2016 NINE EMPEROR GODS FESTIVAL [KEW ONG YEAH]

This year's Nine Emperor Gods Festival was smooth and easy for me.  I didn't do much of cooking as my sister and sister in-law were away on holiday.  There is no necessity to cook extra vegetarian food for them.  My neighbour whom I used to cook vegetarian food for during this festival also chose to eat at the vegetarian food stalls instead of having home-cooked vegetarian food.  With only my small family of three, there is no need to cook  much except only for dinner.

I also got to know that vegetarian food was available at the temple for devotees throughout the day and payment is through donation.  This is a good practice and encouragement for us to have our meals at the temple especially when the temple is just across the road from where I lived [Taman Lip Sin, Penang].  It is so convenient and we also get to meet people living in our area and notice the strong bond of community spirit.

This year is the 29th year of Taman Lip Sin Kew Ong Yeah Temple.  Here are some pictures which I took picturing the activities held during this year's celebration.  I was told that for next year which is the 30th anniversary, celebration will be on a grand scale. Let's look forward to celebrate this festival next year.

HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL 2016

Since my youngest brother Roddy's passing on Christmas Day 2013, I have not visited the makeshift temple during the Hungry Ghost Festival celebrations.  I have avoided going there as it brings back memories of my lively brother who was actively involved with the celebration for years at the temple.

My family prefers to observe the festival and celebration in our family home where we have an altar to worship the King of Hades.

For decades, we have made similar offerings at home and also at the temple.  But ever since  Roddy's passing, my mom and us prefer to worship and make offerings to the King of Hades at home.

Below are some pictures of the offerings we made to King of Hades this year.

 King of Hades altar is the one on the right hand corner

Steamboat Prepared at Home

We hope to carry on with this ritual annually on a bigger scale at home after all it is the same deity that we are worshipping.

RODDY'S THE THIRD BIAN KEE

It seems so recent that my youngest brother, Roddy left us yet it is already over 2 years that he was not around anymore.

Today, 19th day of the 12 month of the lunar calendar is his 'birthday' that is if he is still in this world.  But, in the netherworld, this day is known as 'Bian Kee'.  A day where the family holds a praying session with all the goodies deem fit for birthday celebrations without the person concerned.  This is the third time and the last we have this kind of prayers to mark his 'birthday'.  

No one would like to celebrate this kind of 'birthday' which means the person is no longer around in this world.  The feeling and mood are not the same.  We cannot see if he is  enjoying, happy or not and can only ask if he is alright in that world with the throwing of 2 coins.  A head and tail would signify 'okay', both heads or tails would mean otherwise.

RED HOLY LAND – GUTIAN CONGRESS [古田會議]

Red Holy Land – Gutian Congress is located in Gutian township, Longyan City,Fujian, China. It is known as one of the first Historical and Cultural to Education Base and the famous old revolutionary base area.

In Gutian, the predecessors of proletarian revolution including Mao Zedong, Zhu De and Chen Yi were engaged in revolutionary activities and the 9th Party Congress of the 4th Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army [Gutian Congress] was held successfully here at the end of December 1929, a milestone of the Chinese revolution in history.

Gutian Tourist Area has 84% forest coverage rate with rich natural and cultural resources as relics of Gutian Congress, pastoral scenery, Hakka folk customs and beautiful tales. It is a 4A Chinese tourism spot of China.

You can tour Gutian Tourist Area under 4 different tours:

Classic Red Nostalgia Tour 

- It embodies an inexhaustible spirit in the building group around the site of Gutian Congress. Recalling the eventful times over 85 years ago and cherishing the memory of the revolutionary martyrs and cultural relics of Gutian Congress – the Memorial Museum, Xiechengdian, Songyin Hall and Zhongxing Hall.

The site of Gutian Congress - this building is also known as 'Liao's Ancestral Hall' and 'The Shrine of Origins' was built in 1848.  It is a single storey building of quadrangle architecture , with brick and timber construction, with a gable and hip roof.   Gutian Congress was convened in December 28 and 29, 1929 at this house,  now designated as 'The important heritage site under State Protection in China.

Beautiful Rural Ecotourism Tour

- Enjoying the natural and cultural landscape in harmony as villages, farmland, streams, mountains, vegetable base, ecological tea plantations, orchards and bamboo forest and experiencing one day rural life as a farmer, mountain climbing and trekking.

Hakka Folk Culture Tour

- Experiencing the Hakka customs, old residence, ancestral hall and rice wine culture exposition park, participating in Hakka folk activities like dragon dance in the festival, pounding glutinous rice cake and cooking mugwort leaf pastry and staying with Hakka family.

Experiencing the Life of Red Army Tour

- The 4th Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army led by Mao Zedong and Zhu De was involved in revolutionary activities in Gutian between 1929 and 1930. All families in the villages around Gutian including Wulong Village were the garrison of the Red Army. The army and the people are one family. Visitors get to listen to the story and experience the life of the Red Army like hiking through the path, wearing soldier’s uniform, eating red rice and pumpkin soup for recalling the past suffering and thinking over the source of present happiness.

Gutian Congress Site - Police Station

The Chairman's Garden [Mao Zedong's Garden]

The Chairman's Garden, is where you will have a grandstand view of thriving pine trees, bamboo and mountains.  This is a miniature of the life story and achievements of one of China's greatest leaders and part of the greatest revolution once taking place in China.

The Red Army's Bridge and The General's Bridge

The Red Army's Bridge across Sanji stream is the only way to access the command and political department of the 4th Army of the Red Army and the site of Gutian Congress.  It was used as a resting place for sentry and soldiers on duty.  It is one of the Gutian revolutionary relics.

The General's Bridge originally known as the Bridge of Prestige, was renamed for commemorating generals attending the Gutian Congress in the site of Dewang Bridge.  The bridge stretches over Gutian stream converged by Baija Stream and Wulong Stream, flowing into Tingjiang River in Shanghang stream outlet.  It is a beautiful scenery line with the site of Gutian Congress [The red army outpost and red army bridge].

How To Get There:

Gutian is located in the traffic hub, accessing to Liancheng and Changting in the north of Jiangxi Province and Shanghang and Wuping in the south-west to Guangdong, and Longyan and Zhangping in the east of Xiamen.

By Car

- Xiamen - Longyan - Gutian via Xiamen-Chengdu Highway [200 km], journey takes about 3 and 1/2 hours;

- Fuzhou - Longyan - Gutian via Shenyang-Haikou Expressway [430 km], journey takes about 6 hours.

By China Railway High Speed Trains from Xiamen [1 and 1/2 hours/RMB 50] or Fuzhou [3 hours/RMB118].  Check schedule and fare online

By Bus from Longyan City to Gutian takes about 40 minutes.