we continue with the 15 days of Chinese New Year and each of it’s respective spiritual and religious significances, rites, and associated folkloric magical practices.
EDIT FOR 2022: days 3,4,5 of New Year is February 3-5, 2022.
3rd day of New Year/”Day of the Crimson Hound” (赤狗日) This would’ve been February 14, 2021. It’s funny since it falls on St. Valentine’s Day. Because this is the one day that you are supposed to stay inside avoid all unnecessary social interactions and travels. Because you see, the third day of Lunar New Year is known as Day of the Crimson Hound, or Chi’gou Ri. “Chi’gou” (赤狗) is a God or spirit of wrath, anger, poverty, and strife in Chinese Traditional Religion & Folk Taoism. Keep unnecessary conversations and small talk at the minimum. Speak to no one except those who you live with, reschedule parties, gatherings, and New Year celebrations. For it is said that you will be cursed by Chi’gou to fight and feud with whoever you wish Happy New Year to on this day. This day is pretty uneventful, all due to the fear of attracting the attention or angering the Crimson Hound. He can bring strife and anger and destroy your relationships between you and your family, friends. He can also bring upon your household poverty, and undo all blessings the God of Wealth sent you the days before. Honestly, in very observant households, you won’t even hear people wishing each other Happy New Year at all on this day. Not even to your family members who you live with.
A bronze statue of the Hound.
The night of the 3rd day is also known as the night when the Rat God arranges weddings for his subjects (the various rodents on earth). It’s known as the “Day of Rat Weddings” (老鼠娶亲日). Their weddings takes place after sunset. Traditionally, people would go to bed early and keep quiet as to not disturb the rats’ wedding processions through the fields at night. Offerings of beans and grains must be left out, as well as a little portion of this past autumn’s harvest. These are to be left out in the kitchen, at the edge of the fields, and by the pantry or grain storage or barn as wedding gifts to them. This practice would obviously not make sense in modern, urban settings. However, if God forbid you got rodent problems in your home, maybe you should observe this so they would go easy on you.
a traditional paper cut-out of the rats’ wedding procession.
4th Day of New Year: Zao’jun ‘s homecoming This is the day when the Zao’jun (灶君), the God of the Hearth (commonly translated inaccurately as The Kitchen God in English), returns back to the hearth and home after spending time up in the Celestial Courts reporting on the household. At sundown, offerings, candles, and incense must be set up at the shrine or votive altar of Zao’jun (usually located above the hearth or stove). Firecrackers would also be lit at the door to welcome him back. One must treat the event as if one is welcoming a dear friend or family member’s homecoming. Offerings are not too different from the offerings to him. But traditional ritual protocol indicates there must be three different meat dishes, meaning three separate dishes of three different animals. Pork, poultry, and fishes are common. The other common meat for offerings, lamb or goat, are taboo on this day and to be avoided. Fruits, pastries, and a bottle of good liquor must also be present. It is said for this homecoming ritual, every single member of the household must be present and at home all day as to not confuse Zao’jun in terms of who to protect and look after. For more information on Zao’jun and his place in the domestic sphere, read my first post on Chinese New Year.
i just thought this lil’ drawing was adorable. Plus it depicts Zao’jun’s Homecoming perfectly.
5th day of New Year：Crossroads and Fire Welcoming the “Lu’tou Shen”: The other God of Wealth. One other God honored on this day is the Lu’tou Shen (路头神), also known by his title of Wulu Caishen (五路财神). Literally his name and title translates into something like “God of the road’s end”, and “God of Wealth & the 5 ways/roads). Apart from Cai’shen honored on the first day of new year, he is the other God of wealth. There are different Gods and Goddesses of abundance, wealth, and prosperity in Chinese folk religion. Caishen is just the main one and most widely worshipped. Lu’tou Shen is one example of wealth in relation to commerce and more specifically the flow of money and wealth. The coming and going of money. As his title suggests, he closely resembles “crossroads deities” found in other cultural traditions. As a crossroads God of Wealth, he can bring customers and foot-traffic to one’s business. And for a household, he can ensure your blessings and abundance flow into your lives without obstacles and keep those roads open. My nanna says in the old country, it’s a tradition for stores and shops to call all their employees to the store and erect little altars at the storefront. The owner of the business would lead the ritual and make offerings to him. This was also traditionally the day to fire any employees buy not inviting them to the ceremony or simply by telling them “No need to come to the store today”. The employee would understand that they’ve been sacked and will collect their stuff the next day. Different households on the same block would often band together and make one collective huge offering and sacrifice along with lots of firecrackers being blown up at the nearest crossroads. This act is called “welcoming the Lu’tou Shen). As his place of worship and shrine, if any, are often located at the crossroads. This act and offering of welcoming in the Lu’tou Shen is done precisely are midnight, when the 4th day turns to the 5th day. A cooked goat’s head, as well as a air of carp or other big fish must be present among the offerings to him.
