Double Ninth Festival
Traditional East Asian holiday on the ninth day of the ninth month.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Double Ninth Festival, also known as the Chung Yeung Festival in Hong Kong and Macau, is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. It is a public holiday in Hong Kong and Macau and is also observed in several other East Asian countries. Historian Wu Jun traces its origins to the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 AD).
In the I Ching, the number nine is considered a yang number, so the ninth day of the ninth month—double nine—carries extra yang, an auspicious spiritual concept in Chinese tradition. For this reason, the day is also called the Double Yang Festival. Customs include climbing a mountain, drinking chrysanthemum liquor, and wearing the zhuyu plant (Cornus officinalis). Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are thought to have cleansing properties and are used on other occasions to air out homes and treat illnesses.
Some Chinese also visit ancestral graves on this day to pay respects. In Hong Kong and Macau, extended families go to ancestral graves to clean them, repaint inscriptions, and lay out food offerings such as roast suckling pig and fruit. After the spirits have consumed the spiritual essence of the food, the family eats the offerings. Chongyang cake is popular, and incense sticks are burned during the holiday.
The festival’s origins date back as early as the Warring States period. One legend credits the Han dynasty man Fei Changfang and his disciple Huan Jing. Fei advised Huan to take chrysanthemum wine and food and climb a mountain with his family on the ninth day of the ninth month. Huan followed this advice and later found his livestock had all died; had he not climbed the mountain, the same fate would have befallen him and his family. Another origin story involves the imperial court of Emperor Gaozu of Han. As part of Empress Lü’s plot against Consort Qi, the latter’s maid, surnamed Jia, was forced out of the palace. She told commoners that in the palace it was customary to wear dogwood and drink chrysanthemum wine on that day, and these practices spread.
Originally a day to ward off danger, Double Ninth evolved into a celebration, much like Chinese New Year. Today, it is a time for hiking and appreciating chrysanthemums. Other activities include flying kites, making flower cakes, and welcoming married daughters back home. The festival is also a chance to care for the elderly; in Taiwan, it has been red
- Also known as
- Double Yang Festival, Chung Yeung Festival, Chōyō, Jungyangjeol
- Observed by
- China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
- Date
- 9th day of 9th month in Chinese calendar (or September 9 in Japan)
- Origin
- Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 AD) per historian Wu Jun; earlier origins in Warring States period
- Customs
- Climbing mountains, drinking chrysanthemum liquor, wearing zhuyu, ancestor veneration
Lore & Background
According to the I Ching, nine is a yang number; the ninth day of the ninth month has extra yang and is thus auspicious. It is customary to climb a mountain, drink chrysanthemum liquor, and wear the zhuyu plant. Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are considered to have cleansing qualities.
One legend traces the traditions to the Han dynasty man Fei Changfang and his disciple Huan Jing. Fei advised Huan to bring chrysanthemum wine and food and climb a mountain with his family on the ninth day of the ninth month. Huan followed the instructions, and upon returning found his livestock had all died; if he had not climbed the mountain, the same would have happened to him and his family.
An alternative origin story involves a maid surnamed Jia, forced out of the imperial palace by Empress Lü, who told common people that in the palace it was customary to wear dogwood and drink chrysanthemum wine on that day, spreading the customs more widely.
Reader's Guide
The Double Ninth Festival has evolved from a day to drive away danger into a celebration of health, family, and the elderly. In contemporary times, it is an occasion for hiking, chrysanthemum appreciation, flying kites, making flower cakes, and welcoming married daughters home. In Hong Kong and Macau, extended families visit ancestral graves to clean them, repaint inscriptions, and lay out food offerings such as roast suckling pig and fruit. Chongyang cake is popular, and incense sticks are burned.
In Japan, the festival is known as Chōyō or Chrysanthemum Festival, one of five sacred ancient festivals, celebrated on September 9 with chrysanthemum sake and chestnut dishes. In Korea, it is Jungyangjeol, celebrated with chrysanthemum leaf pancakes and outdoor activities. Taiwan rededicated the holiday as Senior Citizens' Day in 1966, with local governments making small cash payments to seniors, though the holiday is otherwise not widely observed. The festival remains a significant cultural marker across East Asia, blending ancient customs with modern practices of ancestor veneration and elder appreciation.
Did You Know?
- According to the I Ching, nine is a yang number, and the ninth day of the ninth month has extra yang, making it auspicious.
- One legend says the traditions began when Fei Changfang advised his disciple Huan Jing to climb a mountain with chrysanthemum wine to avoid a deadly disaster.
- In Japan, the festival is celebrated on September 9 of the Gregorian calendar rather than the lunisolar calendar.
- Taiwan rededicated the holiday as Senior Citizens' Day in 1966.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Double Ninth Festival?
The Double Ninth Festival is a traditional East Asian holiday celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, also called the Double Yang Festival or Chung Yeung Festival in Hong Kong and Macau. It is a public holiday in those regions and is recognized in several other East Asian countries.
When does the Double Ninth Festival fall each year?
The holiday is set on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which usually lands in October. In Japan, the date is fixed to September 9 on the solar calendar instead.
What customs do people follow during the Double Ninth Festival?
Typical activities include climbing mountains, drinking chrysanthemum wine, wearing zhuyu (dogwood) in one's hair, and performing ancestor veneration rituals. These practices are traditionally meant to ward off misfortune and show respect for elders.
Why is the number nine considered auspicious for this festival?
According to the I Ching, nine is a yang number, so the ninth day of the ninth month stacks double yang energy, which is regarded as especially fortunate in Chinese spiritual tradition. This is the reason the holiday is also called the Double Yang Festival.
Which countries observe the Double Ninth Festival and where did it originate?
The festival is observed in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, where it is known by local names such as Chōyō or Jungyangjeol. Historian Wu Jun traces its documented roots to the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 AD), though some scholars point to even earlier origins in the Warring States period.
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