Autumn hasn’t begun officially or visibly where I live, but tonight’s full moon represents the Mid-Autumn Festival via the lunar calendar in East Asia. Besides, I love mooncakes, so when I read this from my dharma and blogging friend Raffaello Palandrini, I knew I wanted to share it. Raffaello is an ordained Buddhist priest who lives as a layperson and leads a congregation in Germany.
You can visit, share, and subscribe to his blog on WordPress here.
As usual, please share this post with your friends.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, a cherished tradition celebrated across East Asia, is a time of reunion, gratitude, and celebration of the beauty of the moon.
This annual event, falling on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, is marked by many customs and festivities embodying the essence of Chinese culture.
At the heart of the Mid-Autumn Festival lies the moon, revered as a symbol of unity, family, and prosperity. It is believed that the moon is at its fullest and brightest during this time, representing the peak of harvest and abundance. Families gather under the moonlit sky to admire its splendour, sharing stories, laughter, and mooncakes, a traditional delicacy associated with the festival.
A popular legend associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival is the tale of Chang'e and Houyi. It is said that during ancient times, ten suns appeared in the sky, scorching the earth. Houyi, a skilled archer, shot down nine of the suns to restore balance.
After successfully completing his mission, Houyi was rewarded with an elixir of immortality. However, his wife, Chang'e, became jealous and stole the elixir, fearing that Houyi would abandon her. To prevent Houyi from retrieving the elixir, Chang'e drank it and ascended to the moon, becoming the moon goddess.
Every year on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Houyi would gaze up at the moon, longing for his wife. He would place offerings on a table beneath the moon, hoping that Chang'e would see him and return. This tradition of offering sacrifices to the moon goddess is believed to have evolved into the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The legend of Chang'e and Houyi adds a romantic and mythical element to the Mid-Autumn Festival. It serves as a reminder of the enduring power of love and the longing for reunion. The story also highlights the importance of family and the enduring bonds that connect us.
Mooncakes, with their rich filling of lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or custard, are a quintessential part of Mid-Autumn celebrations. They are often adorned with intricate patterns or characters, symbolizing good fortune and longevity. The sharing of mooncakes among loved ones signifies unity and the strengthening of family bonds.
Another significant aspect of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the lantern festival. Streets and parks are illuminated with colourful lanterns of various shapes and sizes, creating a magical and festive atmosphere. Children and adults alike participate in lantern parades, carrying lanterns that represent their hopes and dreams. The lanterns are often decorated with intricate designs and patterns, adding to the visual spectacle…
[T]he Mid-Autumn Festival…is believed to be rooted in ancient harvest rituals, where people offered sacrifices to the moon goddess to ensure a bountiful harvest.
Thank you, Raffaello. You can check out his blog here.
In Buddhism, of course, autumn represents the joy of impermanence, as beautifully expressed in this one-minute video of a teaching from the late Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh.
In a fuller version, Nhat Hanh concludes with the leaf saying:
Tomorrow, I will continue to be. But you will have to be very attentive to see me. I will be a flower, or a leaf. I will be in these forms and I will say hello to you. If you are attentive enough, you will recognize me, and you may greet me. I will be very happy.
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