A useful link that I found on the Buddhism mailing list: alternative medication: Juice fasting is an advanced method of detoxification that speeds the elimination of toxins from the body - this method is called: Detox - juicing. Funnily enough, the advertisement on this page is McDonald "i'm lovin' it"- premium breast strips.
Today is the mooncake festival!
THERE are several stories about the origins of mooncakes and the myths and legends behind the Mooncake Festival.
Today is the mooncake festival!
THERE are several stories about the origins of mooncakes and the myths and legends behind the Mooncake Festival.
One of the more romantic myths is that Chang-O, the most beautiful woman of Chinese mythology stole the elixir of life that her husband had obtained with great difficulty from the Royal Mother.
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The story goes like this:
The story goes like this:
Long ago, the earth was in a state of havoc because there were 10 suns in the sky, and these were the sons of the Jade Emperor.
Rivers dried up, the land became barren, and many people died.
Seeing the death and destruction caused by his sons, the Jade Emperor took this matter to the god Hou Yi. The Emperor asked Hou Yi to persuade his sons to rise up away from the earth to end the catastrophe.
When Hou Yi asked the suns to leave the sky, they refused. Made angry by their defiance, Hou Yi, a great archer, launched arrows at the suns, shooting them down one by one until his wife Chang-O pleaded with him to save one sun to keep the earth warm and bright.
Knowing that the Jade Emperor was furious at the slaying of his sons, Hou Yi and Chang-O were forced to stay on earth.
Chang-O was unhappy, so her husband tried to win back her favour by gathering herbs that would give them once again the power to ascend to heaven. Chang-O remained angry, however, and ate all the herbs herself. She flew up to the moon, where she remains alone, living in the Moon Palace. The Tang poet, Li Shang-yin wrote the above verse on Chang O's sad story three thousand years later, and the story of Chang-O's flight to the moon has persisted since among the people of the world. There are several versions of this story, but this is the more popular version.
On the 15th of the 8th lunar month every year (this year it falls on September 24), when the moon is at its brightest and loveliest, Chinese people around the world look at the moon and remember Chang-O and her legend. The occasions is celebrated as the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as
the Moon Festival.
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Seeing the death and destruction caused by his sons, the Jade Emperor took this matter to the god Hou Yi. The Emperor asked Hou Yi to persuade his sons to rise up away from the earth to end the catastrophe.
When Hou Yi asked the suns to leave the sky, they refused. Made angry by their defiance, Hou Yi, a great archer, launched arrows at the suns, shooting them down one by one until his wife Chang-O pleaded with him to save one sun to keep the earth warm and bright.
Knowing that the Jade Emperor was furious at the slaying of his sons, Hou Yi and Chang-O were forced to stay on earth.
Chang-O was unhappy, so her husband tried to win back her favour by gathering herbs that would give them once again the power to ascend to heaven. Chang-O remained angry, however, and ate all the herbs herself. She flew up to the moon, where she remains alone, living in the Moon Palace. The Tang poet, Li Shang-yin wrote the above verse on Chang O's sad story three thousand years later, and the story of Chang-O's flight to the moon has persisted since among the people of the world. There are several versions of this story, but this is the more popular version.
On the 15th of the 8th lunar month every year (this year it falls on September 24), when the moon is at its brightest and loveliest, Chinese people around the world look at the moon and remember Chang-O and her legend. The occasions is celebrated as the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as
the Moon Festival.
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Mooncakes
Mooncakes became part of the Mid-Autumn Festival because during the Yuan dynasty (1280 1368 A.D.) when China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (960-1280 A.D.) were unhappy at submitting to foreign rule, and set out to co-ordinate the rebellion without it being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Packed into each mooncake was a message with the outline of the attack.
On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels succesfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.).
Today, mooncakes are eaten to commemorate this event.
For generations, mooncakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates, wrapped in a pastry. Sometimes, a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert.
On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels succesfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.).
Today, mooncakes are eaten to commemorate this event.
For generations, mooncakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates, wrapped in a pastry. Sometimes, a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert.
What does this festival mean and when did it start?
asnwers:
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Sharing a mooncake with your family by dividing i into four pieces -- a tradition that Chinese believe will ensure a harmonious family. A festival for reunion The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the year according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
The custom of worshipping the moon can be traced back as far as the ancient Xia (21st century-16th century BC) and Shang dynasties (16th century-11th century BC). In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), people began to send round mooncakes to their relatives as gifts as an expression of their best wishes of family reunion. In addition to mooncakes, Chinese also eat taro, fragrant ``maodou'' (young soybean) and duck at the festival. At the end of a meal, people often have fresh lotus roots. Tonight the moon should be at its lowest angle to the horizon, making the moon appear brighter and rounder than any other time of the year.
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Unfortunately, the meaning of this tradition is fading away - full report.
1. Put a pail of water at the open space of the house i.e. roof or yard
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Unfortunately, the meaning of this tradition is fading away - full report.
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My friend shared her little secret on how to "find" a husband by following these steps during the mooncake festival:
My friend shared her little secret on how to "find" a husband by following these steps during the mooncake festival:
1. Put a pail of water at the open space of the house i.e. roof or yard
2. Leave it there for 24 hours and MUST get direct moon & sun lights.
3. Bathe with water from the pail & make a wish - for a perfect husband :)
3. Bathe with water from the pail & make a wish - for a perfect husband :)
