Zhongyuan Festival, also known as ghost festival, is on the 15th of July in the lunar calendar every year, so it's also called July half. Zhongyuan Festival has a long history. What's the origin of Zhongyuan Festival? What's the legend? It's said that there are many taboos in Zhongyuan Festival. Let's have a look!
The origin and legend of Zhongyuan Festival
As a traditional Chinese festival, Zhongyuan Festival has a very long history. It originated in the Northern Wei Dynasty, also known as ghost festival, July half, Yulan basin society, etc. ancient people believed in ghosts and gods very much, so Zhongyuan Festival is also very valued, so it has been continued to this day.
Zhongyuan festival originated from Taoism, and later Buddhism was changed into the now commonly known Ghost Festival. In Hindi, Yulan Festival means "hanging upside down" and "hanging upside down" refers to the fact that the mother of Mulian, one of the ten disciples of Sakyamuni, suffered from starving ghosts and could not eat. Later, he got the help of Sakyamuni. The five fruits of Baiwei are used to support the ten gods and Buddhas and to save the mother by virtue. So now, in order to sacrifice the lonely soul, we hold the universal ferry meeting in July of the ghost moon lunar calendar, which is now called ghost festival.
Zhongyuan festival originated from the story of Mu Lian saving his mother: 'there are Mu Lian monks, who have great magic power. In his mother's depraved and hungry ghost Road, the entrance of food turns into a flame, and the hunger is too bitter. Mu Lian was unable to save her mother, so she asked Buddha for help. In order to speak of the Yulan basin Sutra, she taught to make the Yulan basin on July 15 to save her mother. 'it's said that after experiencing a lot of hardships in the underworld, Mu Lian saw his dead mother, Liu Shi, and found that she was tortured by a group of hungry ghosts. Mu Lian wanted to use a bowl of vegetables to feed her, but the hungry ghosts took away the vegetables. Mu Lian had to ask for help from the Buddha, who was moved by Mu Lian's filial piety and granted him the Yulan basin Sutra. According to the instructions, Mu Lian served his mother in a Yulan basin on July 15 of the lunar calendar. The starving mother finally got the food. In order to commemorate the filial piety of Mu Lian, every year Buddhists have a grand 'Yulan pot Festival', which we now call 'Ghost Festival'.
What's the taboo of Zhongyuan Festival
1. Hanging windbell on the head of the bed: windbell is easy to attract good brothers, while sleeping is the most vulnerable time to be 'invaded'.
2. Night tour: people with light eight characters should never swim at night, or they will only ask for trouble.
3. Non specific occasion burning paper: paper is burned to good brothers, gold paper is burned to God, the result of burning paper will only attract more good brothers.
4. Stealing sacrifices: These are the food belonging to good brothers. If you use them without their consent, you will only bring yourself unsolvable misfortunes.
5. Whistle: whistle at night. Be careful. Good brother likes you
6. Name calling: don't call out your name when you swim at night. Try to match it with the code to avoid being remembered by a good brother.
7. Swimming: at this time, the good brothers will play the game of ghost lifting feet with you. If you are not careful, your life will be carried away.
8. Random look: good brothers like to hide and scare people. In case they are scared, it's the best time for them to invade you.
9. The banyan tree is placed at the door of the house: because the banyan tree is the plant for gathering Yin, and it is also the favorite of good brothers, unless you want good brothers to come and sit at home.
10. Stay up late: the most popular time is in the late night, the most ghost gas is also in the late night, by contrast, who will win.
How many days does it take
The 15th day of July in the lunar calendar is the Zhongyuan Festival, but we need to pay attention to it both before and after this day.
In some places, especially in the south of China, it's July 14. It's said that the Mongols invaded a place in the late Song Dynasty and the residents spent the festival one day earlier to escape. In Taoism, it's called the Zhongyuan Festival. In Buddhism, it's called the Yulan basin Festival. In folk, it's called the ghost festival. In July half, it's called the August half by some Hakkas. The celebration of the festival starts from the first day of July of the lunar calendar and lasts for one month until July 30.
July 15 of the lunar calendar is the Chinese Yuan Festival. But in fact, from July 14 to 16, it's the day when the gates of hell open. The ghost door is open, so that ghosts who are free from the underworld can return to the sun and meet their relatives. From Buddhism, it is also the Buddha's compassion to open the gate of ghosts, so that many ghosts who are not willing can be completely free from the care and regret of the sun, can repent, can put down, and finally get rid of the sea of suffering. Therefore, in Buddhism, July 15 is called "Buddha happy day". In these days, respect is enough. Even if you don't believe in ghosts and gods, you can't criticize or slander them.