MALLORY RANSOM
The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated throughout China and other Asian countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Chinese Folk religionists, Buddhists, and Taoists observe this holiday. The origins of this festival are unclear, though it is thought to have emerged from traditional Taoist and folk religious beliefs that predate Buddhism.
Buddhists call it Yulanpen or Ullambana
Taoists call it Zhongyuan.
Similar to the Day of the Dead or Halloween
Chinese culture and customs practice ancestor worship. It is believed that the deceased are not dead, but they exist on a different plane than the mortal one. It is customary to look after deceased loved ones on their journey to the afterlife because they have the power to influence the fate of the living; if their journey is unsuccessful, they can come back to cause trouble for the living.
The strongly held belief that the dead live on a similar plane as the living pushes forth the concept of ancestor worship and filial piety. The living provide goods and sacrifices to their dead loved ones, ensuring they will have all they need in the afterlife.
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a month-long event starting in the seventh lunar month (Ghost Month). Ghost Day is celebrated on the 15th of the month
At the beginning of the Ghost Month, all ghosts, not just personal distressed ancestors but all the unhappy dead (including hungry ghosts), are released from Hell and allowed to visit the land of the living. Some demons can be bribed with paper money (hell money) to dissuade them from harming humans.
It is not uncommon to see offerings in the streets. These offers are used to appease the ghosts. The living offer food, drink, hell money, and paper goods. Food and money are placed on family alters or on roadside stands- it is not unusual to see people in the streets burning hell money so their loved ones can purchase luxuries for a comfortable afterlife. Roast pork, chicken, bowls of rice, mandarin oranges, sweets, and wine are common food offerings. Customarily people will take the time to make paper goods. The most popular are paper houses.
People can also give offerings to Buddhist and Taoist monks who conduct rituals such as throwing rice into the air.
On the very last day of the Hungry Ghost festival, large banquets may be held with lavish amounts of food and drinks as well as loud music and entertainment. Seats are left empty for the ghosts to attend.
In some places, the proceedings are watched over by brightly dressed effigies of Phor Thor Kong, king of the underworld, and sometimes accompanied by assistants. Demons can be bribed with hell money to refrain from harming the living or to help smooth the way for dead ancestors.
At the end of the celebration, the effigies are burned.
The Exhibit
Mayborn Museum
