Overview
Xiao Nian, literally "Little New Year," is a traditional Chinese festival that marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year celebration period. This important cultural observance varies in date across different regions of China, typically falling on either the 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month. Xiao Nian is characterized by various customs including cleaning homes, preparing special foods, and honoring the Kitchen God (Zao Shen), who is believed to report the household's deeds to the Jade Emperor in heaven. The festival represents a transitional period when people prepare for the upcoming Lunar New Year while bidding farewell to the old year.
History
The origins of Xiao Nian can be traced back to ancient Chinese fire worship practices. Historical records of the festival date back to the Eastern Han Dynasty, as evidenced by Cui Shi's "Simin Yuejing" (四民月令), which states: "On the day after the La festival, it is called the 'Little New Year.' Wine is offered to elders, and congratulations are made to rulers and teachers." [14]
During the pre-Qin period, Xiao Nian originated from ancient reverence for fire and was a sacrificial festival. The Xia Dynasty already revered the Kitchen God as a major deity. By the Western Zhou Dynasty, various rituals became more standardized, with Kitchen God worship included in the "Five Sacrifices" (五祀), which were performed according to the seasons: "Spring sacrifices to the door, summer to the stove, sixth month to the central hearth, autumn to the gate, and winter to the well." The "Book of Rites" (礼记·月令) also records: "In the first month of summer... sacrifice to the stove, offering the first part of the lung." [32]
Key Information
| Region | Date | Common Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern China | 24th day of 12th lunar month | Traditional Xiao Nian | Most southern regions celebrate Xiao Nian on the 24th day. Historical records such as Zhou Chu's "Feng Ji" (风土记) from the Jin Dynasty and Fan Chengda's "Ji Zao Ci" (祭灶词) from the Song Dynasty all document celebrating "Xiao Nian on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month." |
| Northern China | 23rd day of 12th lunar month | Northern Xiao Nian | Northern regions also celebrated on the 24th day before the mid-Qing Dynasty, as recorded in "Qing Ji Lu": "The night of the 24th day of the 12th lunar month is called Nian Si Ye, the night when the Kitchen God is sent off." From the mid-Qing Dynasty onward, the imperial court held the Heaven Worship Ceremony on the 23rd day and also worshiped the Kitchen God on this day to "save expenses." Common people followed suit, celebrating one day earlier. |
| Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai | Eve of Chinese New Year | Xiao Ye | This region traditionally calls Chinese New Year "Da Ye" (Big New Year), with the night before referred to as "Xiao Ye" (Little New Year). Historically, the night of the 24th day was called "Er Shi Si Ye" and was the day to send off the Kitchen God, also known as "Little New Year's Eve." |
| Nanjing and others | 15th day of 1st lunar month (Lantern Festival) | Xiao Nian | Legend has it that after Emperor Chengzu of Ming usurped the throne, Nanjing citizens resented his tyranny and cruelty. They used the Lantern Festival on the 15th day to commemorate the benevolent rule of the previous emperor, making it their Xiao Nian. |
| Sichuan, Guizhou and other parts | Eve of Chinese New Year | Xiao Nian | In some southwestern regions, people celebrate Xiao Nian on the eve of Chinese New Year, while their "Big New Year" falls on the 14th or 15th day of the first lunar month. |
The festival evolved through different dynasties. In the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties period, the Kitchen God was given a name. According to Zhou Chu's "Feng Ji": "On the night of the 24th day of the 12th lunar month, sacrifice to the stove, as the Kitchen God goes to heaven the next day to report on the year's affairs, hence the sacrifice on the first day." [13]
During the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties period, Du Taiqing's "Yu Zhu Dian" named the Kitchen God "Su Li, with his wife named Bo Jie." [17] In the Tang Dynasty, Kitchen God worship was relatively simple, as reflected in Luo Yin's "Song Zao": "A cup of clear tea and a wisp of smoke, the Kitchen God Emperor ascends to the blue sky." [20]
In the Song, Liao, Western Xia, and Jin periods, the celebration became more elaborate. "Dongjing Menghua Lu" records: "On the 24th day, the New Year begins. People invite monks and Taoists to recite scriptures, prepare fruits and wine to send off the gods, and burn substitute paper money for the whole family. They post pictures of stove horses on the stove and smear the stove door with wine dregs, called 'drunk Siming.' At night, lamps are lit under beds, called 'illuminating empty consumption.'" Additionally, "jiao ya tang" (glutinous sugar) was offered to stick to the Kitchen God's mouth, preventing him from speaking ill of the family. [20]
During the Qing Dynasty, Kitchen God worship was traditionally on the 24th day. In the Yongzheng period, the imperial court began holding the Heaven Worship Ceremony on the 23rd day and also worshiped the Kitchen God on this day to "save expenses." Common people followed suit, celebrating one day earlier, gradually forming the tradition of "officials on the 23rd, common people on the 24th, boat people on the 25th." [13] [15] [24]
Cultural Significance
Xiao Nian holds profound cultural significance in Chinese society. It represents the beginning of "busy year" (忙年) preparations, when people start purchasing New Year goods, cleaning their homes, and performing Kitchen God worship. [9-11] The festival is not exclusive to the Han Chinese; ethnic groups like the Manchu and Mongol also observe it. The Han and Manchu people "send the Kitchen God to heaven," while Mongols "send the Fire God." Cleaning houses, slaughtering pigs, and posting couplets are common traditions for Han and Manchu people, while Mongols decorate their yurts, prepare new saddles for their horses, and give livestock with hada (ceremonial scarves) to friends and relatives. [25]
The Kitchen God worship reflects the common people's pursuit of "sufficient food and clothing." [2] [11-12] By assigning the Kitchen God the role of "Siming" (司命), or "Director of Fate," people use the sacred ritual of sending off and welcoming the deity to educate the household members to be frugal and diligent, thereby promoting traditional Chinese virtues. [25]
Various legends surround Xiao Nian, including the story of Zhang Zao Wang, an ancient plasterer skilled in building stoves who was posthumously deified as the Kitchen God. Another popular tale tells of Zhang Sheng, a commoner who squandered his family fortune and died in a stove, later becoming the Kitchen God who reports to heaven annually. [22]
Modern Status
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, educational普及 and urbanization accelerated the disappearance of traditional earth stoves, and Kitchen God worship ceremonies gradually declined as people's faith in the Kitchen God weakened. [32] However, the tradition of "celebrating Xiao Nian" has been preserved as a unique custom of the Chinese nation.
In contemporary China, Xiao Nian customs vary by region but generally include thorough house cleaning ("sao chen" or "sweeping dust"), preparing special foods, and posting new decorations. The festival has become an important cultural symbol that connects modern Chinese people with their traditional heritage.
References
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Kuhn, Philip A. (1990). Soulstealers: The Chinese Sorcery Scare of 1768. Harvard University Press.