Unveiling the History and Legends of Ghost Festival
The Hungry Ghosts: Unveiling the History and Legends of Ghost Festival A Brief History of Ghost Festival The Ghost Festival, also known as Zhong Yuan Jie or Yu Lan Jie, is a traditional Chinese festival that dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.). The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, which falls between August and September in the Western calendar. This is believed to be the time when ghosts and spirits come out from the underworld to visit their living descendants. The origins of Ghost Festival are rooted in Buddhism and Taoism, but it has since been adopted by other cultures such as Confucianism. The festival was originally called Ullambana in Sanskrit, which means “deliverance from misery”, and was celebrated to help alleviate suffering of trapped souls in purgatory. In Chinese tradition, it is believed that during this time restless
