The Ghost Festival
Ghost Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, also called "Chung Yuan" in Taoist terminology. "Chung Yuan" is believed to be the day the Ruler of Earth pardons the sins of men. For this reason, generous sacrifices are prepared for the Ruler of Earth and ancestors during the Ghost Festival.
The Chinese people refer to the seventh lunar month as "Ghost Month": the first day of which is called the "Opening of the Gates of Hades," since it is believed that the gates of Hell are flung open on this day to allow the ghosts and spirits of the nether world into the world of the living for a month of bacchanal of food and wine. This earthly party comes to an end on the 30th day of the month, called the "Closing of the Gates of Hades." Prodigious tables of wine and meat are offered to one's ancestors and ghosts from the underworld during the Ghost Festival. In Taiwan, ghosts without descendants to care for them are euphemistically called "Good Brethren." Ghost Festival is thus often referred to as "Praying to the Good Brethren." Numerous "Putu" activities are held at this time around the island, crowned by the grand "Keelung Ghost Day Ceremony."
This day is also known as "Ullambana" in Buddhism, which is a transliteration of the Sanskrit word meaning "deliverance from suffering," and specifically refers to the salvation of anguished souls in Hell. This concept originates from the story of "Moginlin Saving His Mother from Hades." In this Buddhist legend, the protagonist Moginlin learns that his mother's ghost is being tortured in Hades by starvation, and thus embarks on a grueling journey to the underworld bringing food to ease her hunger. However, when Moginlin offers the food to her, it erupts into flames before she is able to swallow. Despairing, he begs Sakymuni to show him a way to bring salvation to his mother, and is answered by the Buddha to find ten monks and pray together on the 15th day of the seventh month. Thus, Moginlin begins a Buddhist ritual and chants the sutras until finally he succeeds in releasing his mother's soul. This legend has been passed down and is today celebrated on "Chung Yuan" by Buddhists, holding ceremonies of charity so that the outcast and famished ghosts may cross over to salvation.
The Buddhist Ullambana Festival and the Taoist Ghost Festival have melded over time to become the present Chung Yuan "Putu" or "Passage to Universal Salvation."
http://www.iov.org.tw/english/p_04a_6.htm#top
The Chinese believe that the dead become ghosts roaming between Heaven and earth. Spirits without descendants to care for them are prayed to during Ghost Festival so that they may also enjoy the warmth of life among the living. This custom, an extension of the traditional Chinese ethic of "universal love," has been woven together with the didactic legend "Mulien Saving His Mother From Hades," giving Ghost Festival positive significance as a time for remembering the importance of filial piety. http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/ghost_e/ghost.htm
Keelung Ghost Day Ceremony
Putu "Putu" or "Passage of Universal Salvation" activities are divided into private ceremonies and temple ceremonies. The Keelung Ghost Day Ceremony is a large-scale temple ceremony, which has become one of the most characteristic folklore activities in Taiwan. Beginning on the first day of the month, the clan responsible for organizing the upcoming event hangs the "main putu tablet" in the clan assembly hall. In the afternoon, the "Opening of Gates of Hades" ceremony is held at the "Elders Temple" to allow the ghosts and spirits of the underworld into the human realm where they will receive sacrificial offerings. On the 12th day, a ceremony is held at the Ching An Temple that all clan members are given the "Salvation Lanterns" (also known as "7th Month Lanterns"), which are placed at the front door of homes or at entry and exit points of villages to guide the wandering ghosts and spirits until the gates to the underworld are closed again. That night, the organizing clan hosts the ceremony of lightening the lanterns on the main putu altar, called "Lantern Lighting", so that they will shine upon the two worlds of yin and yang. As a show of honor for the ancestors, the organizing clan invariably lavishes money for decorating the putu altar, making Keelung's nights extraordinarily beautiful during the Ghost Festival observance.
water lantern releasing
Another spectacle involves the "water lantern releasing", whose original purpose is to provide light for the water spirits to find their ways ashore and enjoy "putu" the same as their terrestrial counterparts. In the evening, after a parade through the city and a prayer ceremony, the water lanterns are set on fire and released into the waters at Ba Dou Tz Harbor. The lanterns slowly drift out to the sea, calling and guiding the wandering water spirits. Due to the beautiful scenes, crowds of people are attracted every year to watch this impressive spectacle. On the 15th day afternoon, after a worship ceremony at the "Elders Temple", the grand "putu" (universal salvation) ceremony begins at the Ching An Temple host by the organizing clan of the year. At the end of the ceremony, in fear of those wandering ghosts and spirits reluctant to leave, the "Cremation of General Tashih" and "Dancing Chung Kui" ceremonies will take place with the pounding of drums and gongs, and in the clouds of incense smoke and the devout prayer, mark the conclusion of the animated Ghost Festival.
The significance of Ghost Festival observance is not only in honoring and appeasing the denizens of spirit world, it also represents an ethnic harmony, village unity, and sympathy for those suffering hard times. The various materials used during the observance, such as the water lanterns, lantern poles, offering tables and animals, and "ghost money", constitute some very special folk art crafts. http://www.iov.org.tw/english/p_04a_6a.htm
Assignments:
1. Check the words in your dictionary and try to summarize the articles using simple words.
2. Work in groups of three and make a 2-minute conversation about the Ghost Festival. You are to perform in front of the whole club in the next club session and you will be evaluated. So be prepared. Hand in as well your script in the next club session.