Today, the Chinese Hokkien people celebrate their new year and they pray to the Heavenly King, the Jade Emperor. The main prayer items is sugar cane. There is a reason for it. The folklore tell us that once the Hokkien race in China was prosecuted by the Emperor and he sent his soldiers to execute the race. The Hokkien people fled for their lives and many of them ran into a sugar cane plantation and hike themselves. The soldiers could not find them and alot of them survive the killing. This happen on the 8th day of the Chinese lunar calendar.
There was telltale that it was the heavenly King's wish to the HOkkien people to survive. So on this day, the HOkkien people offers sugar cane and other good food and dunplings to the Heavenly King, the Jade Emperor. This Hokkien tradition was brought down from generations and it has been practice for many thousands of years.
The other Chinese people admire the Hokkien people because they celebrate two Chinese New Year ie on the 1st day and the 8th day. In fact, the prayer and celebration on the 8th day is more important than the 1st day. With the sugar cane and the Jade Emperor's protection, there will be no Hokkien people in the Chinese race.
Everything happens for a reason and it is much more interesting to enjoy the festive period and enjoy the CNY for 15 days. On the 15th day, it ends with the throwing of the mandarin into the sea or river. There is also a reason..LOL
Namaste.
Thanks sharing, for Hokkien Dhamma Talk, I did recommended to listen Bhante Suvanno teaching, his dhamma talk not only humor but with very detail explanation with our daily life activities. Feel free download his MP3 for free at:
ReplyDeletehttp://kidbuxblog.com/bhante-suvanno/