Mid-autumn FestivalMid-autumn Festival

Lectured by Betsy Hu Xiaoqiong(Lectured by Betsy Hu Xiaoqiong( 胡晓胡晓琼）琼）

中秋节中秋节

Let’s taste some moon cakes

IntroductionIntroduction The annual lunar August The annual lunar August

15, is a traditional Mid-15, is a traditional Mid-

Autumn festival. This Autumn festival. This

time is the middle of time is the middle of

autumn in a year, so it is autumn in a year, so it is

also called Mid-Autumn also called Mid-Autumn

festival.festival. ( Sep. 19 ( Sep. 19thth, 2013), 2013)

Mid-Autumn Mid-Autumn Festival has a Festival has a deep origin deep origin and a long and a long historyhistory

The legends of Mid-Autumn FestivalThe legends of Mid-Autumn Festival

Chang Er flying to the moonChang Er flying to the moon

Hou Yi shoots down nine sunsHou Yi shoots down nine suns

The StoryThe Story

Hou Yi shot 9 suns.Hou Yi shot 9 suns.Chang’e met Hou Yi and they got Chang’e met Hou Yi and they got

married.married.Hou Yi went to the Kunlun Mountains Hou Yi went to the Kunlun Mountains

to look for an elixir of life.to look for an elixir of life.House Yi gave the elixir to Chang’e.House Yi gave the elixir to Chang’e.Chang’e drank the elixir and flew to Chang’e drank the elixir and flew to

the moon.the moon.Hou Yi sacrificed the moon.Hou Yi sacrificed the moon.

Jade rabbit making heavenly Jade rabbit making heavenly medicine medicine

Wu Gang cuts the laurelWu Gang cuts the laurel

Moon cakesMoon cakes

The production The production procedure of procedure of moon cakesmoon cakes

The round shape of moon cakes just symbolizes not only the moon but also the unity of the family.

CustomsCustoms

ReunionReunion

Appreciate the MoonAppreciate the Moon

Offering sacrifice to the moonOffering sacrifice to the moon

Eat the MooncakeEat the Mooncake

Play the grass dragon( 舞草龙 )(Zhe Jiang)

Different Customs of Different Areas

fire Douxiang( 烧斗香 )(Jiang Su)

put the sky lights( 放天灯 )

Fu Jian

Whorship the Moon Whorship the Moon （（ Guang Dong)Guang Dong)

Plant the Mid-Autumn Plant the Mid-Autumn （（ Guang Dong)Guang Dong)

THANKS

Pomelo LanternPomelo Lantern(Guang Dong)(Guang Dong)

Fire-dragon DanceFire-dragon Dance(Hong Kong)(Hong Kong)

Qiantang TideQiantang Tide(Zhe Jiang)(Zhe Jiang)

The PoemsThe Poems

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

May the people live forever, and May the people live forever, and share the moon shine across vast share the moon shine across vast distances together.distances together.

The PoemsThe Poems

As the moon rises above the sea, As the moon rises above the sea, we share the same time though we we share the same time though we are far apart.are far apart.

The PoemsThe Poems

春江潮水连海平，海上明月共潮生。春江潮水连海平，海上明月共潮生。

In spring, the river rises as high as In spring, the river rises as high as the sea. And with the river’s rise the the sea. And with the river’s rise the moon uprises bright.moon uprises bright.

Discussion & ConclusionDiscussion & Conclusion

General introductionGeneral introduction LegendsLegends Moon cakesMoon cakes CustomsCustoms Chinese ancient poemsChinese ancient poems

DiscussionDiscussion

Since the Mid-autumn Festival is the second Since the Mid-autumn Festival is the second grandest festival after the Spring Festival in grandest festival after the Spring Festival in China, people attach great importance to it, China, people attach great importance to it, can you tell what concept Chinese try to can you tell what concept Chinese try to convey through the celebration of Mid-convey through the celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival?Autumn Festival?

In the history of your country, is there any In the history of your country, is there any festivals which mainly expressed people’s festivals which mainly expressed people’s worship towards the Sun, Moon or any other worship towards the Sun, Moon or any other natural things?natural things?