What is the Chinese lunar calendar's ninth day of the first month? What are the customs? The first month is the month when the new year begins, and each day is a special one with new luck. Let's take a look at Huayi Network's 2022 first month special!

What is the Chinese lunar calendar's ninth day of the first month?

The ninth day of the first lunar month is commonly known as "Heavenly King's Birthday," one of the traditional Chinese lunar festivals. It is the birthday of Jade Emperor, the highest deity in the heavens. The Heavenly King refers to the Jade Emperor, who is the supreme god governing all three realms. He is the highest deity overseeing all gods in the heavens and the earth, as well as all living beings on earth, representing the ultimate power of heaven. On this day, the traditional folk customs include women preparing incense, flowers, candles, and vegetarian dishes, placing them in open areas such as courtyards or alleyways to worship the sky, seeking blessings from the Heavenly King, reflecting the Chinese people's desire to eliminate evil, avoid disasters, and pray for good fortune.
In Chinese folk beliefs, the ninth day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the Jade Emperor, commonly known as "Jade Emperor's Assembly." It is said that on this day, all deities from heaven and earth will celebrate grandly. The Jade Emperor descends to the mortal world on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month to inspect various situations. Based on the morality of the people, he rewards the virtuous and punishes the wicked. On his birthday, the Jade Emperor returns to the heavenly court in the afternoon. At this time, Taoist temples hold grand ceremonies to celebrate. People hold festivals to honor the Jade Emperor, and from midnight until early morning, the sound of firecrackers can be heard continuously. On the ninth day of the first lunar month, temples hold the "Heaven Offering" ceremony. Because all the heavens follow the Buddha King's command to travel among humans, they assist the virtuous with compassion, reward the good, and punish the wicked. Therefore, people hold this ceremony to offer food to the Buddha, and recite scriptures, perform repentance, and provide pure food to offer to the Three Jewels of the Ten Directions and the protective deities of the world.

What are the customs?

Before offering sacrifices to the Heavenly King, all family members must fast and bathe to show respect. On the ninth day, it is forbidden for family members to hang clothes out to dry, especially women's pants, undergarments, or to empty the trash bin, as a sign of respect for the Jade Emperor. If sacrificial offerings require animals, only roosters should be used, not hens. If someone is returning a vow, they must use a whole pig or a whole sheep. Some devout families believe that offering sacrifices at home is not enough, so they go to temples dedicated to the Heavenly King overnight. For example, the Tian Tan on Zhongyi Road in Tainan, the Tian Gong Temple in Kaohsiung, and the Nanzhi Gong in Muzha, are all brightly lit and bustling on the eighth day of the first lunar month every year.