The origin of the Double Ninth Festival: expelling plague demons from the constant scenery
The origin of the Double Ninth Festival comes from a fairy tale: According to legend, in the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a god of plague in Ruhe River. As soon as it appeared, people in every household got sick and even died every day, and people in this area were ravaged by the plague demon, which was terrible.
At that time, there was a young man named Hengjing in runan county. One year, the plague took away his parents and he almost died himself. After Hengjing recovered from her illness, she bid farewell to her beloved wife and fellow villagers, and decided to go out to study art in immortals, so as to kill pests for the people. After going through difficulties and obstacles, Hengjing finally found a magical fairy on an ancient mountain. Immortal was moved by his tireless efforts and the spirit of doing harm for the people, and decided to accept him as a disciple, give him a demon sword and teach him how to do it.
Hengjing forgot to eat and sleep, practiced hard day and night, and finally developed an extraordinary martial arts. One day, the immortal called Heng Jing to his side and said, "Tomorrow is the ninth day of September, and the plague god will come out to do evil again. Now that you have learned your skills, you should go back and kill the people! " At this time, the immortal gave Hengjing a pack of dogwood leaves and a bottle of chrysanthemum wine, and gave him the secret to ward off evil spirits, so that Hengjing could ride a crane and go home immediately. Hengjing returned to his hometown. On the morning of September 9, according to the instructions of the immortal, he led the villagers to a nearby mountain and gave everyone a dogwood leaf and a cup of chrysanthemum wine.
At noon, the wind roared, the north wind suddenly rose and it was dark. With a few piercing screams, the plague demon rushed out of the Ruhe River and rushed to the foot of the mountain. At this moment, Mo Wen suddenly smelled the strange smell of Cornus officinalis and the mellow fragrance of chrysanthemum wine, and his face suddenly changed, shaking all over, and he dared not go any further. Just then, Heng Jing rushed down the hill with a demon sword in his hand. After several rounds of fierce fighting, Hengjing stabbed Mo Wen to death and wiped out the plague.
Since then, the custom of climbing to avoid epidemic on the Double Ninth Festival has been handed down year after year. It is said that this can ward off evil spirits. Although it is a myth, the theory of "Constant Scenery to Eliminate Pestilence" has been passed down from generation to generation, and it has gradually become a unique custom in China to take September 9th as a time to climb mountains to avoid disasters and get together by drinking. Many poets write poems to commemorate the Double Ninth Festival. It is said that in the traditional concept of Central Plains people, the Double Ninth Festival symbolizes longevity, health and longevity, so people call it the Festival for the Elderly.
Double Ninth Festival custom 1, climb high and look far. Double Ninth Festival is also called Ascending Festival. The ninth day of September is a crisp autumn season. At this time, it is refreshing to climb high and look far, exercise and get rid of diseases. In addition, "climbing" also means "ascending" and "longevity", so it is highly respected by people.
The Double Ninth Festival of Chrysanthemum Appreciation was also called "Chrysanthemum Festival" in ancient times. Chrysanthemum is a flower of longevity, and it is an indomitable symbol of first frost in literati's works. In September of the lunar calendar, chrysanthemums are in full bloom, and chrysanthemum appreciation has become one of the customs of the Double Ninth Festival.
3. Drinking chrysanthemum wine chrysanthemum wine has always been considered as an auspicious wine that Chongyang must drink, praying for the cure. In ancient times, chrysanthemum wine was specially brewed for the Double Ninth Festival in the first year. On September 9th, just blooming chrysanthemums were collected and brewed with a little green leaves and grain until September 9th of the following year.
4. The custom of inserting dogwood and chrysanthemum in the Double Ninth Festival has been very common in the Tang Dynasty. The ancients thought that inserting Evodia rutaecarpa on the Double Ninth Festival could take refuge and eliminate disasters. Or wear it on your arm, or make a sachet and put it in it, or wear it on your head. Most of them are worn by women and children, and in some places, men also wear them. Besides wearing dogwood, people also wear chrysanthemums. Stick chrysanthemum branches and leaves on the doors and windows to "get rid of evil and filth, and make money and treasure". This is the vulgarization of the chrysanthemum on the head. Others cut ribbons into dogwood and chrysanthemums and gave them to each other.
These are the stories and customs I know about the Double Ninth Festival. What else do you know, my friend?