The Double Ninth Festival, which falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month every year, is a traditional festival with a long history in China. The ancients used "nine" as the maximum yang number. On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, both the sun and moon are nine, and the two suns are equally heavy, hence the name "Chongyang". It is also known as the Double Ninth Festival, the Climbing Festival, and the Respect for the Elderly Festival. Chongyang is in the late autumn season, with clear autumn air and the convergence of all things. In response to the changing seasons, ancient people combined the concepts of exorcism, praying for blessings, self-cultivation and health preservation, and gratitude and respect for the elderly, giving rise to a series of unique traditional customs. These customs span thousands of years, integrating folk beliefs, agricultural wisdom, and traditional virtues, passed down from generation to generation, and have become an indispensable and important part of Chinese folk culture.
Climbing high and looking far, praying for blessings and avoiding disasters
Climbing high is the most core and ancient custom of the Double Ninth Festival, originating from the legend of Huan Jing climbing high to avoid disasters in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was widely popular during the Wei and Jin dynasties and became a popular custom among the people after the Tang and Song dynasties. In late autumn, the temperature drops sharply, and the humidity and miasma in the mountains and forests are thick. In ancient times, autumn was prone to outbreaks of diseases. The ancients believed that high places were spacious, ventilated, and had abundant clean air. Climbing high could keep away from the damp and evil air on the ground, and play a role in avoiding disasters and praying for blessings. At the same time, all things wither in autumn, and the human body's qi is prone to stagnation. Climbing high and looking far can stretch the muscles and relieve emotions, following the law of autumn's convergence and health preservation. During the Double Ninth Festival, both literati and ordinary people gather together to climb mountains and gaze into the distance, admiring the lush autumn scenery of the forests, praying for the safety and health of their families, and ensuring their safety throughout the year.
This custom is not only a simple autumn outing, but also a wisdom of ancient people to follow the weather, take care of their body and mind, and pray for smoothness in life.
Planting Cornus officinalis all over to drive away epidemics and eliminate evil spirits
Inserting dogwood is a symbolic folk custom of Double Ninth Festival and an important ancient way of epidemic prevention and health preservation. Zhuyu is a strong smelling Chinese herbal medicine with a pungent aroma. Ancient people believed that it could repel insects, dampness, dispel cold pathogens, and resist diseases. On the day of Double Ninth in ancient times, the people would pick fresh branches and leaves of Cornus officinalis, either by inserting them into their hair buns, doors and windows, or by putting them in sachets to wear on their bodies. According to folk legend, Cornus officinalis is known as the "warding off evil spirits". Wearing it during the Double Ninth Festival can prevent disasters and block the invasion of evil spirits. The eternal poem by Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei, 'When I heard from afar where my brothers had climbed, I saw only one person missing from the dogwood tree planted everywhere', vividly records the prevalence of this custom.
In ancient times when medical care was scarce, inserting dogwood was an important way for ancient people to prevent diseases and protect health in autumn and winter, carrying people's beautiful expectations for safety and health.
Appreciating chrysanthemums and drinking wine, elegant autumn
During the Double Ninth Festival, flowers wither and only chrysanthemums bloom in the frost, elegant and resilient. Therefore, appreciating chrysanthemums and drinking chrysanthemum wine have become classic customs and traditions in Double Ninth, passed down for thousands of years. This custom was deeply influenced by the poet Tao Yuanming of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The story of picking chrysanthemums on the eastern fence and lying drunk among the flowers made appreciating chrysanthemums in the Double Ninth Festival a popular autumn trend among literati. The ancients believed that chrysanthemums possess the clear and refreshing energy of autumn, with the effects of clearing heat, moistening dryness, dispelling wind, improving vision, and prolonging health. During the Double Ninth Festival, people pick blooming autumn chrysanthemums and mix them with glutinous rice and goji berries to make chrysanthemum wine. On the night of Double Ninth Festival, family and friends gather around to enjoy the blooming autumn chrysanthemums and drink sweet chrysanthemum wine.
