The Double Ninth Festival A Lesser-Known Chinese Tradition
The Double Ninth Festival🧓
The Double Ninth Festival, also known as Chongyang Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar. In the I Ching (Book of Changes), the number nine is considered a yang (positive) number. Since the date involves two nines, it is called “Double Yang” or “Chongyang” (literally “double yang”). Because both the day and the month contain the number nine, it’s also referred to as the “Double Nine.”
In ancient beliefs, the repetition of nine symbolizes the return to unity and the start of a new cycle, which was seen as an auspicious sign. In ancient times, the festival was marked by activities like climbing to high places to pray for blessings, offering sacrifices to deities and ancestors, and holding banquets to wish for long life.
Today, these traditions are still observed, with the added emphasis on showing respect for the elderly. The two main themes of the modern Chongyang Festival are enjoying autumn by climbing high places and honoring the elderly.
*The Double Ninth Festival Climbing Tradition.
*The Double Ninth Festival Climbing Tradition.
The Double Ninth Festival originates from ancient celestial worship, dating back to antiquity. It became widespread during the Western Han Dynasty and reached its peak after the Tang Dynasty. Historical records show that during the early autumn, people would hold harvest rituals to offer thanks to heaven and their ancestors.
The festival was originally a form of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, with ancient farmers giving offerings to the gods and ancestors for their blessings. The Tang Dynasty was a significant period when traditional holiday customs were shaped and standardized, many of which have been passed down to today.
Over time, the festival has combined a variety of customs and cultural practices, accumulating rich cultural significance. In folk tradition, the number nine, being the largest single-digit number, symbolizes longevity and is associated with wishes for the health and longevity of the elderly.
On May 20, 2006, the Chongyang Festival was included in the first list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the State Council of China. Additionally, in 2012, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed a revision to the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, officially designating the ninth day of the ninth lunar month as “Elderly Day.”
Origins of the Festival🪜
The name “Chongyang” comes from the I Ching, where the number nine is considered the “yang” number. In the I Ching, six is designated as a yin number and nine as a yang number. Nine is also seen as an extreme or ultimate number, representing the highest heavens, referred to as the “nine heavens.”
As the number nine is the ultimate yang number, the combination of two nines is believed to signify renewal and the beginning of a new cycle, symbolizing good fortune. Hence, ancient people viewed the Double Ninth Festival as an auspicious day worth celebrating. The day is also associated with longevity, and people would host banquets to wish for a long life.
The combination of the ninth day of the ninth month gives the festival its name “Double Nine,” and because both numbers are yang, it is also called “Double Yang.” In the Ming Dynasty, the scholar Zhang Dai wrote, “Nine is a yang number; with both the day and the month in alignment, it is called ‘Double Yang.'”
*Painting of Climbing during the Double Ninth Festival
One of the main customs of the festival is climbing to high places, giving the festival the nickname “Climbing Festival.” This tradition originates from the weather conditions at that time of year and ancient people’s reverence for mountains. Additionally, the Taoist belief that the ninth day of the ninth month is the best time for ascending to heaven and becoming immortal ties into the custom.
In Taoism, it was believed that on this day, clear yang energy rises while murky yin energy sinks. The higher one climbs, the more they could absorb the clear yang energy and thus ascend to immortality. The custom of holding banquets on Chongyang also represents people’s wishes for the health and longevity of the elderly. In ancient times, this custom was widely practiced across various regions.
Chongyang Festival, along with other traditional festivals like New Year’s Eve, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and the Ghost Festival (on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month), is a time for ancestor worship. In China’s ancient agrarian society, great importance was placed on the experiences and wisdom passed down by ancestors. The tradition of ancestor worship, showing respect, and honoring one’s roots has been part of Chinese culture for thousands of years.
Historical Evolution⏳
The origins of ancient festivals are closely tied to early beliefs, rituals, astronomy, and the lunar calendar, reflecting a deep reverence for nature and gratitude. The Double Ninth Festival has ancient roots. In the early days, customs varied greatly across different regions, and during the pre-Qin period, the traditions of Chongyang were not widely recorded.
The earliest references to the festival can be found in the Lüshi Chunqiu (The Annals of Lü Buwei), where it mentions sacrifices to the gods during the autumn harvest season. These activities coincided with the timing of the Double Ninth Festival. The festival became more widespread during the Han Dynasty, a period when cultural exchange between northern and southern China led to the fusion of various customs.
One of the earliest written references to the practice of wishing for longevity on Chongyang comes from the Han Dynasty’s Western Capital Miscellany. This custom likely originated from the belief in Taoist alchemy and the pursuit of longevity through the consumption of medicinal herbs. Banqueting, a major part of the festival, is believed to have evolved from pre-Qin harvest feasts.
The first written record of the festival being called “Chongyang” dates back to the Three Kingdoms period. In a letter from Wei Emperor Cao Pi to Zhong Yao, he writes, “As the years pass, the ninth day of the ninth month returns. Nine is a yang number, and with both the day and month in alignment, people celebrate it as a symbol of longevity, so they hold banquets and gatherings.”
During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the festival gained popularity, especially among poets and scholars. For instance, the famous poet Tao Yuanming mentioned both chrysanthemums and wine in his Preface to the Ninth Day. By this time, the customs of drinking chrysanthemum wine and admiring chrysanthemums had become common, and the festival had taken on a more refined and literary flavor.
*Painting of Climbing during the Double Ninth Festival
* Chrysanthemum Wine of Double Ninth Festival.
Folk Customs🍃
As the festival developed, it integrated many different cultural and folk traditions. The main customs include hiking to high places, enjoying scenic views, admiring chrysanthemums, collecting medicinal herbs, hosting banquets for the elderly, eating Chongyang cakes, making medicinal wines, and drinking chrysanthemum wine.
The tradition of climbing to high places stems from the belief that during this time, clear yang energy rises, while murky yin energy sinks. Climbing to higher ground allows people to absorb more of the beneficial yang energy, which is believed to promote health and longevity. During this season, the crisp autumn air makes it an ideal time for hiking and outdoor activities.
In some southern rural areas of China, the festival also coincides with the tradition of “sun-drying” or “autumn drying” crops. This activity involves laying out freshly harvested crops to dry in the sun, and it has become a popular attraction for tourists interested in rural culture.
Chongyang Cake🎂
Eating Chongyang cake is another key custom. The cake, also known as “flower cake” or “five-colored cake,” varies in form and preparation but is typically layered. Traditional Chongyang cakes are made with nine layers, resembling a pagoda, and are often decorated with small sheep figures, symbolizing the homophone for “yang” (sheep). In some regions, people place a small red flag or light a candle on the cake, which is said to symbolize “climbing” to a higher status.
Chrysanthemum viewing is also a common activity during Chongyang Festival, earning it the nickname “Chrysanthemum Festival.” Chrysanthemums are celebrated for their resilience and are seen as symbols of longevity. Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, people have gathered to drink wine, admire chrysanthemums, and compose poetry. In Chinese tradition, chrysanthemums are associated with long life, and the flower also symbolizes perseverance in the face of adversity.
Finally, chrysanthemum wine has been a traditional drink for centuries. The custom of drinking it during Chongyang dates back to the Han Dynasty. Chrysanthemum wine was believed to have medicinal properties, promoting health and longevity. In the Wei Dynasty, Cao Pi gave chrysanthemums to Zhong Yao on Chongyang, wishing him a long life. The tradition of making and drinking chrysanthemum wine continued through the Ming and Qing dynasties, where it was seen as a popular health tonic.