The Double Ninth Festival is a traditional festival with a long history in China. It falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month and has always attracted much attention.
Cheng Peng, an assistant researcher at the Institute of Literature of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, believes that climbing high to appreciate autumn and being grateful and respecting the elderly are two important themes of today’s Double Ninth Festival activities. In addition, there are activities such as enjoying the autumn sun, flying paper kites, eating Double Ninth Festival cakes, and drinking chrysanthemum wine.
How did the Double Ninth Festival get its name?
The Double Ninth Festival is also called the Climbing Festival, Double Ninth Festival, Chrysanthemum Festival, etc. It means peace, health and longevity.
As for the origin of the name of the Double Ninth Festival, Cheng Peng said that in the “Book of Changes”, the number “nine” is a yang number, and the two yang numbers “nine and nine” overlap each other, so it is called “Double Ninth Festival”; because the sun and the moon coincide Nine, so it is also called “Chongjiu”.
When can the origin of the festival be traced back?
According to Cheng Peng, the existing written records of the Double Ninth Festival customs were first seen in the “Ji Qiu Ji” of “Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals”, which records the activities of the ancients to worship the emperor and ancestors during the harvest in September.
According to research, the origin of the Double Ninth Festival can be traced back to ancient times. In ancient times, there were ritual activities to worship gods and ancestors in autumn and autumn. During the Han Dynasty, the custom of Double Ninth Festival was further popularized.
Is it related to the ancient ritual of worshiping “fire”?
It is said that one of the prototypes of the Double Ninth Festival is the ancient ritual of worshiping “fire”.
Cheng Peng said that the “Great Fire” (Antares) is the time coordinate used by the ancients to determine the signs of seasonal production and seasonal life. In ancient times, people divided the stars near the ecliptic into twenty-eight groups based on the trajectory and position of the sun, moon, and stars, commonly known as the “Twenty-Eight Constellations.”
In the east, the horns, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei and Ji form a complete dragon-shaped star (Canglong Qisu). In the season of autumn when the “big fire” retreats, people have to hold corresponding farewell ceremonies.
With the development of society, people have a new understanding of the seasons, and the ritual of worshiping the God of Fire in September gradually declined.
How profound is the connotation of the Double Ninth Festival?
The Double Ninth Festival is a festival with profound connotations. As time goes by, its customs are constantly enriched and developed.
Cheng Peng explained that written records of the name “Double Ninth Festival” first appeared in the Three Kingdoms period. In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the festive atmosphere gradually became stronger, and there were written records of the customs of chrysanthemum appreciation and drinking.
For example, Tao Yuanming said in the preface to the poem “Nine Days of Leisure”: “When I live leisurely, I love the name of Jiu. The garden is full of autumn chrysanthemums, and I hold the wine in my hands. I admire Jiuhua in the sky and place my thoughts on words.”
During the Tang Dynasty, the Double Ninth Festival was designated as an official holiday. From then on, the palace and the people celebrated the Double Ninth Festival together and held various activities during the festival. In the Song Dynasty, the Double Ninth Festival was even more lively. “Tokyo Menghua Lu” recorded the grand occasion of the Double Ninth Festival in the Northern Song Dynasty.
How did the ancients celebrate the Double Ninth Festival?
The Double Ninth Festival can be regarded as one of the landmarks of the transition between autumn and winter in people’s lives, and festivals and customs revolve around people’s feelings in this season.
Climbing high and looking far into the distance is an important custom in this traditional festival. Cheng Peng said that the custom of climbing during the Double Ninth Festival mainly stems from the climate characteristics at this time and the ancients’ worship of mountains. In ancient times, people had customs such as climbing high to pray for blessings, worshiping gods and ancestors, and drinking banquets to pray for longevity during the Double Ninth Festival.
In the Qing Dynasty, a custom in Beijing during the Double Ninth Festival was to stick chrysanthemum branches and leaves on doors and windows to “remove evil and filth and attract good luck.”
What’s so special about Double Ninth Cake?
Double Ninth Cake is one of the delicacies at this time. It is also called flower cake, chrysanthemum cake, and five-color cake. There is no set method for making it and it is relatively random. Cheng Peng said that the special Double Ninth Festival cake should be made into nine layers, like a pagoda, with two lambs on top to match the meaning of the Double Ninth Festival (sheep).
Sometimes, people will put a small red paper flag (instead of dogwood) on the Double Ninth Cake and light candles. Use “light up” and “eat cake” to replace the meaning of “climb”.
Today, there is still no fixed variety of Double Ninth Cake. The soft cakes eaten during the Double Ninth Festival in various places are called Double Ninth Cake.
What does chrysanthemum wine mean?
In addition to various pastries, chrysanthemum wine is also very popular.
Cheng Peng introduced that chrysanthemum wine was regarded as an “auspicious wine” that must be drunk during the Double Ninth Festival in ancient times to ward off disasters and pray for blessings. Chrysanthemum wine is medicinal wine with a slightly bitter taste. After drinking it, it can make people’s eyesight clear and it also has the auspicious meaning of dispelling disasters and praying for blessings.
Why should we wear dogwood?
Cheng Peng said that among the many customs of the Double Ninth Festival, the custom of planting dogwood is relatively widespread and is mainly popular in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the Huaihe River, the Yangtze River Basin and other places.
Planting dogwood and hairpin chrysanthemums has been very common in the Tang Dynasty. It is said that Cornus officinalis has a strong fragrance, has the effects of improving eyesight and refreshing the brain, and can eliminate food accumulation and treat cold and heat.
The ancients believed that climbing mountains and planting dogwood on the Double Ninth Festival can repel insects, dampness and wind evil. So they wore the dogwood on their arms, ground it up and put it in a sachet, and some stuck it on their heads. Most of them are worn by women and children, and in some places men also wear them.
How can traditional festivals be passed down?
The ancients had the custom of feasting and praying for longevity on the Double Ninth Festival, which expressed people’s blessings for the health and longevity of the elderly. Activities such as climbing mountains and flying paper kites also reflect people’s wishes for health and longevity.
