The origin and legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival, which is the 15th lunar month of the lunar calendar. Because August is the second month of autumn, it is called Zhongqiu in ancient times, and because it is in August, it is called the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Autumn Festival, August Festival, August Half, Moon Festival, and Moon Festival. And because this day the moon is full, symbolizing reunion, also known as reunion.

The Mid-Autumn Festival has a long history, but like other traditional festivals, it has gradually developed. The ancient emperors have a spring festival, and the ritual system of the autumn festival. As early as in the book Zhou Li, there is already a Mid-Autumn Festival. The record of the word. Later, the aristocrats and literati bachelors also emulated. In the Mid-Autumn Festival, facing the bright and round moon in the sky, watching the worship and bearing their feelings, this custom was passed on to the people and formed a traditional activity.

In the Tang Dynasty, the custom of this festival was more important to people, and the Mid-Autumn Festival became a fixed festival. The "Tang Shu Tai Zong Ji" recorded "August 15 Mid-Autumn Festival". The prevalence of the Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Song Dynasty. By the time of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it had become the same as the New Year's Day and became one of the main festivals in China. Now, it has become the second largest festival in China after the Spring Festival.

From the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the people of Mok Sao rushed to the moon and the mid-month, such as "West Lake Tour Zhiyu" said: "August 15 is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the folks send the moon cakes, take the meaning of reunion." "The Emperor Jingjing Scenery" also said: "August 15th Festival, the cake will be round, the melons will be wrong, the petals are carved like lotus...There are women who are returning to the house, and will return to the husband's house. ". Therefore, when it was round in August and 15th, it became an excellent moment to express feelings. During the Taizong Period of the Northern Song Dynasty, the official officially decided that the August 15th was the Mid-Autumn Festival, which was intended to be in the middle of the Sanqiu Festival.

There are many legends related to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

According to legend, the laurel tree in front of the Guanghan Palace on the moon is flourishing, with more than 500 feet high. One person is often cutting it down, but after each cut, the cut place is immediately closed. For thousands of years, this kind of laurel tree can never be cut down. It is said that the name of this tree-cutting person is Wu Gang, who was a Xihe native of the Han Dynasty. He followed the immortal monk and went to heaven. However, he made a mistake, and the immortal took him to the moon palace, and he did this kind of futile work every day to show punishment. Therefore, in Li Bai's poems, there is a record of "who wants to pay for the moon in the moon, and hold the salary for the cold."

With the continuous development of the society, the ancients endowed the moon with many legends, from the mid-month to the jade rabbit medicine, from Wu Ganggui to the rushing moon, the rich imagination for the moon palace world painted a fascinating scene.

Third day: nathan