The Origin of Double Ninth Festival (Brief Introduction)

The origin of the Double Ninth Festival can be traced back to the early Han Dynasty. It is said that in the palace, on September 9 every year, Cornus officinalis is accompanied, fed with bait and drunk with chrysanthemum wine, in order to live longer. After the love princess Qi of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang was killed, the maid-in-waiting Jia was also expelled from the palace, and this custom spread to the people.

In ancient times, people had the custom of climbing mountains on this day, so the Double Ninth Festival was also called "Mountain Climbing Festival". According to legend, this custom began in the Eastern Han Dynasty. There are many climbing poems in the Tang Dynasty, most of which are the custom of writing the Double Ninth Festival. Du Fu's Seven Laws "Ascending the Mountain" is a famous article about climbing the mountain in Chongyang. There is no uniform rule for climbing mountains. Generally, we climb mountains and towers.

There is also the custom of eating "Chongyang cake". Exquisite Chongyang cake should be made into nine layers, like a pagoda, with two lambs on it, which conforms to the meaning of Chongyang (sheep). Some people even put red paper flags on Chongyang cakes and light candles. This is probably replacing "crawling" with "lighting" and "eating cakes", and replacing Cornus officinalis with a little red paper flag.

The Double Ninth Festival also enjoys chrysanthemums and drinks chrysanthemum wine, which originated from Tao Yuanming. Tao Yuanming is famous for his seclusion, his poems, his wine and his love for chrysanthemums. Later generations have followed suit, so Chongyang has the custom of enjoying chrysanthemums.

In the old days, in order to get close to Tao Yuanming, scholar-officials often combined chrysanthemum appreciation with feasting. In the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng was the capital, and chrysanthemum appreciation on Chongyang was very popular. At that time, there were many kinds of chrysanthemums. After the Qing dynasty, the custom of enjoying chrysanthemums was particularly prosperous, and it was not limited to September 9, but it was the most prosperous around the Double Ninth Festival.

Extended data

1, Warring States Period

The Double Ninth Festival is already a festival, but it was only held in the royal family at that time.

2. Wei and Jin Dynasties

The festive atmosphere is getting stronger and stronger, and it is sung by literati. Tao Yuanming, a scholar in Jin Dynasty, said in the preface to the poem "Idle for Nine Days": "I am idle and love the name of Nine. Autumn chrysanthemums are full of gardens, but they are sad, empty for Jiuhua, and precious words are like gold. " At the same time, it is mentioned that chrysanthemum and wine had the custom of enjoying chrysanthemum and drinking alcohol during the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

3. During the Tang Dynasty

The Double Ninth Festival has been designated as an official holiday. According to records, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month was officially listed as a national holiday in Tang Dezong during the reign of Shili (around 780 Gregorian calendar), which is also known as the four traditional festivals of ancestor worship in China. Since then, people and courts have celebrated the Double Ninth Festival and organized various commemorative activities on this day.

4. In the Song Dynasty

Double Ninth Festival has become an important festival, which is more lively. Dream of China in Tokyo once recorded the grand occasion of the Double Ninth Festival in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Double Ninth Festival