More Lanterns (Mid Autumn Festival)

I came across these lovely lanterns in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST).  Since several people seemed to really like seeing these, I thought I would post them.  Mid-Autumn Festival has already past but some things like this are still around in Hong Kong.  As September ends, they will slowly disappear.  Already, there are no moon cakes it seems. All of these lanterns were part of a single scene located by Victoria Harbour.   Again, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves:

The moon…

Mid Autumn #2 – Lanterns

I’ll keep this post brief, and let the pictures speak for themselves. Lanterns are everywhere right now.  I think that when westerners imagine ‘lanterns’ we think of stodgy oil lamps.  Occasionally,we might even recall the bright red lanterns depicted in film.  These red lanterns are omnipresent, but are nothing when compared to the detail and craftsmanship of these lamps.  This pictures were taken near Victoria Park, and each scene depicts a story, ideal, or aspect of the Mid-Autumn Festival.  Some of the stories are Japanese, Korean, or of other Asian origin – each seemed to center around the Moon.  So, enjoy:

Rabbits keeping Chang-E company!

This story centered around a Japanese crop myth.

This myth was about Korean women and drumming.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Who wouldn’t get behind a festival that celebrates with mini-cakes, lanterns with riddles, and dragons?!  As an added bonus, you get a day off work!  The Mid-Autumn Festival is basically a celebration of the moon.  Folklore has a few possible origins for the holiday (or at least its importance).  Here are my favorite two:

1. The Story of Chang-E : Even under this heading, the versions are manifold.  The standard elements are a woman, named Chang-E, a immortal pill or elixir, and a man, named Houyi, and, of course, the Moon.  Chang-E and Houyi are lovers, though in the stories their relationship can be tenuous (sometimes Houyi is a tyrant or unhappy with the actions of Chang-E). Basically, Chang-E always winds up eating or drinking the immortal substance and floating off to the moon.  She then becomes the Woman in the Moon or a Goddess of the Moon.  Strangely, this is the point at which a rabbit usually shows up in the story.  The rabbit either makes immortal pills and elixirs, sometimes makes moon cakes, or it simply keeps Chang-E company on the moon.

2. Uprising against the Mongols: According to rumor, during the 14th century, while under oppressive rule by the Mongols, the Chinese used moon cakes to pass revolutionary messages.  This supposedly led to a successful revolt, because the Mongols did not eat moon cake.  This story is particularly humorous to me because it was told to me by one of the teachers here at the Institute.  He suggested that any time I have a message to send, I should send it through a pastry so that it would remain secret, and that my recipient would always be happy to receive a free baked good. Note to future imperial powers, though, eat the food of the people you subjugate.

Now the festival is celebrated by eating moon cakes, lighting lanterns, and little parties everywhere. Tonight, I plan on traveling down to Causeway Bay to see some Dragon Dances.  Hopefully, I’ll get some good pictures.