Double Ninth Festival: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Traditional Chinese holiday}}

'''Double Ninth Festival''' (重九) dated on the ninth day of the ninth month in [[Chinese calendar]], is a [[traditonal Chinese holidays]], mentioned in writing since before the [[East Han]] period.

{{Infobox holiday

| holiday_name = Double Ninth Festival

| image = Chai Wan Cemetery Hong Kong Double Ninth Festival 01.jpg

| caption = Chai Wan Cemetery, Hong Kong, 2015

| observedby = [[Han Chinese|Chinese]], [[Japanese people|Japanese]], [[Korean people|Koreans]]<ref name="Roy"/>

| significance =

| begins =

| ends =

| date = 9th day of the 9th lunisolar month

| date{{LASTYEAR}} = {{Calendar date/infobox|year=last|cite=no}}

| date{{CURRENTYEAR}} = {{Calendar date/infobox|year=current|cite=no}}

| date{{NEXTYEAR}} = {{Calendar date/infobox|year=next|cite=no}}

| date{{NEXTYEAR|2}} = {{Calendar date/infobox|year=next2|cite=no}}

| frequency = Annual

| duration = 1 day

| celebrations =

| observances =

| relatedto =

}}

{{Infobox Chinese

| t = 重陽節

| s = 重阳节

| kanji = 重陽の節句<ref>[http://kikuko-nagoya.com/html/chouyo-no-sekku.html Choyo no Sekku at kikuko-nagoya.com]</ref>

| revhep = Chōyō no Sekku

| hangul = 중양절<ref name="Roy">{{cite book | title=Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia | last=Roy | first=Christian | year=2004 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/traditionalfesti0000royc/page/116 116] | publisher=Abc-Clio | isbn=978-1576070895 | url=https://archive.org/details/traditionalfesti0000royc/page/116 }}</ref><ref name="Korean Customs">{{cite book | title=Encyclopedia of Korean Seasonal Customs: Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore and Traditional Culture | publisher=Gil-Job-Ie Media | author=National Folk Museum of Korea | year=2015 | pages=232}}</ref>

| hanja = 重陽節

| rr = Jungyangjeol

| p = Chóngyáng jié

| w = Ch'ung²-yang² chieh²

| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|ch|ong|2|.|yang|2|-|j|ie|2}}

| suz = Zon yan tsih

| j = Cung⁴-joeng⁴ zit³

| y = Chùhng-yèuhng jit

| tl = Tiông-iông-tsueh

}}

{{Infobox Chinese

| title = Chrysanthemum Festival

| kanji = 菊の節句

| revhep=Kiku no Sekku

}}

The '''Double Ninth Festival''' is a [[traditional Chinese holiday]] observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the [[Chinese calendar]]. According to Wu Jun, it dates back to the [[Eastern Han dynasty]] (25–220 AD).<ref name="Roy"/>

According to the ''[[I Ching]]'', ''nine'' is a [[yin and yang|yang]] number,; the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar (or double nine,) has tooextra much''[[yin and yang|yang]]'' (a traditional Chinese spiritual concept) and is thus aan potentially dangerousauspicious date.<ref name="Stepanchuk Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts Double Ninth Festival">{{cite book |last1=Stepanchuk |first1=Carol |title=Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts: Festivals of China |date=1991 |publisher=China Books & Periodicals |___location=San Francisco |isbn=0-8351-2481-9 |pages=89–91}}</ref> Hence, the day is also called "Double [[Yang]] Festival" (&#37325;&#38525;&#31680;{{zh|t=重陽節|labels=no}}).<ref name="Wei ToChinese protectFestivals againstDouble theNinth dangerFestival">{{cite book |last1=Wei |first1=Liming |title=Chinese Festivals: Traditions, itCustoms and Rituals |date=2010 |___location=Beijing |isbn=9787508516936 |pages=54–57 |edition=Second}}</ref> It is customary to climb a high mountain,<ref name="Eberhard Chinese Festivals Double Ninth"/><ref name="認識中國傳統節日和風俗45">{{cite book |last1=陳瑞璋 |title=認識中國傳統節日和風俗 |date=2001 |___location=Hong Kong |isbn=9621419573 |page=45}}</ref> drink [[chrysanthemum]] wine[[liquor]],<ref name="Eberhard Chinese Festivals Double Ninth">{{cite book |last1=Eberhard |first1=Wolfram |authorlink1=Wolfram Eberhard |title=Chinese Festivals |date=1952 |publisher=H. Wolff |___location=New York |pages=110–111 |chapter=The Mid-Autumn Festival}}</ref><ref name="認識中國傳統節日和風俗45"/> and wear athe plant''zhuyu'' named({{zh|t=茱萸|labels=no}}) plant (''[[zhuyiCornus officinalis]]'' (&#33585;&#33848;). Both chrysanthemum and ''zhuyizhuyu'' are considered to have cleansing qualities and are used on other occasions to air out houses and cure illnesses.

