![]() ![]() The story goes that Liu Bowen, the confidant of the rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang, suggested that the rebellion be timed to coincide with the Mid-Autumn festival. ![]() During the century that the Mongols were in power, their rule was oppressive, forbidding Chinese people to gather in public or own weapons, as well as levying heavy taxes, while making bad land management decisions that led to poor crops yield. The Mongols had attempted to invade China many times in ancient times and eventually succeeded under the leadership of Kublai Khan during the 13th century. They hid paper strips with secret messages inside the cakes, year after year during the Moon Festival, when sending mooncakes to neighbors, friends, and families, a procedure so traditional and universal that the Mongols never suspected what was happening. Legend has it that mooncakes were cunningly used by women to start a revolution against the hated Mongol rulers in the 14th century. The cultural history behind mooncakes goes into clandestinely and revolution, as they where used to pass messages that were either hidden within or embossed onto the cakes. They are baked with a surface imprinted with the name of the bakery as well as auspicious Chinese characters and symbols for “longevity” or “harmony.” Mooncakes & Revolution- History and legend In September, we been lucky enough to try delicious Moon cakes, known as yue bing 月饼 in Georgetown, Malaysia. Mid Autumn Festival mythology: Mooncakes 月饼, Hou Yi 后羿 and Chang E 嫦娥 and the Moon Rabbit 玉兔 – Yùtù Myth and folklore of the Mooncakes 月饼 mooncakes And tell each other ancient stories of goddesses, superheroes, mythical plants and animals – Hou Yi 后羿 and Chang E 嫦娥 and the Moon Rabbit 玉兔 or Yùtù and moon tree. For people in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and Korea the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, is still an occasion for outdoor reunions among friends and relatives to eat moon cakes and watch the moon, a symbol of harmony and unity. The Mid-autumn Festival 中秋節 is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the 8th lunar month, close to the autumn equinox and dates back over 3.500 years. The Dong people call it the “ Pumpkin Festival/南瓜节”, and the Mulao people call it the “ Housheng Festival/后生节”. In mid-autumn, all kinds of melons and fruits are ripe and on the market, so it is called the “ Fruit Festival/果子节”. It is also considered a harvest festival since fruit, vegetables and grain have been harvested by this time. In Guangfu area, the Mid-Autumn Festival is commonly known as the “ Moonlight Festiva/月光诞”. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time when the moon is full, family reunions, and married daughters go home for a reunion, so it is also called the “ Reunion Festival/团圆节” and “ Daughter’s Day/女儿节”. , a symbol of reunion, so it is also called the “ Reunion Festival/团圆节”. Because the festival is on August 15th, it is called “ August Festival/八月节” and “ August half/八月半”. There are many names for the Mid-Autumn Festival: In ancient times, there was an activity of autumnal equinox and eve (worshiping the moon), so it was called “ Yuexi/月夕” or “ Moon Festival/祭月节”. The day is also known as the Moon Festival, as at that time of the year the moon is at its roundest and brightest. Also known as the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, or simply the Mooncake Festival, it also celebrates the legends of ChangE 嫦娥, the Goddess of Immortality and her companion, the moon rabbit, called also 月兔 Yùtù or Jade Rabbit. Historically, the Mid Autumn Festival was a time to enjoy the successful reaping of rice and wheat with food offerings made in honor of the moon. ![]()
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