The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an ancient and traditional festival in my country. At this time, the whole family reunites and has fun. There are many theories about the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and many of them are interesting.
As early as the Three Dynasties period, our country had the custom of "autumn twilight and evening moon". On the eve of the moon, worship the moon god.
According to historical records, the term "Mid-Autumn Festival" first appeared in the book "Zhou Rites". In the Zhou Dynasty, celebrations to welcome the cold and worship the moon were held every Mid-Autumn night.
Many people often say that the Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the story of Chang'e flying to the moon. According to historical records: "In the past, Chang'e took the medicine of immortality from the Queen Mother of the West, and then flew to the moon and became the moon spirit." The price paid by Chang'e for this move was to be punished with hard labor and she would not be able to return to the world for the rest of her life. Li Bai was quite sad about this, and wrote a poem: "The white rabbit makes medicine, autumn returns to spring, who will the female Chang'e live alone next to?" Although Chang'e herself felt that the moon palace was good, she could not bear the loneliness. When the moon is full and the night is clear, they return to the human world to reunite with their husbands, but they must return to the moon palace before dawn. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people in later generations not only want to go to the moon to reunite with Chang'e, but also hope that Chang'e will come down to earth and see her beautiful face. Therefore, when many people burn incense and worship the moon, they pray, "Men may wish to go to the Toad Palace early and climb up to the fairy laurel... Women may wish to look like Chang'e and be as round as the bright moon." Year after year, people regard this day as Festival to celebrate.
In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there is a record of "ordering the minister to suppress Niu Confusion, and on the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, he and his left and right people were incognito and flooded the river".
Some people believe that the Mid-Autumn Festival became a fixed festival in the early years of the Tang Dynasty. "Book of Tang·Taizong Ji" records the "Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th". The Mid-Autumn Festival started with Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty admiring the moon. The Tang Dynasty's "Kaiyuan Legacy" records: On the Mid-Autumn Night, Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty and his concubine Yang Guifei were playing in the lower reaches of the moon. When they swam to a happy place, they went to the Moon Palace. The Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty also learned half of "The Song of Colorful Clothes and Feathers" in the Moon Palace. Later, Supplement it completely and become a masterpiece handed down from generation to generation. Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty never forgot his trip to the Moon Palace. At this time every year, he must admire the moon. The common people also followed suit and gathered together during the full moon to enjoy the beauty of the world. Over time, it became a tradition that was passed down. In the Tang Dynasty, admiring and playing with the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival was quite popular.
The popularity of the Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Song Dynasty. During the Southern Song Dynasty, people gave moon cakes to each other to symbolize reunion. In the evening, there are activities such as moon viewing and lake tours.
Some people have suggested that the Mid-Autumn Festival was originally the anniversary of an uprising that overthrew the rule of the Yuan Dynasty. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the common people could not bear the government's rule. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, notes saying "Kill the Tatars and destroy the Yuan Dynasty; every family will do it on August 15th" were hidden in chrome round cakes and passed to each other. On the evening of August 15th, every household took action and overthrew the Yuan Dynasty in one fell swoop. Later, moon cakes were eaten every Mid-Autumn Festival to commemorate this historic victory.
By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was as famous as New Year's Day and became one of the major festivals in our country. This is also the second largest traditional festival in our country after the Spring Festival.
The origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival are really diverse. I don’t know which one is correct. Anyway, I am confused