Ghost Festival
Traditional festival honoring deceased ancestors and wandering spirits.
The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism, and Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism, is a traditional festival observed in certain East and Southeast Asian countries. It is held on the 15th night of the seventh month of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar (14th in parts of southern China), a period known as Ghost Month, when ghosts and spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, are believed to come out from the lower realm (Diyu or Preta) to visit the living.
- Also known as
- Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Festival, Yulanpen Festival
- Date
- 15th night of the seventh month (14th in parts of southern China) of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar
- Religious affiliations
- Taoism, Buddhism, Chinese folk religion
- Key activities
- Ritualistic food offerings, burning incense (Styrax benzoin), burning joss paper, releasing paper boats and lanterns on water
- Origins
- Derived from the Yulanpen Sutra (Buddhist) and the Three Yuan theory (Taoist); Theravadan forms derive from the Petavatthu (3rd century BC)
Lore & Background
The Ghost Festival's origins are rooted in both Taoist and Buddhist traditions. In Taoism, the name 'Zhongyuan' comes from the 'Three Yuan' theory, representing the Three Great Emperor-Officials, and the festival flourished during the Tang dynasty. In Buddhism, the festival derives from the Mahayana Yulanpen Sutra, which tells the story of Maudgalyāyana, who used his powers to find his deceased mother reborn as a hungry ghost (preta). Unable to feed her because rice turned to burning coal, he sought the Buddha's help, who instructed him to offer food to the monastic community during Pravarana (the end of the monsoon season) to transfer merits to deceased parents. The Theravadan forms, such as Cambodia's Pchum Ben, are older, deriving from the Petavatthu (3rd century BC), which involves the disciple Sāriputta.
Reader's Guide
The Ghost Festival is significant as a time when the realms of Heaven, Hell, and the living are open, allowing Taoists and Buddhists to perform rituals to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased. Activities include preparing ritualistic food offerings, burning incense containing Styrax benzoin, and burning joss paper representing material items. Elaborate meals with empty seats for the deceased are served, and lotus-shaped lanterns are lit and set afloat to guide lost souls. The festival distinguishes itself from Qingming Festival by paying respects to all deceased, including same and younger generations, not just older ones. In Singapore and Malaysia, modern concert-like performances called Getai are held, with the front row left empty for ghosts. The festival's legacy lies in its role in ancestor worship and community assembly, reinforcing filial piety and the veneration of the dead across East and Southeast Asian cultures.
Did You Know?
- The Ghost Festival is also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism, and Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism.
- According to the source, the festival is held on the 15th night of the seventh month (14th in parts of southern China) of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.
- The Buddhist origin story involves Maudgalyāyana discovering his mother reborn as a hungry ghost, unable to eat rice as it turned into burning coal.
- In Singapore and Malaysia, live concerts called Getai are performed, with the front row left empty for the ghosts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ghost Festival?
The Ghost Festival is a traditional East and Southeast Asian celebration during which people believe deceased ancestors and other spirits temporarily leave the lower realm to visit the living. It goes by several names depending on the tradition, including Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Festival, and Yulanpen Festival.
When is the Ghost Festival held?
It takes place on the 15th night of the seventh month in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, though some southern Chinese communities observe it on the 14th. This falls within the broader period known as Ghost Month.
What do people do during the Ghost Festival?
Common observances include preparing food offerings for the departed, burning incense (particularly Styrax benzoin) and joss paper, and setting paper boats and lanterns adrift on water. These acts are meant to guide and sustain spirits as they make their temporary visit to the world of the living.
Where does the Ghost Festival come from?
Its roots blend Buddhist and Taoist traditions, drawing specifically from the Yulanpen Sutra on the Buddhist side and the Three Yuan cosmological theory on the Taoist side. In Theravada Buddhist cultures, a parallel tradition traces back to the Petavatthu text from around the 3rd century BC.
Why is the Ghost Festival significant?
It serves as a yearly bridge between the living and the dead, giving families a dedicated time to honor ancestors and care for spirits believed to be in need. The festival reflects a deep cultural belief that the boundary between realms is temporary and that the living hold responsibility toward those who have passed.
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