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| Ghost Month
All cultures have holidays and special observances for those who
have passed. In the Chinese culture, the holiday is known as Ghost
Month, the seventh lunar month in which ghosts and spirits emerge
from the underworld to roam the earth. The Ghost Festival, celebrated
on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, is the climax of a
series of the Ghost Month celebrations. At its climax, they celebrate
the "Festival of the Hungry Ghosts". Fifteen days after
this feast, the festival will be over, and ghosts return to the
underworld.
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Ghost Month is taken very serious as the
Chinese feel that, in order to have good luck in their lives,
ghosts must be satisfied. Part of the focus is to deal with
discontented spirits who have no one to care for them. They
may have died without descendents, or far away from their
families. They may have died as children or more frightening,
they may have died before their time as a result of murder
or may be a victim of suicide. They haunt the scene of their
death seeking revenge.
During Ghost Month and particularly the Ghost Festival,
day all families will solemnly pay respect and homage to
their ancestors and pay Buddhist monks (as charity) to pray
for their souls. But the ghosts also frighten them, and
to appease them they put food outside their homes, float
paper boats and lanterns on water to give them directions,
and burn "ghost money".
At the Chung Yuan Festival (about
halfway through the month), banquets are set up and are
offered as sacrifice. Paper lanterns are hung to guide ghosts
to the table. Operas entertain during the feast as well.
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Interior of a temple in Taiwan
where Ghost Festival ceremonies are held. |
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In Taoist religion, the 15th day of the seventh month is believed
to be the day the Ruler of Earth will pardon the sins of mankind.
In the lunar calendar, Chung Yuan falls between Shang Yuan on
the 15th of the first moon, known as the day the Ruler of Heaven
bestows fortune; and Hsia Yuan on the 15th day of the seventh
moon, when the
Ruler of Water removes suffering. It is for this reason that
generous sacrifices are made for the Ruler of Earth and to ancestors
during Ghost Festival.
The Chinese have blended Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism and
believe their ancestor’s influence their joss (luck) in this
life.
Since all these traditions honor the ghosts of the departed, the
seventh lunar month has come to be known as Ghost Month, celebrated
as a time when the "Good Brethren" (ghosts from the
underworld) come back to earth to feast on the offerings provided
by the living.
The Buddhist origins of Ghost Month can be traced back to a story
that started in India. Ullambana is a transliteration of the Sanskrit
word defined as "deliverance from suffering," and specifically
refers to the salvation of anguished souls in Hell. The story,
"Mu-lien Saves His Mother from Hell," is about wealthy
merchant who gives up his work to become a devout follower of
Buddhism.
After the merchant attains enlightenment, he thought back on
his mother and father, and wondered about their fate. He finds
his father at peace in the Buddhist heaven.
Unfortunately his mother was sent to hell, and has become a hungry
ghost. A hungry ghost cannot eat because its throat is too thin
allowing no food to pass, but it always hungers because it has
such a large stomach. In life his mother was greedy with the money
her son left her. He had instructed her to kindly host any Buddhist
monks that ever came her way, but instead she was greedy and selfish
with her kindness and her money so as a result was sent to the
hell realms. Mu-lien finally saved her by fighting demons and
praying to and asking for help of the Buddha.
Buddhists established a day after their summer retreats (the
15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, usually mid-to-late
August) as a day of prayer during which monks pray, make sacrifices
and offerings to the dead ancestors and hungry ghosts. Deceased
ancestors are pacified and hungry ghosts can eat (the sacrificial
foods). The Mu-lien story ends with this festival and the rescue
of his mother from hell.
Both aspects of the story - the frightening, and the happy ending
of being reunited upon fulfilling one's family duty - are mixed
in the present-day Buddhist festival of Ullambana and the Taoist
and Chinese folk festival of Zhongyuan Jie known as the "Festival
of the Hungry Ghosts".
Some things to avoid during Ghost Month:
- Avoid weddings or important business deals.
- If you are in the habit of whistling – don’t do
it during Ghost Month. Ghosts will follow you home.
- Talking ill of the dead (even if it's true) will just bring
tears and heartache.
- Avoid walking near rivers or riverbanks where a water ghost
can easily steal your living spirit.
- Scheduling funerals are unfortunately not a good idea during
this time.
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