Chinese Ghost Festival!

The Ghost Festival (zhong yuán jié, alternatively, gui jié) is a traditional Chinese festival and holiday, which is celebrated by Chinese in many countries. In the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh lunar month.

In Chinese tradition, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month, in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. During the Qingming Festival the living descendants pay homage to their ancestors and on Ghost Day, the deceased visit the living.

On the fifteenth day the three realms of Heaven, Hell and the realm of the living are open and both Taoists and Buddhists would perform rituals to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased. Intrinsic to the Ghost Month is ancestor worship, where traditionally the filial piety of descendants extends to their ancestors even after their deaths. Activities during the month would include preparing ritualistic food offerings, burning incense, and burning joss paper, a papier-mache form of material items such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for the visiting spirits of the ancestors. Elaborate meals would be served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family treating the deceased as if they are still living. Ancestor worship is what distinguishes Qingming Festival from Ghost Festival because the latter includes paying respects to all deceased, including the same and younger generations, while the former only includes older generations. Other festivities may include, buying and releasing miniature paper boats and lanterns on water, which signifies giving directions to the lost ghosts and spirits of the ancestors and other deities.

The Ghost Festival shares some similarities with the predominantly Mexican observance of El Día de los Muertos. Due to theme of ghosts and spirits, the festival is sometimes also known as the Chinese Halloween though many have debated the difference between the two.

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Buddhist Origins - The Buddhists treat the 7th lunar month as one of joy. During the lifetime of Buddha, the 15th day of the month is when his disciples emerged from the forests, after long periods of meditation, when the rainy season finished. He was pleased with the process of enlightenment of these monks and was, therefore, full of joy.

It was also the day when Buddha gave his arhat, Maudgalyayana, the Ullambana Sutra on how to release his mother from the fiery depths of hell by food offerings and rituals. After many years of obedience, he succeeded!

Ullambana Ritual image by stewartcc.

Confucian Origins - The doctrine of filial piety (respecting and obeying parents example) comes from Confucius, and is still a major influence on behaviour in modern China. The huge efforts of Maudgalyayana to save his mother from the depths of hell strike an accord with Chinese Buddhists.

Taoist Origins - Taoist doctrine states that there are three basic elements that are the origins of everything: heaven, earth and water - "San Yuan (Three Elements)" - produced during the flowing process of time and space. The official of heaven, Lord Ziwei, brings blessings and was born on January 15th. We celebrate Shangyuan Festival (Lantern Festival) for him. The official of earth, Lord Qingxu, absolves sins and was born on July 15th. We celebrate Zhongyuan Festival for him. The official of water, Lord Dongyin, prevents disasters and was born on October 15th. We celebrate Xiayuan Festival for him.

During these festivals, the three officials descend to earth and perform their duty. The official of earth, Lord Qingxu, releases the dead from suffering at the Zhongyuan Festival. Those who have committed sins can also pray for absolution. During Zhongyuan Festival a "Taoist rite" is held in temples to pray for the underprivileged.