Why is the harvest festival in China at the autumnal equinox?

The autumnal equinox is the16th solar term among the 24 solar terms, and it is the mid-qi in August of the lunar calendar. The word "fen" of the autumnal equinox, the ancient glyph is a knife in the middle, and there are two objects on both sides, which is to split an object in half. "Twenty-four solar terms" said: "Those who divide, half also. This is half of ninety days, so it is divided. " Autumn is 90 days, and the autumnal equinox is just half of autumn, hence the name.

The autumnal equinox is not only half of autumn, but also an average day of day and night. Only the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox have this phenomenon in a year. Then the days are long and the nights are short or the days are short and the nights are long. The ancients believed that these two days were the key nodes in the transformation of yin and yang. Because the sun and the moon represent yin and yang, the ancients sacrificed to the sun at the vernal equinox and the moon at the autumnal equinox, praying for good weather and abundant crops.

Among the 24 solar terms, "four seasons and eight festivals" (beginning of spring, Changchun, beginning of autumn, beginning of winter, vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, summer solstice and winter solstice) are the most important nodes, among which the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox are most closely related to agricultural production.

The ancients said: "Spring ploughing, summer harvest, autumn harvest and winter storage are all timely, so there are endless grains and people have surplus grain." It is an eternal natural law that agricultural production is based on losing time, sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn. Around the autumn equinox, it is the best season for autumn harvest. Although China has a vast territory, the maturity time of crops in different regions is different, but it is very appropriate to set the "Harvest Festival" in the autumn equinox.

The festivals related to agriculture in ancient times were mainly "Spring Festival" and "Autumn Festival":

The so-called "society" is to sacrifice to the land god. "Custom Pass" in Han Dynasty explained: "The community is the owner of the land. The land is vast and cannot be respected all over, so it is closed for the country. " Spring Festival is the fifth May Day after beginning of spring, mostly around the vernal equinox, also known as Spring Festival. "Autumn Festival" is the fifth May Day after beginning of autumn, mostly around the autumnal equinox, also known as "Autumn Festival Day".

In ancient times, every "social day", from the official to the folk, a grand sacrifice ceremony was held. Among them, the state sacrifices "Tailong" and sacrifices cattle, sheep and pigs. Local sacrifices use "small prisons" to sacrifice sheep and pigs.

The villagers beat gongs and drums, carried pigs and sheep and gathered in front of the land temple to burn incense and worship. After the sacrifice, the meat was divided according to households, and dinner and drinking were held in front of the temple. There are also entertainment activities such as welcoming the gods, dancing grass dragons, beating drums and singing duet. City people give each other club wine and cakes and invite people to dinner.

These customs have been popular for a long time. The Chronicle of Jingchu, written by the imperial clan in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, said: "On social days, neighbors unite to form a clan club. They kill animals in prison ... first offering sacrifices to the gods and then enjoying them."

"Dream of China in Tokyo" Song Dynasty veteran said: "In August and autumn, various clubs give wine cakes. Guiqigong is made of pork, mutton, kidney, milk room, belly and lung, duck cake and melon and ginger. Cut it into pieces and spread it on the chopping board. It tastes harmonious and is called a social meal. "

For the above contents, please refer to Guangzhou Daily-Why is the China Farmers Harvest Festival set at the vernal equinox?