Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival

What Is Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival?

The Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival marks another day within the annual nine-day Taoist observance known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. During this period, participants adhere to a strict vegan diet and engage in various purification rituals. It is a significant cultural event, particularly within Chinese communities in Southeast Asian nations.

This festival aims for physical and mental purification, honouring the Nine Emperor Gods (Kiu Ong Iah or Jiu Wang Ye) and the Jade Emperor. The observance promotes good health, longevity, and spiritual merit through adherence to dietary restrictions and specific precepts. While the entire festival involves continuous observance, each day contributes to the cumulative purification process.

History and Origins of Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival

The origins of the Vegetarian Festival are deeply rooted in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. It is primarily dedicated to the Nine Emperor Gods, who are believed to descend from the heavens to bless humanity during this period. The festival is believed to have originated in China and subsequently spread to other regions with Chinese diaspora populations, particularly in Southeast Asia.

One prominent theory regarding its spread to Thailand, especially Phuket, dates back to the early 19th century. A wandering Chinese opera troupe performing in Phuket is said to have fallen ill with a plague. To appease the gods and seek recovery, they observed a strict vegetarian diet and performed rituals, which led to their complete recovery. Local Hokkien Chinese communities then adopted this practice, and it evolved into the elaborate festival seen today. The traditions incorporate elements of both Chinese Taoist practice and local Thai-Chinese customs.

How Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival Is Celebrated

The observance of the Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival follows the general practices upheld throughout the nine-day period. Participants, known as Ma Song (horses of the gods) or simply devotees, commit to a strict vegan diet, abstaining from all meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and strong-smelling vegetables like garlic and onions. They also typically wear white clothing as a symbol of purity.

Beyond dietary restrictions, participants adhere to a series of ten precepts. These include refraining from sexual activity, alcoholic beverages, gambling, telling lies, and harming others. Many visit Chinese temples (Jui Tui) to make offerings, meditate, and witness or participate in various ceremonies. In places like Phuket, the festival is renowned for its elaborate and often intense street processions, where Ma Song perform acts of self-mutilation, such as piercing their cheeks with various objects, as a way of channelling evil spirits from the community and demonstrating devotion to the gods.

Observances in Thailand

In Thailand, especially in the southern province of Phuket, the festival is known as ‘Tesagan Gin Je’ (เทศกาลกินเจ). The celebrations are particularly vibrant and dramatic. Temples become central hubs for activity, with daily rituals, offerings, and prayers. The Seventh Day typically sees continued processions and temple visits, with the intensity building towards the final days. Firewalking and climbing blade-ladder rituals are also common demonstrations of devotion and spiritual protection, often performed by Ma Song under trance-like states. These practices are believed to transfer the community’s suffering onto the participants and provide spiritual cleansing.

When Is Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival?

The Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival is part of a nine-day observance that commences on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Consequently, its dates vary each year when mapped to the Gregorian calendar, typically falling in late September or October. The exact date is determined by the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar system.

For example, if the festival starts on the 1st day of the 9th lunar month, the Seventh Day would occur on the 7th day of that same lunar month. This makes it a moveable observance rather than a fixed-date holiday. Observers consult the Chinese calendar annually to determine the specific Gregorian dates for the festival.

Seventh Day of the Vegetarian Festival Key Facts