On this holiday, some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects.<ref name="認識中國傳統節日和風俗45"/> In Hong Kong and Macau, whole extended families head to ancestral graves to clean them, repaint inscriptions and lay out food offerings such as roast [[suckling pig]] and fruit, which are then eaten (after the spirits have consumed the spiritual element of the food). [[Chongyang cake]] is also popular<ref name="Wei Chinese Festivals Double Ninth Festival"/> and [[incense stick]]s are burned during the holiday.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130121134023/http://www.discoverhongkong.com/uk/see-do/events-festivals/chinese-festivals/chung-yueng-festival.jsp Chung Yueng Festival], Discover Hong Kong</ref>

Double Ninth may have started out as a day to drive away danger, but, like the [[Chinese New Year]], over time it became a day of celebration. Today it is an occasion for hiking and chrysanthemum appreciation. Stores sell rice cakes (&#31957; a homonym for ''height'' &#39640;) inserted with mini colorful flags to represent ''zhuyi''. Most people drink chrysanthumum tea, a few old schools drink homemade chrysanthemum wine. School children learn poems about chrysanthemum, and many cities will host a chrysanthmum exhibit. Mountain climbing races are also popular, winners get to wear a wreath made of ''zhuyi''.

==Origin==

This is an often quoted poem about this holiday:

The origins of the festival date back as early as the [[Warring States period]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2002-10/09/content_359355.htm | title=The Double Ninth Festival | publisher=China Daily |date=November 2, 2022|access-date=November 2, 2022}}</ref>

:&#12298;&#20061;&#26376;&#20061;&#26085;&#25014;&#23665;&#26481;&#20804;&#24351;&#12299; &#29579;&#32173;

According to legend, the traditions of hiking and drinking chrysanthemum wine on this day began with the [[Han dynasty]] man {{ill|lt=Fei Changfang|Fei Changfang (Han dynasty)|zh|费长房 (汉朝)}} and his disciple {{ill|lt=Huan Jing|Huan Jing (Han dynasty)|zh|桓景}}.<ref name="Stepanchuk Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts Double Ninth Festival"/> One year, Fei advised Huan to bring chrysanthemum wine and food and climb a mountain with his family on the ninth day of the ninth month.<ref name="Stepanchuk Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts Double Ninth Festival"/> Huan followed his master's instructions, and when he returned home he found that his livestock had all suddenly died; if he had not climbed the mountain as instructed, the same would have happened to him and his family.<ref name="認識中國傳統節日和風俗45"/><ref name="Stepanchuk Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts Double Ninth Festival"/><ref name="中國節日的故事 Double Ninth">{{cite book |title=中國節日的故事 |date=2001 |publisher=將門文物出版社 |___location=Taipei |isbn=957-755-300-1 |edition=1st |lang=zh |pages=226–237}}</ref>

:&#29544;&#22312;&#30064;&#37129;&#28858;&#30064;&#23458;&#65292;

:&#27599;&#36898;&#20339;&#31680;&#20493;&#24605;&#35242;&#65292;

:&#36953;&#30693;&#20804;&#24351;&#30331;&#39640;&#34389;&#65292;

:&#36941;&#25554;&#33585;&#33848;&#23569;&#19968;&#20154;&#12290;

An alternative origin story involves intrigue in the imperial court of [[Emperor Gaozu of Han]]. As part of [[Empress Lü]]'s jealous plot against [[Consort Qi (Han dynasty)|Consort Qi]], the latter's maid was forced out of the imperial palace.<ref name="Wei Chinese Festivals Double Ninth Festival"/> The maid, surnamed Jia ({{zh|t=賈|s=贾|first=t|labels=no}}), told the common people that in the palace it was customary to wear [[dogwood]] and drink chrysanthemum wine on the ninth day of the ninth month, and these customs spread more widely.<ref name="Wei Chinese Festivals Double Ninth Festival"/>

Double Ninth, Missing My Shantong Brothers - [[Wang Wei]] ([[Tang Dynasty]])

In 1966, [[Taiwan]] rededicated the holiday as "Senior Citizens' Day",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/99_e/99.htm |title=Chrysanthemums, Climbing, and Consideration of the Elderly - Double Ninth Day |publisher=Gio.gov.tw |access-date=2008-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515200349/http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/99_e/99.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2008 }}</ref> underscoring one custom as it is observed in Mainland China, where the festival is also an opportunity to care for and appreciate the elderly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_chinaway/node_169.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028092114/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_chinaway/node_169.htm |archive-date=2007-10-28 }}</ref>

:Alone, a stranger in a strange land,

:Every holiday the homesickness doubles.

