The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the Double Ninth Festival, a traditional Chinese festival for celebrating harvests, praying for longevity, and showing respect and care for the elderly. It is also known as the “Chongjiu Festival” (Double Ninth Festival). According to the I Ching (Book of Changes), the number “six” is considered a yin number, while “nine” is a yang number. On the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, both the month and the day are associated with the yang number nine, hence the name “Chongyang” (Double Yang) or “Chongjiu” (Double Nine). But how much do you know about this festival?
Historical Background of the Double Ninth Festival
The Double Ninth Festival originated in the pre-Qin period (before 221 BCE). Back then, there were already customs of worshipping ancestors, holding feasts, and praying for longevity during the September harvest season. In the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), it was officially designated as a folk festival and gradually developed into one of the representatives of traditional culture. During the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE), with the development of cities and the growth of the citizen class, celebrations for the festival became even more popular, and this tradition has continued to the present day.
Cultural Implications
The term “Chongyang” (Double Yang) comes from the I Ching, embodying the philosophy of “extreme yang giving rise to yin” and “yang declining as yin grows”. The ancients believed that the number nine represents yang, so the 9th day of the 9th lunar month marks a time of extreme yang energy, as well as the beginning of yin energy’s emergence. On this day, people engage in activities such as climbing heights for a distant view and admiring chrysanthemums while composing poems, symbolizing their prayers for longevity, health, and happiness.
Customs of the Double Ninth Festival
- Mountain Climbing
The custom of climbing mountains on the Double Ninth Festival stems from the climatic characteristics of this season and the ancients’ reverence for mountains. On this day, people choose to climb mountains, enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery, and pray for good health and longevity. In some places, mountain-climbing competitions are held to allow people to exercise in a joyful atmosphere.
- Respecting the Elderly
The number “nine” in “Double Ninth” (九九) is homophonous with “longevity” (久久) in Chinese, so it is naturally associated with the meaning of long life. In ancient times, folk customs on the Double Ninth Festival included climbing heights to pray for blessings, worshipping gods and ancestors, and holding feasts to pray for longevity. In 1989, China designated the 9th day of the 9th lunar month as “Senior Citizens’ Day”, combining tradition with modernity and turning this traditional festival into a new-style occasion for respecting, honoring, loving, and assisting the elderly.
- Admiring Chrysanthemums and Drinking Wine
Since the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 CE) and the Wei and Jin dynasties (220–420 CE), gathering to drink wine, admire chrysanthemums, and compose poems on the Double Ninth Festival has been a popular practice. In traditional Chinese customs, chrysanthemums are regarded as “flowers of longevity” and symbolize long life. They are also praised by scholars as a symbol of perseverance against frost. Drinking chrysanthemum wine became prevalent as early as the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). As recorded in Xijing Zaji (Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital) by Liu Xin of the Han Dynasty: “When chrysanthemums are in full bloom each year, their stems and leaves are picked and brewed together with glutinous rice; the wine is ready to drink on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month the following year.” In ancient times, chrysanthemum wine was seen as an “auspicious wine” for warding off disasters and praying for blessings. While drinking it, people also pray for good health and longevity, making it a must-drink during the festival.
- Autumn Sun-Drying
In mountainous areas of Hunan, Guangxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, and other provinces, local villagers have limited flat land due to the complex terrain. They dry crops by spreading or hanging them on the front and back of houses, windowsills, and rooftops. Over time, this has evolved into a traditional agricultural custom. Visiting rural areas to appreciate folk customs and watch the autumn sun-drying has become a popular form of rural tourism.
- Wearing Cornus
During the Double Ninth Festival, people like to wear cornel (a type of dogwood) to ward off evil spirits and seek good fortune. Cornus is also known as “the patron against evil” (辟邪翁) in Chinese. It is a fruit that can be used as a traditional Chinese medicine. The ancients believed that cornel could repel insects, dispel dampness, and drive away pathogenic winds, so they wore it on their arms or ground it into powder to put in sachets.
- Ancestor Worship
The Double Ninth Festival is one of the four major traditional Chinese festivals for ancestor worship (the others are New Year’s Eve, Qingming Festival, and Zhongyuan Festival). The custom of worshipping ancestors on this festival is still prevalent in the Lingnan region (southern China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan). Every year on the Double Ninth Festival, people hold ancestor-worship activities to strengthen their cultural identity and enhance the cohesion of families and society.
- Flying Kites
Flying kites is one of the main customs of the Double Ninth Festival in southern China. According to legend, flying kites on this day is to “release bad luck” — the higher and farther the kite flies, the more bad luck is carried away and dissipated.
Significance of the Double Ninth Festival
- Cultural Inheritance
As an important part of traditional Chinese culture, the Double Ninth Festival is not only a form of festival celebration but also a carrier of cultural inheritance. By celebrating it, we can learn about and inherit the history and cultural traditions of the Chinese nation, thereby better promoting Chinese culture.
- Respecting the Elderly and Caring for the Young
The Double Ninth Festival emphasizes the traditional virtue of respecting the elderly. On this special day, people visit elderly family members, show care for them, and express their respect and affection. This traditional virtue still holds great significance in modern society, helping to promote family harmony and social stability.