The ninth day of the Lunar New Year.
What is the ninth day of the first lunar month? Many young generations may not know it, but in the traditional culture of our country, the ninth day of the first lunar month is a special day, and its name is Tiangongshou. Tiangong is the Jade Emperor in Chinese myths and legends, and his full name is Haotian Jinque Supreme Supreme. The Jade Emperor God is also known as the Jade Emperor Xuanqiong, the High God, the Jade Emperor Datianzun, and the Jade Emperor of the Haotian Tongming Palace.
In the Song Dynasty, Song Zhenzong added an honorific title to it, and the Taishang Kaitian Zhifu Imperial Calendar contains the true body of the Jade Emperor Haotian Jade Emperor God, which further consolidated the position of the Jade Emperor as the leader of the gods and Buddhas. The legendary Jade Emperor lives in the Taiwei Yuqing Palace, ruling the gods of the Three Realms and the Ten Directions and the four beings of the Six Realms, and weighing all the prosperity and decay in the world, good fortune and misfortune.
Sanqing refers to Yuqing Yuan Shi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, and Taiqing Daode Tianzun. And under the Sanqing are the four emperors who assisted the Sanqing, namely the Haotian Jinque Supreme Jade Emperor, the Zhongtian Ziwei Arctic Emperor, the Gouchen Shangguan Antarctic Jade Emperor, and the Chengtian Imitation Houtu Emperor Diyi, also known as the Houtu Niangniang.
The first of these four emperors is the well-known Jade Emperor. In China's folk beliefs, especially among the Han people, the Jade Emperor has a great base of believers, he is considered the father of the gods, the status is noble, and the rituals of people worshiping him even exceed the specifications of the Sanqing, and are more grand than the ordinary gods.
Tiangong's birthday is the ninth day of the first lunar month, how did this come about? The ancients believed that the first month of the new year was the beginning of the new year, and all things were renewed, and nine represented the largest and most in the number, so nine was the highest, so this day was called the day of heaven. Legend has it that on this day, all the gods and goddesses in the heavens and on the earth will hold grand celebrations in various places. On this day, the Jade Emperor would travel around on his luan drive and enjoy the offerings made to him by the devotees of the earth.
Then return to the Heavenly Palace in the afternoon of the same day, and the Taoist temples around the country will hold a grand ceremony to celebrate, and the sound of firecrackers will sound from midnight until the early morning of the next day. As for the mortals in the world, they can't mix the ceremonies of the gods, and the Taoist celebrations are a little far away from them, but they also have their own ways of worshipping, and they will celebrate the birthday of the Heavenly Lord through various customs and rituals, praying for peace in the new year
First of all, it is essential for the whole family to fast and bathe before worshipping the Heavenly Father.
Then on the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, the person in charge of the house should prohibit the family from drying clothes, especially women's pants, underwear and other items, and it is forbidden to take out the trash can.
On this day, the women should prepare more fragrant flowers, candles, and bowls to place in the open air at the mouth of the courtyard and alley, and they will sincerely burn incense, kowtow, chant sutras, worship the heavens, and ask for the blessing of the heavens. If there is a wish, it must be a whole pig or a whole sheep.
Even some pious families would not worship enough at home, so they rushed to the Tiangong Temple in various places overnight to pay their respects. This kind of solemn sacrificial ceremony is to express people's respect for the Jade Emperor, and entrust the good wishes of the Han working people to dispel evil spirits, avoid disasters and pray for blessings.
On the day of Tiangongsheng, there will be a ceremony of An Tai Sui in many places, and all the people who committed the Tai Sui in the zodiac can go to the temple to write their names and years, and then add a little sesame oil money, and entrust the temple to be responsible for worship.
In addition to the rituals, there are many other activities to celebrate the birthday of the Celestial Father. For example, in some parts of China, people hold grand parades and dragon and lion dances, which are very lively, and there are traditional customs such as setting off fireworks, eating longevity peaches, and making offerings to the heavens. These activities not only show the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture, but also make people feel the unique charm of traditional culture.
In general, Tiangongshou on the ninth day of the first lunar month is a festival full of mystery and cultural connotation, and by understanding and participating in these celebrations, you can better appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese culture and feel the long history and rich cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. Let's celebrate the birthday of the Celestial Father, and pray for the safety and health of the people of the whole country in the new year.