中秋節的「祭月」Worshipping the moon during Mid-Autumn Festival

 

(The English version is available below)

 

 

相信大家月餅吃過不少，兒時也一定玩過花燈；但是大家試過「祭月」嗎？

 

「祭月」在中國是一種十分古老的習俗，是古人對「月神」的一種崇拜活動，這就是所謂「秋暮夕月」。

 

古人早已察覺到「月到中秋分外圓」的自然變化，所以在中秋前後「祭月」和「拜月」的活動由來已久。

 

《禮記》：「天子春朝日，秋夕月。朝日已朝，夕月以夕。」「夕月」即是拜月的意思。全句意思為周天子在春分之日祭太陽，秋分之日祭月，祭太陽的時分在清晨，而祭月的時分是在傍晚（夕月以夕）。

 

古代的人民以務農為主，農事和季節變化的關係非常密切，而一年中的秋季，農曆八月中旬，又是豐收的黃金季節。

 

「秋」字原本就有「禾穀熟」的意思。人民辛辛苦苦，終於等到收穫，於是家家戶戶都設酒備菜，祈求農耕順利，以及為了答謝神祇的護佑，而舉行了一系列儀式和慶祝活動，古代稱為「秋報」。

 

這就是拜月習俗的開始。由周天子每年秋分祭月的習慣中繼承下來的。

 

從古至今，在廣東部分地區，人們都會有中秋晚上拜祭月神（拜月娘、拜月光）的習俗，先設大香案，擺上月餅、西瓜、蘋果、紅棗、李子、葡萄等祭品，並在月下把「月神」牌位放在面向月亮的那個方向，紅燭高燃，全家人依次拜祭月亮，祈求福佑。

 

祭月賞月，託月追思，表達了人們對人、事的美好祝願。祭月作為中秋節重要的祭禮之一，從古代延續至今，逐漸演化為民間的賞月、頌月活動，同時也成為現代人渴望團聚、寄託對生活美好願望的主要形態。

 

大家有興趣在今年的中秋節一試「祭月」嗎？

 

Commonly, the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations are enjoying mooncakes and playing with lanterns, but has anyone tried 'worshipping the Moon'?

 

'’Worshipping the Moon' is an ancient practice in China, it is a worship activity exercised by the ancient Chinese to the 'God of Moon', which is also known as 'Evening Moon of Autumn'.

 

The ancient Chinese have observed the natural phenomenon of the moon whereby the moon is extraordinarily full during the Mid-Autumn Festival and hence, 'worshipping the Moon' is a long-standing activity before and after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

 

The Book of Li stated that 'The Zhou Emperor worshipped the Sun on the day of the ”Spring Equinox” whereas he worshipped the Moon on the day of ”Autumn Equinox”. He worshipped the Sun in the early morning while he worshipped the Moon in the evening'. The 'Evening Moon' is actually meant as worshipping the moon.

 

Farming is the primary work of ancient Chinese, the relationship of farming and seasonal changes is closely related. The Autumn season, which is in the centre of the 8th month of Lunar Calendar, is also the golden season of harvesting.

 

 'Autumn' has the meaning of 'matured grains'. The ancient people worked hard and eventually harvested their crops. Thus, each family prepared food and beverages to pray for their farming to go well and in order to thank the God for its protection, a series of ceremonies and celebrations were held, which were called ‘Qiu Bao'.

 

This is how the tradition of worshipping the Moon began. It inherited from the practice of the Zhou Emperor who worshipped the Moon during autumn every year.

 

From time immemorial, the Chinese people worshipped the God of Moon during the night of Mid-Autumn Festival in certain parts of Guangdong. They set up the big incense case and placed offerings such as mooncakes, watermelons , apples , jujubes, plums and grapes. Moreover, they placed the memorial tablet of the God of Moon facing the direction of the Moon. Red candles were light up and the family worshipped the Moon to pray for blessings.

 

Worshipping, enjoying and remembrance of the Moon expressed the best wishes and blessings to people and matter. Worshipping the Moon is one of the significant practice in the Mid-Autumn Festival. It gradually developed to admiring the glorious full moon and writing poems about the moon, which also portrayed the desire of the modern generation for a reunion and sustenance for a better life.

 

Are you interested in 'worshipping the Moon' during this year's Mid-Autumn Festival?