drinking the morning green tea, the monk is calm. the flowers of chrysanthemum. -- Basho
When the Japanese adapted the Chinese 24-season calendar into 72-seasons they created a series of micro-seasons. Each one of these micro-seasons lasts five or six days.
Today, we are in the micro-season of “The Chrysanthemum Flowers” (Oct 13- Oct 17), which is part of the mini-season Cold Dew (Oct 8 – October 22).
This season marks the time of the Chongyang Festival or the Double Ninth Festival. This festival is traditionally held on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. “In Chinese, nine is regarded as the number of Yang (which means masculine as opposed to Yin which is feminine). The ninth day of the ninth month is the day that has two Yang numbers, and ‘chong’ in Chinese means double, which is how the name Chongyang was created.”(1). This has become a time for people to gather, drink chrysanthemum wine, read poetry, eat Chongyang cake, and show their prize flowers.
Since this holiday is connected to the lunar months, its date changes. In 2021, this festival will happen on October 14. In 2022, it will be held on October 4, and in 2023, the festival will be held on October 23.(1)
Like many festivals and traditions, the Double Ninth Festival has part of its roots in folklore. This particular festival is based on the legend of Huan Jing.
Legend of Huan Jing
Around the time of the East Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), there was a devil that lived in the Ruhe River. When the devil appeared, many people became sick with a plague and died.
A man named Huan Jing lived along the river. One year, he and his parents became sick with the plague. Huan Jing survived his illness, but his parents died. After his recovery, Huan Jing left his village in search of the Immortal with hopes that he would teach him how to get rid of the devil and the plague.
Huan Jing traveled a great distance and finally found the Immortal living in the mountains. The Immortal was so impressed by Huan Jing’s commitment to his people that he took him on as an apprentice. Huan Jing spent many years with the Immortal learning the skills to be an expert with the demon-slaying sword.
One day, the Immortal came to Huan Jing and told him that it would soon be the ninth day of the ninth month and the devil would return and bring sickness to the land. This was Huan Jing’s opportunity to return to his village and use his newly learned skills to defeat the devil. Huan Jing quickly left the mountains bringing with him the demon-slaying sword, expert martial arts skills, many cornus leaves (Zhuyu leaves), and a bottle of chrysanthemum wine.
He arrived in the village the night before the devil was to return. In the morning, Huan Jing ushered all the villagers up the mountainside and gave them each a cornus leaf and a glass of chrysanthemum wine. Around midday, the sky became dark and the wind began to howl. The devil emerged from the Ruhe River and rushed toward the village ready to cause sickness and suffering.
However, the devil was stopped in his tracks by the sweet smell of the chrysanthemum wine and the cornus leaves. The devil was unsure of what was happening. When the devil stopped to try and make sense of the situation, Huan Jing rushed down the mountain with his demon-slaying sword and engaged the devil in battle. After many rounds of intense combat, Huan Jing landed a fatal blow on the devil and the plague was eliminated from the land.
Since that time, people have climbed mountains, drank chrysanthemum wine, and carried cornus leaves on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. This is also why this festival is alternatively called the “Height Ascending Festival”. (2)
Poems about the Double Ninth Festival
Wang Wei a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty is said to have written this poem about the day.
On the Mountain Holiday Thinking of my Brothers in Shandong All alone in a foreign land, I am twice as homesick on this day. When brothers carry dogwood up the mountain, Each of them a branch -- and my branch missing.
The above version was translated by Witter Bynner(3). You may have noticed that the poem mentions the dogwood plant. That is because the cornus leaves identified in the legend of Huan Jing are part of the dogwood family.
Finally, we will close this investigation into the micro-season of “The Chrysanthemum Flower” with a haiku from Basho.
bloom quickly. the ninth day is very soon. the chrysanthemum. -Basho
Resources:
- Chongyang: TravelChinaGuide.com
- The Double Ninth Festival: China Today
- English versions of a Chinese poem about Double Ninth Day: China.org.cn
This is good knowing that Chines had a mini season for chrysanthemum flower to celebrate!
Hi Joanna, thanks for your comment and I am glad that you enjoyed the post.
Yes, it was fascinating to know
This Chrysanthemum flowers in red colour first time seeing , usually in Malaysia yellow
Colour only I saw 👌🌷🙏 this is so awesome and inspiring article also 👍🏻🌷👏😍
Thank you Thattamma, I am glad that you enjoyed this and thanks for the comment!
So welcome dear and happy weekend 🙏🌷☕️
Loved, loved, loved the post today! Thanks as always!
Hi Adele, Glad that you enjoyed it! Have a good weekend.
You too! Looking forward to Sunday morning poetry!
A wonderful tale, Mark! I love these stories from the past! Also, chrysanthemums, my mother’s favourite cut flowers. I would love to grow them in memory of her.
In Lev Parikian’s book, he begins this mini-season chapter with “Redwings Arrive”. A species of small thrush, with a red-orange patch on its flank, a visitor, mostly in the fields rather than gardens.
Enjoy your weekend.
Hi Ashley, Very nice addition to the story and interesting that you have the Redwings arriving at this point in time. Most of our birds have flown south, except for those that stay around all year. I am glad that you are enjoying Parikian’s book! I still haven’t got a copy yet. Have a great weekend.
Chrysanths were one of my mum’s favourite flowers too. The colours are just emblamatic of autumn.
I enjoy the stories and poems you bring to us, Mark. The changing seasons and everything they stand for is a joy. Thank you!
Hi Lesley, Thank you for your kind words and the connection to seasons. I am finding that these deeper connections between the natural world and our traditions very fascinating. It really highlights how we are not separate from nature, but a part of it. Hope all is well! Talk soon,
Stunning Mark!💖
Thank you Cindy. I am glad that you enjoyed it.
You’re so welcome Mark.. pleasure💖
Love how in-depth this is! The legend you discussed at the beginning is quite interesting to me. It sounds like an anime or manga plot line. Of course, now that I am thinking about it, anime and manga creators draw on their cultures’ folklore and mythology. I love seeing the roots of things! 🙂
Hi Tressa, I was also really fascinated in learning about stories behind many of our traditions. I wonder if there is an anime show about this? That would be an interesting addition to this post. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
I knew there was a reason why I liked dogwood trees and chrysanthemums 🙂
Right! There is so much inspiration in these little flowers. Thanks for sharing!