The Duanwu (端午), or Dragon Boat Festival, is one of the most important Chinese traditional festival, which falls on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
The common belief is that Duanwu Festival (端午节) is established to commemorate the death of an ancient Chinese poet, Qu Yuan (屈原) , who committed suicide by leaping into the Miluo River (汨羅江). The focus of the celebration involves eating Triangular Shape Dumplings (粽子 - Zong Zi), Dragon Boats Racing, and this is the only information what most people know about the Duanwu Festival (端午节).
The original Taoist Festival of 5th day of 5th Lunar Month, is known as "Di La" (地蜡).
《云笈七签·卷三七》中记述：“正月一日名天腊，五月五日名地腊，七月七日名道德腊，十月一日名民岁腊，十二月八日名侯王腊。此五腊日并宜修斋并祭祀先祖。”
Chapter 37 of Yun Ji Qi Qian (云笈七签) state:- 1st Day of 1st Lunar Month is known as 'Tian La' (天腊), 5th Day Of 5th Lunar Month is known as ' Di La' (地蜡) , 7th day of the 7th lunar month is known as 'Dao De La' (道德腊), 1st day of the 10th lunar month is known as 'Sui la' (岁蜡)，8th day of the 12th Lunar Month is known as 'Hou Wang La' (侯王腊). In these 5 specific days, it is good time for personal caltivation and worship ancestors.
在《道书》中，地蜡成为祭祀祖先和请求赎罪的重要日子：“五月五日为地腊，此日可谢罪，求请移易官爵，祭祀先祖。” 地腊节之名也因此而来。
In the 'Tao Shu'(道书) - Book Of Taoism, 'Di La' (地蜡) stated that it is an important day for the worship of ancestors and the day to request for atonement, thus this is the day of the 'Di La' Festival.
《天皇至道太清玉册》称掌管鬼魂的酆都北阴天帝，在五月五日考校鬼魂，以该鬼魂现在人间的亲戚所做的善恶，作为确定鬼魂罪、福的依据。
In the scripture of 'Tian Huang Zhi Dao Tai Qing Yu Ce' - stated that Feng Du Bei Yin Tian Di, who is in charged of ghosts, will check on the ghosts on 5th days of 5th lunar month and used the good and evil of the ghost's relatives as the basis for determining the sin and blessing of the ghost.
From 'Di La' Festival of Taoism to become 'Duan Wu' Festival (端午节) of the commoners.
The main purpose of the 'Di La' Festival ((地蜡节) is for worshipping ancestors. Tracing back to its source, it was originally the ancient primitive worship of ancestors. For a long historical period, Taoism had become the state religion, and its teachings were deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Therefore, the ceremonies of Dila festival on the fifth day of May were integrated into the Dragon Boat Festival customs and became an important part of Chinese Culture.
Why is it called "Duan-Wu Festival" (端午节) and what is so special about it?
The Duanwu festival falls on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Ancient Chinese arranged numbers according to the Five Elements and 5 is the middle number from 1 to 9. The 5th of the 5th month, containing a double "5" or a double middle number, therefore it is also called the Heavenly Middle Festival (天中节 - Tian Zhong Jie).
In the Traditional Chinese Concept of Time Indication - Shi Er Di Zi (十二地支), the "Wu" Hour (午时) is the middle of day; and so Wu （午） represents midday. Thus the festival is called Right Wu (端午) or Double Wu (重午).
More Details: The ancient Chinese view of the cosmos was based on Yin (阴) yang (阳) Theory. Daylight was the longest on Summer Solstice (夏至 - Xia Zhi) when Yang Energy (阳气 - Yang Qi) reached its apex and all creatures flourished; at the peak moment, Yin Energy (阴气 - Yin Qi) started to germinate within. Xia Zhi (夏至) was in Wu Yue (午月, the wu month) on the Ganzhi Calendar (干支纪历, calendar based on ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches). After the Wei (魏) and Jin (晋) dynasties, numbers gradually replaced Gan-Zhi (干支) to mark dates, and the WU day (午日) in the WU month (午月) became fixed as the 5th day of the 5th month (Of Chinese Lunar Calender). Henceforth, Duanwu festival (端午节) and Xiazhi (夏至) customs began to coalesce.
Most Important Day for Taoist Masters / Sorcerers To Create Talismans
These are the secret practices of Taoism Masters / Sorcerers that most Chinese Folks don't know about...
1) Taoist Talismans (Positive Version - Right Path Talismans) created on 5th Day of 5th Chinese Lunar Month - "Duan-Wu Festival"(端午节) have the highest spiritual power, therefore the talismans drawn on this special day is the most efficacious. Taoist Masters / Sorcerers will take note of this special day to massively draw and empower Taoist Talismans as much as they can.