This can not only relieve the physical discomfort caused by the dryness of late autumn, but also cultivate emotions and soothe autumn sorrows.
In ancient times, chrysanthemum exhibitions were held in various places, where various autumn chrysanthemums bloomed in competition. The people enjoyed the chrysanthemums in the garden, wrote poems to express their emotions, and added a unique elegant poetry to the desolate late autumn.
Eating Chongyang cake, praying for good health
The custom of eating Chongyang cake has been passed down throughout the country, especially in the Jiangnan region. Due to the homophonic relationship between "gao" and "gao", eating Chongyang cake symbolizes "ascending step by step, achieving longevity", and is an alternative way of praying for those who cannot climb high. In ancient times, in plain areas where there were no mountains to climb, people would make Chongyang cakes instead of climbing high, in order to express their wishes for peace and prosperity. Traditional Chongyang cake is mainly made from glutinous rice, steamed with ingredients such as red dates, chestnuts, bean paste, and nuts. It has a soft, glutinous, and sweet taste. In ancient times, when worshipping ancestors on the Double Ninth Festival, it was necessary to first offer Double Ninth cakes to ancestors and worship heaven and earth, thanking heaven and earth for nourishment and ancestors for protection. After the ceremony, the whole family would share pastries and delicious autumn food.
At the same time, younger generations will offer Double Ninth Festival cakes to their elders, praying for a long and healthy life, and allowing the cakes to carry strong filial piety and blessings.
Respect the elderly and filial piety, inherit virtues
Respecting the elderly during the Double Ninth Festival is the core of the era and a traditional virtue inherited by the Chinese nation for thousands of years. Autumn corresponds to aging. In late autumn, plants and trees wither and all things return to their homes. Ancient people were moved by the scenery and felt grateful for the hard work and aging of their elders. Therefore, on the day of Double Ninth, they paid tribute to their elders and expressed gratitude for their family ties. Since ancient times, there has been a custom among the people to pay respects to the elderly on the Double Ninth Festival, give gifts and pray for blessings. Younger generations will bring pastries, fine wine, and clothing to their elders, accompany them to climb high to enjoy autumn, and chat about old times. In ancient times, the government would also offer condolences to the elderly who were alone and treat the elderly with respect during the Double Ninth Festival, promoting the trend of respecting and honoring the elderly.
In 1989, China officially designated Double Ninth Festival as "Elderly Day", giving this ancient festival a new era significance and allowing the traditional virtues of respecting, caring for, and assisting the elderly to be passed down from generation to generation.
Autumn banquet, appreciating autumn and composing poetry
Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, feasting and reciting poetry to express emotions have become the exclusive customs of literati. The autumn scenery of Chongyang is clear and pure, with clear clouds and picturesque autumn mountains. Countless literati and scholars climb high and gaze into the distance, drinking from chrysanthemums, leaving behind countless timeless masterpieces. The ancient people gathered for banquets on the Double Ninth Festival, not discussing the sorrow of autumn, but cherishing the beautiful scenery of autumn. They expressed their emotions and aspirations in poetry and songs, making the Double Ninth Festival both lively and culturally rich. This custom has also freed the Double Ninth Festival from its singular focus on praying for blessings and health, making it a traditional festival that combines poetry and warmth.
In summary, the various traditional customs of the Double Ninth Festival are rooted in the ancient people's survival wisdom of adapting to the times and their national character of promoting virtue and goodness. Climbing high to avoid disasters and inserting bamboo sticks to dispel evil spirits are the ancient ways of epidemic prevention and health preservation in autumn and winter according to the season; Appreciating chrysanthemums, drinking alcohol, eating cakes, and praying for blessings are elegant autumn rituals in folk life; Respecting the elderly and filial piety is the spiritual core that has been passed down for thousands of years during festivals. Despite the passage of time, the ancient customs of Double Ninth Festival remain vivid, carrying the Chinese people's beautiful expectations for peace and longevity, as well as the traditional virtues of respecting the elderly and filial piety. It is a warm and precious treasure in traditional Chinese culture.
