Cultural Section: The Ghost Festival

The Chinese year is filled with many meaningful occasions and celebrations. However, none inspires the same mixture of anxiety and awe as the Festival of Ghosts. Its significance is so great that the entire month is known as the Ghost Month.

In essence, the Ghost Festival honours the fact that the Gates of the Underworld are open for three days. During this time the spirits may roam the earth freely. The implications here for Chinese culture are immense.

First, the tradition of ancestral worship means that this festival is an opportunity for the living to make offerings and pay their respects to the departed loved ones. Second, the roaming of mischievous and vengeful spirits means that this is a time of haunting. Third, the association with the underworld means that it is an opportunity to pay respect to deities governing the dead.

The actual festive day is on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. However, people often remember it as the 14th day – the first of the three days’ opening.

Apart from making offers to ancestors and deities, people also try to appease neighbouring, restless spirits with food and incense. Around that time, people often avoid quiet, isolated places -- such as mountainsides, beaches or graveyards. Happy occasions such as weddings are strongly avoided in that month. Some people may avoid swimming in the sea. Traditional theatre companies perform to empty houses, specifically for ghost audiences.

The origin of the Ghost Festival is quite complicated. That particular lunar day is actually a celebration of multiple events. In Chinese Buddhism, it is the festival honouring Ullambana – a disciple of Buddha who freed his mother from suffering through the accumulation of merit. It is also said to be a day of joy for Buddha when many of his disciples attained enlightenment. In Taoism, it is the day when one of the trinity of Rulers – the Ruler of Earth – would descend to mankind and pardon sins. These collective origins make up the Ghost Festival we have today.

Tin-Yu Lam

Hong Kong