What are the legends of the Zhongyuan Festival?
Legend One of the Zhongyuan Festival:The 14th day of the seventh lunar month is the Zhongyuan Festival, also known as the Ghost Festival or the Ullambana Festival, which is a major festival for worshiping wandering spirits. The Zhongyuan Festival originated from Taoism, and later Buddhism changed it into what is now commonly called the Ghost Festival. In Indian language, "Ullambana" means "upside-down," referring to the story of Maudgalyayana, one of the ten disciples of the Buddha, whose mother was suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts after her death and could not eat anything. Later, she received help from the Buddha. She offered food and fruits to the gods and Buddhas of the ten directions and used the merits to save her mother. Therefore, now the custom of holding a mass offering ceremony for wandering spirits is held in the seventh lunar month, which is now called the Ghost Festival. Generally, in ancient times, people did not want to do important things like marriage during this month.
Legend Two of the Zhongyuan Festival:
According to legend, the origin of the Ghost Festival is related to the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, who is commonly known as "Yan Wang," the King of Hell. After his mother passed away, she went to the underworld and was locked up in a prison, suffering various torments in the eighteenth level of hell. Ksitigarbha, a filial son, felt unbearable when he saw his mother suffering. On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, he secretly let the jailers open the door and release his mother. However, this act caused the ghosts in the prison to rush out to the human world and cause trouble. That is why there is the saying "In the middle of July, ghosts run around." The ghosts that returned home asked their families for money to use for their lives and to hold rituals so they could be reborn soon. Later, this day was set as the "Ghost Festival." On the Ghost Festival, people burn paper money and offer food to honor the souls of their deceased relatives.
Can we say "Happy Ghost Festival"?
The Zhongyuan Festival is commonly known as the Ghost Festival, which is generally a time to commemorate ancestors and pay respects to the deceased. It is a festival for ghosts, so it is not appropriate to say "Happy Ghost Festival" to people.Moreover, it is best not to mention the word "ghost" on the Zhongyuan Festival, nor should you speak carelessly, especially avoiding words that are unlucky towards deities or ancestors!
The Zhongyuan Festival, also known as the Seventh Month Ancestral Worship Festival, is called Shigu, Ghost Festival, Zhai Gu, and the Earth Official Festival. Its customs mainly include ancestral worship, releasing river lanterns, worshipping the souls of the dead, and burning paper money. The Zhongyuan Festival evolved from the ancient "Seventh Month" harvest festival. The "Seventh Month" is a folk festival celebrating the harvest and thanking the earth. When several crops mature, people traditionally offer sacrifices, using new rice to worship ancestors and report the harvest, which is a cultural tradition of remembering ancestors, with its core being filial piety and respect for ancestors.
When should you not go out on the Zhongyuan Festival?
After 11 p.m.;It is not recommended to go out after 11 p.m. on the Zhongyuan Festival. This period is the Zi hour, the time when the yin energy is strongest in a day. According to legend, during this time, the wandering spirits and ghosts from the netherworld rush to the human world to find something to eat and drink. Especially on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, which is the day the Gate of Ghosts opens, it is the darkest day in terms of yin energy. It is generally believed that it is best not to go out on the Zhongyuan Festival to avoid encountering ghosts.
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