, national costume parade, lantern parade and float parade, which attracted a large number of spectators and filled the historic Chinatown with a cheerful festive atmosphere.

Mid-Autumn Poems

Mid-Autumn Festival

(Tang) Li Pu

When the mirror rises in the sky, the fairy is silent;

a round of equal shares is full, and it is accompanied by thousands of miles of clouds;

The sly rabbit falls from the string, and the demon frog comes to life.

Lingcha plans to join hands with each other until the Milky Way is completely clear.

Playing with the Moon on the 15th of August

(Tang) Liu Yuxi

Tomorrow, the moon will wash the world again.

the summer is over, and the autumn is clear.

the stars shine, and the wind shines brilliantly.

it can change the world, and youran is the jade capital.

Su Shi

Su Shi

Su Shi

Su Shi

Su Shi

Su Shi

Su Shi

Su Shi

Su Shi. Drunk, writing this article, and pregnant.

when will there be a bright moon? I fetch the wine glass from afar.

I wonder what year it is tonight.

I want to go home by the wind, but I'm afraid of the beautiful buildings.

It's too cold at the top! Dancing and enjoying the shadow of the moon, which is in the world.

turn to Zhuge, low-lying households, and take photos without sleep.

there should be no hate. why should we be reconciled?

people have joys and sorrows, and the moon is full of ups and downs, which is an ancient and difficult matter.

I wish people a long life, and thousands of miles away.

Mid-Autumn Moon

(Song Dynasty) Su Shi

The twilight clouds are all overflowing and cold, and the silver man turns to the jade plate silently.

This night is not good in this life. Where can I see the bright moon next year?

Tai Chang Yin

(Song) Xin Qiji

A round of autumn shadows turned to golden waves, and the flying mirror was re-polished.

Ask Heng E about the wine: What can you do if you are deceived by white hair!

It's easy to go by the wind, Wan Li is in the sky,

Look down at the mountains and rivers. Go to Guangxi and dance. Humanity is more clear.

Clouds Chasing the Moon/Mid-Autumn Festival

(Contemporary)

Liu Zhou

Flowers fall at this time, and the moon is round

on earth and in the sky, singing and dancing

Phoenix birds are still in their nests, and there is no smoke

Lonely and beautiful.

there are thousands of lingering waves, and the sky is reflected on the bottom of the sea.

I hope that the moon will be peaceful for thousands of years without floating clouds.

I have the wind blowing, the water rippling and the song smoothing

Clouds hide hidden dragons, the moon hides in the cold palace

Clouds need to be dyed, the moon shines with halo

Clouds chase after the moon, the clouds cover the autumn sky

The moon is cold, and the clouds carry the breeze

Only then can we be happy, but also cause sorrow

Who can solve this worry? Who is the bosom friend?

and drink this cup, the language of * * * will rise.

It's like a dream when its moments are fleeting.

—— Write lyrics according to the music "Clouds Chasing the Moon"