In the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (685-762 AD), Li Longji, the third son of Ruizong Li Dan, was named "Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty" after his temple name "Xuanzong", and was also given the posthumous title "The Great Sage" The Emperor Xiao of the Ming Dynasty (so he was also called the Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty, and later the Emperor Yuan Shengwen and Shenwu) ascended the throne (the fourth day of August in the first year of Xiankai in the Tang Dynasty, September 9, 712). In that year, he went to Chang'an to take the exam. Zhong Kui wrote "Ying" The five poems "The State Waits for a Banquet" were praised as "geniuses" by the examiner and ranked first among the tribute scholars.
However, during the palace examination (October 1, 712 AD), the treacherous Prime Minister Lu Qi judged people based on their appearance and made repeated slanders, causing him to fail to be the top candidate. Zhong Kui's defense was fruitless, and he was so angry that he hit the palace pillar and died. The whole world was shocked, and the ghosts and gods were weeping. The emperor was buried in Fushou Ridge, Zhongnan, with his official title of No. 1. For the crime of being jealous of the virtuous, Lu Qi was sent to the outside of the ridge. One spring, Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty was ill for a long time after preaching about Wu Lishan. One day in his sleep, he saw a little ghost stealing the purple sachet of Concubine Yang and the jade flute of Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty, jumping up and down, and running around the palace.
At this time, a heroic man with a strange appearance, wearing a gauze hat, a blue robe, a horn belt, and court boots tore the little devil apart and devoured him whole. He said to Emperor Ming of Tang: "I It is Zhong Kui who was a Jinshi from Afuquan at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. He died angrily after being defeated as the number one scholar. In memory of the emperor's favor, he vowed to work with his majesty to rid the world of evil spirits. "
Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty recovered from his illness quickly after waking up from the dream. According to the dream, the painter Wu Daozi painted a picture of Zhong Kui's Blessing and Town House. He named Zhong Kui the "Holy King of Blessing and Town House" and warned the world that statues of Zhong Kui should be hung all year round to dispel evil spirits and bring peace. Wu Daozi finished it with a swipe of his pen. It turned out that Wu Daozi also had the same dream, so he "seemed it suddenly" and accomplished it in one go. There is a popular legend among the people: Zhong Kui is the only one who blesses the house; if you invite Zhong Kui, you will be the winner; if Zhong Kui is the true god, he will bring you happiness, wealth, longevity and good health!
Dragon Boat Festival:
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Zhongkui Culture Dragon Boat Festival. Since 2008, it has been a national statutory holiday. On May 20, 2006, this folk custom was approved by the state and included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.
The Dragon Boat Festival is also known as the Duanyang Festival, Girl's Day, Noon Day Festival, May Festival, AI Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Chongwu Festival, Summer Festival, etc.
Zhong Kui Culture The Dragon Boat Festival, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival are also known as the four traditional folk festivals. The essential activities on this day gradually evolved into activities such as inviting Zhong Kui, dancing Zhong Kui, alarm clock Kui, eating rice dumplings, racing dragon boats, hanging calamus, mugwort, moxa leaves, smoked atractylodes, angelica, tying Baisuozi, and making fragrant coins. The Dragon Boat Festival is a very solemn festival, especially people who live Zhong Kui, dancing Zhong Kui, alarm clock Kui, and dragon boat racing (water town) actively participate in it. All people celebrate together, and it is very lively.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, every household invites the real Zhongkui, the "Holy Lord of Tang Cifu Town House", into their homes for activities. People say that the real Zhongkui (Zhongkui's hometown in Xi'an, Hu County, Shaanxi Province) was named the consecrated Zhongkui with the "Zhongkui's Hometown" trademark. Invite the real Zhong Kui into your home: "Bless the house, the only real Zhong Kui", "Please greet Zhong Kui, he will be the first in the list", "Zhong Kui is the true god, and he will send us happiness, wealth, longevity and good health." Leader Mao also said in July 1966 In a letter to Jiang Qing on August 8th, he wrote: "In order to fight ghosts, we need the help of Zhong Kui." He blessed the town house and invited the real Zhong Kui.