Moon-Cakes, Lanterns and Myths – The Chinese Moon Festival
Article by Pushpitha Wijesinghe
Tianjin is home to China's sixth largest population and is a raving metropolis and it is one of China's five national central cities. Tianjin is rich in historical and cultural heritage. Some of the many attractions that Tianjin has to offer are the Huangyaguan Pass of the Great Wall, the Dule Temple and the Panshan Mountain.
Dating back to the time of China's Shang Dynasty, well over 3000 years ago, the Zhongiu Festival or the Moon Festival is held on the 15th day of 8th lunar month on the Chinese calendar. Tianjin China comes alive every year with colour and wonder during this festival. The Moon Festival is one of the most important holidays in China. The festival has deep roots in Chinese folklore, as it is held to honor the Moon Goddess Chang'e.
Carrying lit lanterns in the most popular custom observed during the festival. Hundreds of Chinese march through streets carrying beautiful lanterns set alight. Another popular custom is to float sky lanterns, along with the collection and distribution of dandelion leaves. During the festival, Chinese families and friends gather to admire the full moon and eat moon cakes and pomelos. The moon cake is the traditional food of the festival. The history of the festival and how this wonderful event came into being is built around Chinese Moon Goddess Chang'e and her husband, Houyi.
Legend states that Houyi was an immortal and Chang'e was a young girl residing in the Palace of the Jade Emperor in Heaven. After being banished from Heaven by the Jade Emperor, the pair was forced to live on Earth. Houyi was forced to learn archery in order to hunt and provide sustenance to himself and his wife, and as a result, Houyi became a highly skilled archer.
During the days of Houyi and Chang'e, there were ten sun birds. Every day, one bird would fly around the Earth, providing warmth and light to the planet. On one particular day however, all ten birds began to circle the earth, setting the world on fire. The Emperor Yao called upon Houy! i to sho ot down nine of the ten birds so that the Earth would cease to burn. Being a skilled archer, Houyi complied and as a reward for his work, Emperor Yao awarded Houyi with a pill for eternal life. However, Yao asked Houyi not to drink the pill straightaway, but to stow it away and to take the pill after one year. Obeying orders, Houyi hid the pill, but it did not remain hidden for long for Chang'e came across the pill. After taking it, Chang'e began to float towards the sky and despite Houyi's efforts to prevent Chang'e from floating away further, the young woman floated to the moon where she coughed up part of the pill. Upon meeting the Jade Rabbit on the moon, Chang'e asked him to make her and antidote for the pill so that she could go back to her husband. As time passed, Houyi built himself a palace on the sun to balance with his wife's home on the moon. It is said that once a year, Houyi visits Chang'e on the moon, and a festival came into being to honor Houyi's visit to the moon.
The festival brings the streets of Tianjin to life with its colour, noise and activity. Visitors are welcome to take part in carrying lanterns and eating the traditional moon cakes that are available during the festivities. If you are considering being a part of the Moon Festival, a hotel in Tianjin which offers you good service and complies with your needs is important. Looking for a Tianjin hotel with top range facilities and service? Then the Raffles Tianjin is the ideal hotel for you.
About the AuthorPushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
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Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.
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