Title: Zhongyuan Festival
Tags:
- Zhongyuan Festival
- Ghost Festival
Excerpt: ''
Categories: - Random Thoughts
Abbrlink: 17944
Date: 2011-08-14 14:45:22
Today is Zhongyuan Festival.
The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is called Zhongyuan Festival, also known as Ghost Festival or Yulanpen Festival.
The grand events of Taoism throughout the year are divided into three parts (collectively known as the "Three Yuans"). They are considered as the birthdays of the three officials, namely the Celestial Official, the Earthly Official, and the Water Official. The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, and the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month are the birthdays of the Three Officials.
According to the records in Wuzazu, "The Taoist classics regard the fifteenth day of the first lunar month as Shangyuan (Upper Yuan), the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month as Zhongyuan (Middle Yuan), and the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month as Xiayuan (Lower Yuan)."
Shangyuan, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, is mainly for the ceremony of bestowing blessings.
Zhongyuan, on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, is for pardoning the sins of the deceased souls (the Zhongyuan ritual is to pardon the sins of the deceased souls, but it cannot completely absolve their sins, only alleviate them, hoping that they can rest in peace soon).
Xiayuan, on the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month, is for relieving the misfortunes of those who have made mistakes.
The Taoist scripture "The Scripture of the Three Officials of the Supreme Oneness" states, "The Celestial Official bestows blessings, the Earthly Official pardons sins, and the Water Official relieves misfortunes," and "all living beings are under the jurisdiction of the Celestial, Earthly, and Water Officials."
During Zhongyuan Festival, Taoist temples such as the Dianmen Huoshen Temple and the Baiyun Temple outside the Xibianmen Gate hold the "Prayer for Blessings and Auspiciousness Dharma Assembly" as usual, praying for "favorable weather and national peace."
Due to fear, the people combine Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in their daily lives, making the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month the Zhongyuan Festival, and the folk call the seventh lunar month the "Ghost Month."
After the introduction of Buddhism, Buddhists followed an Indian Buddhist ritual to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. On this day, Buddhists also hold a ceremony called "Ullambana" (in Indian language), which is also known as "Menglanhui" in Chinese.
The significance of Menglanpen is to hang upside down, symbolizing the suffering of life hanging like bats on a tree, unbearable suffering.
In order to free sentient beings from the suffering of hanging upside down, it is necessary to recite scriptures and offer food to the lonely souls and wandering ghosts.
This practice coincides with the worship of the Ghost Month in China, so the Zhongyuan Festival and Menglanhui have been passed down together.