Double Ninth may have originated as a day to drive away danger, but like the [[Chinese New Year]], over time, it became a day of celebration. In contemporary times, it is an occasion for hiking and chrysanthemum appreciation.<ref name="Stepanchuk Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts Double Ninth Festival"/><ref name="Zhao">{{cite book | title=A History of Food Culture in China| publisher=SCPG Publishing Corporation | first=Rongguang |last=Zhao | year=2015 | pages=14 |isbn= 978-1938368165}}</ref> Other activities include flying kites, making flower cakes, and welcoming married daughters back home for visiting.<ref name="Zhao" />

:Far away my brothers have sent word:

:They have gathered on mountain tops,

Stores sell rice cakes ({{zh|t=糕|labels=no}} "gāo", a homophone for ''height'' {{zh|t=高|labels=no}}) with mini colorful flags to represent ''zhuyu''. Most people drink chrysanthemum tea, while a few traditionalists drink homemade chrysanthemum wine. Children learn poems about chrysanthemums and many localities host chrysanthemum exhibits. Mountain climbing races are also popular; winners get to wear a wreath made of ''zhuyu''.

:They are going around inserting zhuyi branches,

:They are missing one person.

==Outside China==

===Japan===

[[File:Karasu-zumo a.jpg|thumb|''Karasu-zumo'' (literally 'crow sumo'), is a part of the festivities held on September 9 at [[Kamigamo Shrine]] in [[Kyoto]]]]

In Japan, the festival is known as ''Chōyō'' but also as the {{nihongo4|Chrysanthemum Festival|菊の節句|Kiku no Sekku

}} and it is one of Japan's five sacred ancient festivals (sekku).<ref name=TheFreeDictionary>{{cite web |title=Chrysanthemum Festival |url=http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Chrysanthemum+Festival |publisher=[[The Free Dictionary]] |date=2010 |access-date=2015-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://japanese-culture.info/keywords/annual_events/kiku | script-title=ja:菊の節句(重陽の節句)|trans-title=The Chrysanthemum Festival (The Choyo Festival) | publisher={{lang|ja|英語対訳で読む日本の文化}} | access-date=7 November 2018 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="pottery">{{cite web | url=http://www.yakimono.or.jp/en/2016/chapter-3-kiku-no-sekku | title=Chapter 3: Kiku no sekku | publisher=Japan Federation of Pottery Wholesalers’ Co-operative Association | date=3 June 2016 | access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref> It is most commonly celebrated on the 9th day of the 9th month according to the [[Gregorian calendar]] rather than the lunisolar calendar, i.e. on September 9. It is celebrated at both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.library.metro.tokyo.jp/portals/0/edo/tokyo_library/english/saijiki/autumn.html | title=Autumn (July - September) | publisher=Tokyo Metropolitan Library | access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref> The festival is celebrated in the wish for the longevity of one's life and is observed by drinking chrysanthemum [[sake]] and eating dishes such as chestnut rice ({{transliteration|ja|[[Takikomi gohan#Kuri gohan|kuri-gohan]]}}) and chestnuts with glutinous rice ({{transliteration|ja|kuri-[[mochi]]}}).<ref name="pottery"/>

===Korea===

In Korea, the festival is known as Jungyangjeol ({{Korean|hangul=중양절|hanja=重陽節|labels=no}}), and it is celebrated on the 9th day of the 9th month.<ref name="Korean Customs"/> Koreans would consume chrysanthemum leaves in pancakes. As the festival is meant to celebrate and cultivate good health, outdoor activities such as carrying dogwood, climbing hills or mountains for picnics, and gazing at chrysanthemum blossoms are carried out.<ref name="Roy"/><ref name="Korean Customs"/>

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:Chai Wan Cemetery Hong Kong Double Ninth Festival 04.jpg|Participants arrive at the Chai Wan Cemetery, Hong Kong, 2015

File:Chai Wan Cemetery Hong Kong Double Ninth Festival 02.jpg|Chai Wan Cemetery Hong Kong, 2015

File:Chai Wan Cemetery Hong Kong Double Ninth Festival 03.jpg|Chai Wan Cemetery, Hong Kong, 2015

File:Double Ninth Festival Xian Tang Village 01.jpg|Xian Tang Village, Dongguan, China, 2015

File:Double Ninth Festival Xian Tang Village 02.jpg|Xian Tang Village, Dongguan, China, 2015

</gallery>

==See also==

*[[Qixi Festival|Double Seventh Festival]]

*[[Qingming Festival]], a day to visit and clean up the cemeteries

*''[[Curse of the Golden Flower]]'', a Chinese film in which the plot takes place around the Chrysanthemum Festival.

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{Hong Kong Holidays}}

[[Category:Autumn in China]]

[[Category:Autumn in Japan]]

[[Category:Festivals in Japan]]

[[Category:Festivals in South Korea]]

[[Category:October observances]]

[[Category:Public holidays in China]]

[[Category:Festivals established in 1966]]

<!-- in Taiwan -->

[[Category:Festivals in Taiwan]]

[[Category:Observances honoring the dead]]

[[Category:Observances set by the Chinese calendar]]

[[Category:Veneration of the dead]]