A statue of Lu’tou Shen, the crossroads God of wealth, and commercial abundance.
Binding the God of Fire (绑火神) This is another practice done on the evening of the 4th day. The God of Fire takes a prominent role not only in the Lantern Festival, but also on this day. Towns and villages or individual households would gather corn and wheat stalks and braid them around a tall wooden pole that’s been erected at the town square. This is act of tying and binding is to symbolize binding the God of Fire so that his destructive side doesn’t burn down houses or destroy property in the new year. The pole would then be tossed into the river. In private households, no poles are used. But simply bundles of corn stalks are tied together and burned in the court yard.
6th day of New Year This day was traditionally when the market places at the town square reopened, as well as shops and businesses. Now the Lu’tou Shen has been appeased, abundance and wealth will start flowing in from the roads into your shops. Now that you got him making sure abundance is flowing in, it;s time to get rid of old stagnant energies. Which brings us to: “Chasing out Poverty” (送穷神), a ritual to chase away the Qiong’shen, the Spirit/God of Poverty. It’s fairly simple, one gathers all the old tattered items of clothing and objects that are broken from the pervious year. Then either burn them in a bonfire while striking the ground before the fire as if whacking somebody. One will keep striking the rod on the ground as one walks tout the front door. Someone else would have a dustpan with the dust swept up from the four corners of the house and have that dust thrown out the front door. Symbolizing the God of Poverty being thrown out. Sometimes the pile of dirt or garbage would be topped with 5 slices of flatbread (煎饼), as an offering to the God of Poverty. It would then be tossed out the front door along with the offering. This act is what is believed to chase the God of Poverty away from your home or business.
New Year’s Day / “Spring Festival” (1st day of the first lunar month). The start of the 15 days of celebration. The Chinese name for Chinese New Year, called Chun’jie, literally translates into “Spring Festival”. Due to it being the official start of the spring season in the Chinese calendar. The start of new beginnings, new blessings, and new zodiac sign. The first thing a household must do in the morning is to have firecrackers lit at the front door. To scare away any bad spirits and old stale energies away so new blessings may start flowing in. It is also the day to honor the Sui Shen (岁神), the God of the Year. More commonly known as Tai’sui (太岁), the Year God isn’t a single deity, but a group of Gods and Goddesses. There are sixty of them and they each correspond to a zodiac sign in the 60-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Bet y’all didn’t know that either! There’s much more to the Chinese zodiac, they each got a God or Goddess associated with them as well! it’s more than some cute picture on paper mat in your Chinese restaurant. Not to be confused with the Japanese Toshigami (岁神), which is a similar deity but as I understand is a singular spirit unrelated to the sixty year Gods in Chinese folk religion. For example, 2021 is the year of the Metal Ox. The Tai’sui corresponding to the Metal Ox is Yang’xin Dajiangjun (杨信大将军), or “General Yang’xin. So on this day, he would be worshipped. One would either visit a local shrine or temple where would be an altar erected to him, or erect an altar to him at home. It is advised everyone, no matter what year one is born, to pay their respects and give a lil’ something. Because the Sui Shen is in charge of their year’s fortunes, good and bad. Therefor it’s important to get on their good side and do a lil’ bootlicking, so to speak.
a small statue of General Yang’xin, the Sui Shen of 2021, the year of the Metal Ox.
Traditionally, the first meal of the new year is to be devoid of meat.A stark contrast to the gluttony of the night before. The breakfast or brunch of new year’s day would be close to a vegan meal. Because even eggs and dairy would be off-limits for the day. New year’s day is also sometimes called “fasting day” for this reason. It is taboo is wear any thing stained, dirty, ripped, or just old on this day. Usually folks would have an entire new outfit bought for this day. And as always, the ancestors would be fed the first thing in the morning and incense offered. It is also taboo to use the broom or mop on this way, for it’s said that you would be sweeping away all the new blessings of the new year.
Second day of New Year / “Day of breaking fast” (开斋日) As new year’s day is the day of fasting and abstaining from meat and animal products, this day is where one breaks the fast. The excessive drinking and foods returns! This meal on the 2nd day of New Year is called Kai’nian Fan ( 开年饭), or “year-opening meal”. Unlike the meal of New Year’s Eve, this meal is open to everyone and not limited to just family members or clan members. Friends, colleagues, roommates, whoever wants to join are all welcome to. The foods aren’t too different from the types served on New Year’s Eve, except that it must include carp, lettuce, and wontons (more about this below). This was also the day where couples would travel to the wife’s parents’ household to visit. They would stay and have this Kai’nian Fan meal with the wife’s side of the family and depart before sunset. A new tradition developed in the early twentieth century: family portraits. Since then this day is traditionally the day where family members all gather to have their family portraits taken.
