Chinese religion has many different expressions. Convictions about the nature of the universe, the spiritual realm, and people can vary from person to person. Chinese religion has no formal infastructure or authority; rather, "Chinese religion" is a term describing the various interaction of different religious and philosophical traditions that have been influential in China, including, but not limited to, Chinese folk religion, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.
Several traditional Chinese holidays and festivals are celebrated throughout the year. The most well-known Chinese holiday is Chinese New Year, which is celebrated in Chinatowns all over the world to the delight of Chinese and non-Chinese alike. Other holidays celebrate the seasons and honor deceased ancestors. The most important holidays in Chinese religion are the following:
Sacred days in Chinese religion
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival) is the most important holiday in China and for Chinese people around the world. ### Autumn Moon Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival, Moon Festival, or, less commonly, Mooncake Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday falling on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar (usually late September). ### Ghost Festival
The Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. ### Chinese Buddhist Festivals
Below is a list of the holy days that Chinese Buddhists celebrate by visiting Buddhist temples to make offerings of prayers, incense, fruits, flowers and donations. On such days they observe the moral precepts as well as having only vegetarian food. ### Qing Ming Jie (Tomb Sweeping Day)
Qing Ming Jie or Ching Ming Festival ("Pure Brightness Festival") is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 106th day after the winter solstice, which occurs on April 4 or April 5 of the Gregorian calendar. ## Chinese Buddhist Holidays
Below is a list of the holy days that Chinese Buddhists celebrate by visiting Buddhist temples to make offerings of prayers, incense, fruits, flowers and donations. On such days they observe the moral precepts as well as having only vegetarian food.
The dates given are based on the Chinese Lunar system so that 1.1 means the 'First day of the First lunar moon' and so on.
8.12 — Buddha Sakyamuni's Enlightenment Day 30.12 — Avatamsaka Bodisattava's Day 1.1 — Maitreya Buddha's Birthday 9.1 — Sakra Devaraja's Brithday 8.2 — Sakyamuni's Renunciation Day 15.2 — Sakyamuni Buddha's Mahaparinirvana Day 19.2 — Birthday of Kuan Shih Yin P'usa 21.2 — Birthday of Pu Hsien P'usa 16.3 — Birthday of Cundi P'usa 23.3 — Birthday of Marichi Devata 4.4 — Birthday of Wen-shu P'usa 8.4 — Birthday of Buddha Sakyamuni 15.4 — Vesak Day 28.4 — Birthday of Yao-Wang P'ua (Bhaisajyaraja Bodhisattva) 3.6 — Birthday of Wei-to 10.6 — Birthday of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) 19.6 — Enlightenment Day of Kuan Shih Yin P'usa 13.7 — Birthday of Ta-Shih Chi P'sua 15.7 — Yu-lan-pen (Ullambana) Ceremony, for feeding hungry ghosts 30.7 — Birthday of Ti-tsang P'usa 28.8 — Birthday of Buddha Jan-teng (Dipankara Buddha) 19.9 — Kuan Shih Yin P'usa's Renunciation Day 30.9 — Birthday of Yao-shi Fwo (Bhaisajyaguru Buddha) 5.10 — Anniversary of the death of Ta-mo (Bodhidharma) 17.11 — Birthday of O-mi-to Fwo (Amitabha Buddha)
Source
- - "Chinese Buddhist Festivals." Buddhanet Buddhist Studies.