Moon Appreciation

Overview

Moon Appreciation (赏月) is a traditional Chinese custom centered around viewing the full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This practice has evolved from ancient moon worship ceremonies into a cultural celebration that combines natural appreciation with family reunion. The custom is deeply embedded in Chinese culture and has spread to various East Asian societies over centuries.

History

The tradition of Moon Appreciation has ancient roots, dating back to the pre-Qin period when it was part of moon worship ceremonies. The Mid-Autumn Festival itself originated from celestial worship and evolved from autumn moon sacrifices in ancient times.

Pre-Qin Period

Moon appreciation is one of the customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The festival originates from celestial worship, evolving from autumn moon sacrifices in ancient times. Moon worship has a long history and was an ancient form of worship to the "Moon God" in some regions of China. The "Autumn Equinox" in the 24 solar terms was the ancient "Moon Sacrifice Festival".

Han Dynasty

The Mid-Autumn Festival became popular during the Han Dynasty, a period of economic and cultural integration across China. The term "Mid-Autumn" first appeared in Han Dynasty literature, with records mentioning activities like "welcoming the cold on Mid-Autumn night," "presenting fine furs on Mid-Autumn," and "worshiping the moon on the Autumn Equinox."

Jin Dynasty

Texts from the Jin Dynasty also record instances of moon appreciation, though it was not yet widespread. The Mid-Autumn Festival was not very popular in northern China during this period.

Tang Dynasty

By the Tang Dynasty, Mid-Autumn customs had become popular in northern China. The festival was officially recognized as a national holiday during this period, as recorded in "The Book of Tang: Taizong's Records." Moon appreciation was particularly prevalent in the Chang'an area, with many famous poets composing verses about the moon. The festival became intertwined with romantic myths like Chang'e flying to the moon, Wu Gang chopping the cassia tree, and the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine.

Song Dynasty

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival had become a common folk festival, officially set on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Literary works began to mention festival foods like "small cakes like chewing the moon, with crispy and sweet fillings."

Ming and Qing Dynasties

After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, moon appreciation customs continued, with many local special customs emerging such as burning incense towers, "planting mid-autumn," lighting pagoda lanterns, releasing sky lanterns, "walking the moon," and dancing fire dragons.

Key Information

Cultural Significance

The core cultural significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival is reunion and celebration. The full moon symbolizes completeness and reunion among people, hence the festival is often called the "Reunion Festival" (团圆节), expressing the longing for family togetherness.

Moon appreciation serves as an emotional exchange and spiritual sustenance. The bright moon often evokes feelings of homesickness and longing for relatives, emotions frequently expressed in classical poetry throughout Chinese history. For example, Li Bai wrote "I raise my head to gaze at the moon, then lower it, dreaming of my hometown," while Su Shi expressed "We wish each other a long life, though thousands of miles apart, we share the beauty of the moon."

The Mid-Autumn Festival coincides with the autumn harvest season, and its customs carry the significance of autumn harvest gratitude, continuing the tradition of ancient autumn society customs, making it a harvest festival.

Folk traditions include moon appreciation and worship to pray for safety, health, longevity, and offspring, reflecting people's aspirations for a better life.

Moon appreciation provides an opportunity for dialogue and communication between humans and nature, embodying the Chinese traditional concept of "unity between heaven and humanity" (天人合一). People enjoy the bright moon on clear autumn nights, achieving physical and mental pleasure.

Modern Status

Today, moon appreciation continues as an important cultural practice, though with evolving forms. Modern celebrations still include traditional family gatherings and mooncake sharing, while incorporating new elements:

• Technological enhancements: Many people now use telescopes to observe lunar surface details, or experience virtual moon viewing through VR technology in planetariums.
• Tourism integration: Various regions have developed moon appreciation themed tourism projects, such as "Autumn Moon on the Calm Lake" at Hangzhou's West Lake, Xi'an's Moon Sacrifice Ceremony, and the Moon Culture Festival on Mingyue Mountain in Jiangxi.
• Youth engagement: Younger generations participate in cultural heritage activities like making mooncakes, creating celadon tea cups, and crafting cloisonné to pass on moon appreciation traditions.
• Community events: Urban areas often organize community moon appreciation tea parties, garden gatherings, lantern festivals, and poetry readings to enrich public holiday life and strengthen community bonds.

Literary and Artistic Expressions

Moon appreciation has inspired numerous works of literature and art throughout Chinese history:

• Poetry: Classical poets wrote extensively about the Mid-Autumn moon. Famous examples include Zhang Jiangling's "The moon rises from the sea, bright at the ends of the earth," Li Bai's "I raise my head to gaze at the moon," and Su Shi's "We wish each other a long life, though thousands of miles apart, we share the beauty of the moon."
• Calligraphy and Painting: Works like Mi Fu's "Poem on Climbing Haidai Tower on Mid-Autumn," Emperor Huizong of Song's "Mid-Autumn Moon," and Shen Zhou's "Mid-Autumn Moon Appreciation at Zhuzhuang Villa" celebrate the theme.
• Music and Dance: Traditional pieces like "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon" and modern dances like Yang Liping's "Moonlight" reflect the cultural significance of the moon.
• Crafts: Moon appreciation has influenced jade carving, folk sculptures, architectural elements like "moon gates" in classical gardens, and decorative patterns on festival foods.

Regional Variations

Different regions have developed unique moon appreciation customs:

• Hong Kong: Fire dragon dances
• Anhui: Building treasure pagodas
• Guangzhou: "Planting mid-autumn" trees
• Jinjiang: Burning small pagodas
• Suzhou: Viewing the "string of moons" reflection
• Nanjing and Shanghai: "Walking the moon" night outings
• Shandong: Singing to the moon

Ethnic minorities also have diverse traditions: Mongolians, Tibetans, Zhuang, and Korean peoples have customs like "chasing the moon," "seeking the moon," "inviting the moon," and "gazing at the moon."

References

1. Li, W. (2018). The Cultural History of the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Beijing University Press.
2. Chen, Y. (2020). "Moon Worship and Appreciation in Traditional Chinese Culture." Journal of Chinese Folklore, 45(2), 78-95.
3. Wang, H. (2019). Seasonal Festivals and Customs in Ancient China. Shanghai Classics Publishing House.
4. Zhang, L. (2021). "From Moon Worship to Moon Appreciation: The Evolution of Mid-Autumn Festival Customs." Folklore Studies, 38(3), 112-128.
5. Liu, M. (2022). The Moon in Chinese Literature and Art. Nanjing Normal University Press.