The God of Wealth: The 2nd day of New Year is also one of the two days in the next 15 days dedicated to Cai Shen (财神), the God of Wealth aka Money God. Now I know y’all love that! Altars would be set up in shops, businesses, and courtyards of private houses. Small paper images of Cai Shen would be bought from the local shrines and placed upon the altar with candles and offerings. Ritual protocol demands that businesses and store owners offer what is known as the “Five Sacrifices” ( 五大供) along with other offerings. Depending on the region these 5 sacrifices could differ, but they are usually: a whole pig, a whole sheep, a whole chicken, a whole duck or goose, and a whole carp. They are then to be cooked appropriately and offered by the altar. The male head of the family, or the owner of the business would lead the ritual and then everyone present are to make an offering of incense and liquor. The paper image of Cai Shen would then be burned and the animal sacrifices be shared in the meal following. In this meal, wonton must be served. My nanna says it’s because wontons resemble the shape of gold nuggets back in the old days in the old country.
a statue of Cai Shen, the God of Wealth, Prosperity, and Abundance, appropriately gilded in gold
freshly made wontons, ready to be cooked.
It’s taboo to wash your clothes on this day for you will wash away the blessings and abundance Cai Shen bestowed on you. It’s always taboo is take naps on this day, as the God of Wealth detests any display of laziness. You want abundance? You better werk betch! Prayer without work is empty.
Another deity honored on this day is Shui Shen (水神), the God of Water. Also known by his title Shui’de Xingjun (水德星君). This is why on this day one avoid the unnecessary use of water, lest you offend him. Unlike other world religious systems, the God of Water in Chinese folk religion and Taoism isn’t a very gentle fellow. Quick to anger and generally seen as unpredictable and dangerous if provoked. This is someone who decided to crash the pillars holding up the sky once upon a time because he wasn’t happy he lost a battle and threw a tantrum. So no long showers, baths are out of the question, no laundry, and no sullying his sweet waters with mopping on this day. Observe these taboos and he will be appeased, and appreciate drinkable water that nourishes life. For even though water can be dangerous, it is also gentile and vital to life.
a statue of Shui’de Xingjun, the God of Water.
WHEW! i told y’all this was gonna be long. And we only on the 2nd day of the 15 days of New Year. Stay tuned for more.
UPDATED FOR 2022:
February 1, 2022 is the first day of Lunar New Year. It’s the year of the tiger. The Sui Shen, or Tai’sui of the year is He’E Dajiangjun ( 贺谔大将军 ). Or General He’E.
He reads all sorts of obscure books on Chinese mythology, culture and history and no few biographies. Hundreds of books, tens of thousands of pages. He talks to people about their folklore and mythology, religion and belief systems. All the stories, all the time. Sometimes he even watches Run Run Shaw movies.
“Write what you know” is easy advice to bandy about. But what do you know?
No, really. What do you know that is interesting, that you are passionate about, that you are an expert about?
Boroson wrote this crazy story about a young Chinese exorcist in San Francisco’s Chinatown; he wrote what he knew.
His ideas came from a little bit of inspiration. His passion drove him through enough research for a couple of masters degrees. No muses that need bribery with chocolate. Probably a few dreams induced by living in dusty books. No tragedy or trauma meant to create sympathy. Hard work.
The result is actually a pretty great book.
The Girl with Ghost Eyes reads easily. The stakes are clear in the first few pages and keep escalating all the way. The lead character (Xian Li-Lin) is heroic not because she is imbued with super powers but because she is willing to risk everything. The story even has important existential dimensions…
This is the result of work and it comes with my hearty recommendation.”
I don’t actually agree with everything psychology professor Jason Dias said in this article. (For one thing, I prefer Golden Harvest and Cinema City over the Shaw Brothers.) But his ideas about inspiration are compelling, and rooted in the reality of my experience. I would love to read books by authors who are completely in love with their material, who live and breathe their research, whose knowledge permeates their dreams, whose dialogue is inflected with the voices of the hundreds of people they interviewed.
How Asian Spirituality Differs from Western Occultism
How Asian Spirituality Differs from Western Occultism
The way Asia treats spirituality is incredibly different from the Western Occultism sphere: they are nearly polar opposites. Therefore it can be incredibly confusing and misleading to try to apply the mindset from one practice to the other.
“Asia” refers to mainly South & East Asian practices. I am not sure how much this applies to central Asian practices.
