Dajiao
Dajiao, (Chinese: 打醮)[1] called the Taiping Qingjiao or Taai ping ching jiu in Hong Kong, (太平清醮) is a Taoist ritual and festival which is performed every year.
| Dajiao | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 打醮 | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Worshipping the gods | ||||||||||||
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| Taai ping ching jiu | |||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 太平清醮 | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | The Purest Sacrifice Celebrated for Great Peace | ||||||||||||
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The ritual is to pray and request the Taoist Deities to bestow peace and harmony in the particular neighborhood or location. Pak Tai is the most popular Chinese Deity for this religious service and rituals. Believers have to abstain from meat and eat vegetarian food at the festival. It is performed across Greater China: Sichuan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong and Hong Kong.
Hong Kong
The festival name is transliterated as Tai Ping Ching Chiu from Cantonese. Some of these festivals are called Da Jiu Festival, a famous one of which is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. This festival is also practiced in Hong Kong in Sheung Shui Wai, New Territories, Yuen Long and Kam Sheung Road.
References
- New Journey Through History 1A. Kan, Nelson Y. Y. and Tang, Miranda K. L. Published by Aristo Education Press LTD.
Further reading
- Choi, C.C. (1990). "Studies on Hong Kong Jiao Festivals" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 30: 26–43. ISSN 1991-7295.
- Chan, Wing-Hoi (1986). "Observations at the Jiu festival of Shek O and Tai Long Wan,1986" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 26: 78–101. ISSN 1991-7295.
- Chan, Wing-hoi (1989). "The Dangs of Kam Tin and Their Jiu Festival" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 29: 302–375. ISSN 1991-7295.
