Zhong Kui: The Demon Slayer
The Chinese believe that death is not the end, that ghosts and spirits co-exists with human beings at all times, only noticed when they are disquiet, and need to be put to rest. It’s no surprise that the Chinese have many demon slaying deities. The god that has by far enjoyed the most popularity, and endured the test of time, is Zhong Kui.
Posted in Culture and tagged china, Chinese, culture, demon slayer, Dragon Boat Festival, Duan Wu, household god, Zhong Kui
Summoning of the Soul of Qu Yuan
The coming weekend (20th of June) will bring 2015’s Duan Wu Festival, the ultimate Chinese celebration of summer that is more commonly known around the world as Dragon Boat Festival (http://snowpavilion.co.uk/duan-wu-dragon-boat-festival/). However, the origins of the festival, and the poet whose life it celebrates, are rarely focused on.
Posted in Culture and tagged aesthetic, china, Chinese, Chu, cosmology, culture, Duan Wu, festival, mythology, poetry, Qu Yuan, shamanism, The Great Summons, verse, Warring States
Duan Wu (Dragon Boat) Festival
Summer is here again, with Dragon Boat Festival to mark it. This year, instead of delivering my culture tweets, I’ve put together an article, so that people interested to look further can read more about it. After all, Dragon Boat Festival is China’s major traditional summer festival, and probably the second most well-known celebratory event after Spring Festival.
Posted in Culture and tagged calamus, china, Chinese, culture, dragon boat, Dragon Boat Festival, Duan Wu, festival, herbs, mugwort, summer, tradition