• Chrysanthemum 菊花• Poetic 诗歌的• Filial 子女的，孝顺的• Masculine 阳性的• Amplify 放大，增强• Plague 瘟疫• Taoist 道士• Cornus 茱萸（ dogwood ）• Scent 气味• Herald 预示，预兆• Reclusive 隐居的

The Double Ninth Festival

电气 94 耿维帅

The Double Ninth Festival (Chóngyángjié), observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar, is a traditional Chinese festival, mentioned in writing since before the East Han period (thus, before AD 25) 九月初九

The Origins of The Double Ninth Festival • The festival began as early as the Warring States Per

iod (475 - 221 BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy that forms a basis to the Chinese world view, yin represents the elements of darkness and yang represents life and brightness. The number nine is regarded as yang. The ninth day of the ninth month is a double yang day, hence the name "Chong Yang Festival". ﹦

• The ninth month also heralds the approach of winter. It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and filial Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors. The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would then be burnt as offerings.

Double Ninth, Missing My Shandong Brothers Wang Wei (Tang Dynasty)

As a lonely stranger in the strange land,Every holiday the homesickness amplifies.Knowing that my brothers have reached the peak,All but one is present at the planting of zhuyu.

climbing mountains

• This custom of climbing mountains can be dated back as early as West Han Dynasty. Some old travel notes have it that, people climbed to mountain peaks not only for beautiful scenes and poetic inspiration, but also the avoidance of evil spirits and disasters.

The Origins of climbing mountains

恒景

This practice came from an ancient folktale. It is said long ago there appeared a devil of plague in the Ruhe River. People lay down and died wherever it came up. A boy named Heng Jing swore to help his neighbors and fellow people to get rid of it. He visited many famous mountains to seek a powerful master. Finally an old Taoist took him in and taught him how to defeat the devil. Heng Jing put his whole heart into study and practice.

One day, the Taoist called him up and said, 'Heng Jing, tomorrow is the 9th day of September and the devil will reappear. It is time for you to go home and stop the devil.' The master also gave him a pack of leaves of Cornus and a jar of liquor soaked with chrysanthemums. Riding a crane, Heng Jing went a great distance back home in a day. As instructed by his master, he told his fellow villagers to climb up the nearby mountain with a Cornus leaf pinned on their clothes and a glass of chrysanthemum liquor in hand.

When the devil of plague came up from under the water, it got dizzy by the scent of Cornus and chrysanthemums. Heng Jing fought with his master's sword and killed the devil in a few rounds. People held parties, drank chrysanthemum liquor to celebrate it. And the next year, the custom of mountain climbing became popular among the villagers.

Enjoying chrysanthemums

and drinking chrysanthemum

wine

Thank you!