Chung Yeung Festival

What Is Chung Yeung Festival?

Chung Yeung Festival, also known as the Double Ninth Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is a day primarily dedicated to ancestor commemoration, appreciating nature, and promoting health. The festival involves various customs, including mountain climbing, grave sweeping, and consuming specific foods and drinks.

The significance of “double ninth” stems from the number nine being considered a ‘yang’ number in ancient Chinese numerology. When two ‘yang’ numbers coincide, it is believed to bring potential misfortune, leading to practices aimed at averting such occurrences, or alternatively, signifying robust vitality and longevity. It is a public holiday in Hong Kong and Macau and widely observed in mainland China.

History and Origins of Chung Yeung Festival

The origins of Chung Yeung Festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), though its formal recognition and associated customs developed over centuries. The festival’s date, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, is numerically significant as “nine” is considered the largest single digit and is associated with ‘yang’ energy, symbolising brightness and masculinity. The doubling of this number, hence “Double Ninth,” is traditionally seen as a powerful, potentially volatile, convergence of ‘yang’ energy.

A popular legend associated with the festival dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. It tells the story of a man named Heng Jing, who was advised by a sage to take his family to a high mountain on the ninth day of the ninth month to avoid an impending plague. He was instructed to carry dogwood branches and drink chrysanthemum wine. Upon their return, they found all their livestock dead, having succumbed to the plague that spared Heng Jing and his family. This tale established the traditions of mountain climbing, wearing dogwood, and drinking chrysanthemum wine as protective measures. Over time, the festival also evolved to incorporate ancestor veneration, particularly grave sweeping, aligning with the autumn harvest season.

How Chung Yeung Festival Is Celebrated

Celebrations for Chung Yeung Festival typically revolve around traditions that combine ancestor remembrance with outdoor activities for health and protection. One of the most prevalent customs is mountain climbing or hiking to high places. This practice is directly linked to the legend of Heng Jing and is believed to ward off misfortune and promote longevity. Many families will spend the day outdoors, enjoying autumn scenery.

Ancestor Commemoration

A key aspect of the festival is visiting and cleaning the graves of ancestors. This practice, similar to Qingming Festival but occurring in autumn, involves tidying the grave sites, offering food, tea, or wine, and burning incense and joss paper. This act of grave sweeping and offering is a demonstration of filial piety and respect for departed family members.

Traditional Foods and Drinks

Specific foods and drinks are traditionally consumed during Chung Yeung Festival. Chung Yeung cake, known as “Gao” (糕), is a popular treat. The word “gao” is a homophone for “high” or “tall” (高), symbolising ascent to higher positions or long life. These steamed cakes are often made with rice flour and can contain ingredients like jujubes, chestnuts, or other nuts. Another important tradition is drinking chrysanthemum wine, which is believed to cleanse the body, remove impurities, and promote good health and longevity, a belief originating from the protective qualities attributed to chrysanthemums in the festival’s legend.

When Is Chung Yeung Festival?

Chung Yeung Festival is observed annually on the ninth day of the ninth month according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar. As this is a lunar calendar date, its corresponding date on the Gregorian calendar varies each year. It typically falls in late September or October.

In Hong Kong and Macau, Chung Yeung Festival is designated as a public holiday, allowing individuals to participate in the traditional observances. In mainland China, it is widely observed as a traditional festival, though it is not a national public holiday. The variable nature of the date means that people consult a Chinese calendar or specific holiday schedules each year to determine when to observe the festival.

Chung Yeung Festival Key Facts