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“Warmly Welcoming the Dual Festivals—Heartfelt Joy in the Capital of Jin”—Jinyuan Scenic Area Invites You to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Folk Customs
2024-09-13
Year after year, the Mid-Autumn Festival brings moonlit nights; in heaven and on earth, we share this beautiful moment. For Chinese people, the Lunar Mid-Autumn Festival is the second most important holiday after the Spring Festival. From the heartfelt wish “May we all share the beauty of the full moon, though thousands of miles apart,” to the wistful question “Whose home will the autumnal thoughts alight upon?” it is only when families come together, sit down to a shared meal, and savor a few mooncakes that the Mid-Autumn Festival feels truly complete. This festival not only embodies people’s cherished hopes for a full moon and family reunion, but also carries forward a cultural memory and emotional bond that have endured for millennia.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon-Worship Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Moon-Bowing Festival, the Moon Festival, or the Reunion Festival, is a traditional folk holiday in China. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Chinese customs of autumn sacrifices and moon worship. The Book of Rites records: “The Son of Heaven worships the sun in spring and the moon in autumn; he worships the sun in the morning and the moon in the evening.” Here, “evening moon” refers to the ritual of moon worship. By the Han dynasty, the festival had already taken shape; during the Tang dynasty, the custom of admiring the moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival began to flourish and was officially designated as the Mid-Autumn Festival. In his Preface to the Poem on Enjoying the Moon in Chang’an, Ouyang Zhan (785–c. 827) wrote: “August falls in the autumn, marking the beginning of the season and the end of the month; the fifteenth day of the lunar month is the night when the moon shines brightest, as if it were suspended among the clouds. According to the principles of heaven, the temperatures of cold and heat are balanced; according to the lunar cycle, the spirit of the moon is full and round—hence the name ‘Mid-Autumn.’”
The Mid-Autumn Festival has bequeathed us countless beautiful and moving legends—Chang’e’s flight to the moon, Wu Gang’s quest for the osmanthus flower, the Jade Rabbit pounding elixirs, the tale of Emperor Xuanzong, and more—inspiring generation after generation to savor their meanings, let their imaginations roam, and dream of brighter horizons.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is often regarded as a symbol of homesickness. On this special occasion, moon-gazing has become a cherished traditional custom. Written records of folk moon-gazing activities during the Mid-Autumn Festival first appear in the Wei and Jin dynasties, though it had not yet become a widespread practice at that time. By the Tang dynasty, moon-gazing and moon-playing had grown remarkably popular, and many renowned poets composed celebrated verses celebrating the moon in their works.
Mooncakes, also known as “moon rounds,” “harvest cakes,” “palace cakes,” and “reunion cakes,” were originally offerings presented to the moon deity during the ancient Mid-Autumn Festival. At first, mooncakes were used as ritual gifts to honor the moon god; over time, however, enjoying mooncakes while admiring the full moon came to be seen as a powerful symbol of family reunion. Symbolizing complete togetherness, mooncakes have become a quintessential festive treat—used in moon-worship ceremonies and exchanged as gifts among relatives and friends.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, numerous recreational activities take place, with lantern play being the most prominent. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of China’s three major lantern festivals, and it is customary to enjoy lanterns during the celebration. Of course, unlike the Lantern Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival does not feature large-scale lantern exhibitions; lantern play is mainly confined to family settings and among children. As early as the Northern Song dynasty, the “Old Tales of Lin’an” recorded that on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, people would set “a single red” lantern afloat on the river for fun. Lantern play during the Mid-Autumn Festival is particularly concentrated in the southern regions. 。
Once again, the Mid-Autumn Festival moon graces the sky, bringing with it a joyous season for all. During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, the Jinyuan Scenic Area will host a series of “Welcoming the Dual Festivals—Heartfelt Joy in the Capital of Jin” events, inviting you to step into Jinyuan, savor traditional Mid-Autumn customs, and carry forward intangible cultural heritage.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, the autumn air is crisp and clear.
Dress in elegant, flowing Hanfu.
In the time-honored and picturesque Jin Garden
Enjoy the Autumn Scenery
Watch Chinese-style dance
Worshiping the Moon and Praying for Blessings
Immersive experience
A Romantic Experience with Chinese Style~
Event Date: September 17, 2024
16:00-17:30
Bright and radiant, like frost.
Each mooncake exudes a fragrant aroma.
Wine flows freely, cup after cup.
On this occasion of family reunion,
During traditional festivals
Bring your child along to Jin Garden!
Making lanterns, making mooncakes, and solving riddles
Let us
Enjoy a feast of folk culture
Experience the unique charm of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Traditional Chinese romance~
Event Date: September 17, 2024
15:00–18:00
“Reading Idiom Allusions and Exploring the Origins of the Three Jins” Public-service commentary
As the “hometown of Emperor Tang Yao, the ruins of the Great Xia, and the cradle of the Three Jins,” Quwo boasts a long history and a profound cultural heritage. In ancient times, the century-long hegemony of the State of Jin fostered a vibrant intellectual renaissance during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, making Quwo the cradle from which China’s finest traditional culture emerged. More than two thousand years ago, Duke Wen of Jin, who once dominated the Central Plains, launched his illustrious half-century-long hegemonic campaign right here, thereby securing for the State of Jin the historic reputation of being “unrivaled under heaven.” During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, let us follow the guide’s footsteps into the Jin Garden and the Duke Wen of Jin Exhibition Hall to explore the origins of the Three Jins.
Event Date: September 15, 2024
10:00 AM
Quwo County Sanitation Garden Service Center
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