2) During the "WU" hours (午时) (11am to 1pm) of "Duan-Wu Festival"(端午节), water collected at this time contains the highest Yang Energy (阳气). The water collected at this time and day is know as Wu Shi Water (午時水 - Wu Shi Shui). Taoist Masters / Sorcerers will collect water from the wells (or any clean lively source - example: streams) at this specific period of time. Upon collecting all these Water, it will be used to mix-with-ink for Talismans’ writing or can also be used as “Spiritual Cleansing Water” for exorcising evils.
Ordinary Folks can also collect "Noon" Water (午時水 - Wu Shi Shui) by themselves. Drinking "Wu Shi" water is very effective to allay heat, cure illness and strengthen the body. Moreover, mixing "Wu Shi" water with medicinal plants for herbal bath is considered to be beneficial to health and personal well-being. There is a Chinese saying, “A sip of Wu Shi water is better than three years of herbal medicine.” (午时水啉一喙，较赢补药食三年).
Other Related Secret Information of Taoist Masters / Sorcerers:
1) 6th Day of 6th Chinese Lunar Month - Door Opening Of Heavenly Palace. This is the best day to do "Luck Changing" Ritual (Improving Good Luck in Wealth and Striking Lottery etc).
2) These particular 4 days of a year which Taoist Masters / Sorcerers CANNOT draw Talismans (Right Path Talismans):
Video (Chinese) On Duan-Wu Festival
Video (English) On Dragon Boat Festival
The Duanwu festival falls on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Ancient Chinese arranged numbers according to the Five Elements and 5 is the middle number from 1 to 9. The 5th of the 5th month, containing a double "5" or a double middle number, therefore it is also called the Heavenly Middle Festival (天中节 - Tian Zhong Jie).
In the Traditional Chinese Concept of Time Indication - Shi Er Di Zi (十二地支), the "Wu" Hour (午时) is the middle of day; and so Wu （午） represents midday. Thus the festival is called Right Wu (端午) or Double Wu (重午).
More Details: The ancient Chinese view of the cosmos was based on Yin (阴) yang (阳) Theory. Daylight was the longest on Summer Solstice (夏至 - Xia Zhi) when Yang Energy (阳气 - Yang Qi) reached its apex and all creatures flourished; at the peak moment, Yin Energy (阴气 - Yin Qi) started to germinate within. Xia Zhi (夏至) was in Wu Yue (午月, the wu month) on the Ganzhi Calendar (干支纪历, calendar based on ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches). After the Wei (魏) and Jin (晋) dynasties, numbers gradually replaced Gan-Zhi (干支) to mark dates, and the WU day (午日) in the WU month (午月) became fixed as the 5th day of the 5th month (Of Chinese Lunar Calender). Henceforth, Duanwu festival (端午节) and Xiazhi (夏至) customs began to coalesce.
Most Important Day for Taoist Masters / Sorcerers To Create Talismans
These are the secret practices of Taoism Masters / Sorcerers that most Chinese Folks don't know about...
1) Taoist Talismans (Positive Version - Right Path Talismans) created on 5th Day of 5th Chinese Lunar Month - "Duan-Wu Festival"(端午节) have the highest spiritual power, therefore the talismans drawn on this special day is the most efficacious. Taoist Masters / Sorcerers will take note of this special day to massively draw and empower Taoist Talismans as much as they can.
2) During the "WU" hours (午时) (11am to 1pm) of "Duan-Wu Festival"(端午节), water collected at this time contains the highest Yang Energy (阳气). The water collected at this time and day is know as Wu Shi Water (午時水 - Wu Shi Shui). Taoist Masters / Sorcerers will collect water from the wells (or any clean lively source - example: streams) at this specific period of time. Upon collecting all these Water, it will be used to mix-with-ink for Talismans’ writing or can also be used as “Spiritual Cleansing Water” for exorcising evils.
Ordinary Folks can also collect "Noon" Water (午時水 - Wu Shi Shui) by themselves. Drinking "Wu Shi" water is very effective to allay heat, cure illness and strengthen the body. Moreover, mixing "Wu Shi" water with medicinal plants for herbal bath is considered to be beneficial to health and personal well-being. There is a Chinese saying, “A sip of Wu Shi water is better than three years of herbal medicine.” (午时水啉一喙，较赢补药食三年).
Other Related Secret Information of Taoist Masters / Sorcerers:
1) 6th Day of 6th Chinese Lunar Month - Door Opening Of Heavenly Palace. This is the best day to do "Luck Changing" Ritual (Improving Good Luck in Wealth and Striking Lottery etc).
2) These particular 4 days of a year which Taoist Masters / Sorcerers CANNOT draw Talismans (Right Path Talismans):
- 9th Day of 3rd Chinese Lunar Month
- 2nd Day of 6th Chinese Lunar Month
- 6th Day of 9th Chinese Lunar Month
- 2nd Day of 12th Chinese Lunar Month
Video (Chinese) On Duan-Wu Festival
Video (English) On Dragon Boat Festival