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In our Chinese Culture & Belief, on the 12th Day of Lunar 2 Month 農曆二月十二日 (some said 2nd Day of Lunar 2 Month 或農曆二月初二日) is known as the Birthday of Fairy Maiden Bai Hua aka Bai Hua Xian Zi (百花仙子) and also known as Hua Qi (花期), Hua Chao (花朝) or Pu Die Jie (撲蝶節 – translated as Catching Butterflies Day).
On this Day, no one is to pluck or damage any flowers or plantations that are associated with flowers in-order to give the highest respect to the Fairy Maiden Bai Hua.
According to Stories & Records, this Practice was being passed down by Empress Wu Ze Tian (武則天) of Tang Dynasty (唐朝).
In the Stories & Records, this is the Day that Empress Wu Ze Tian gathered all her Officials to visit the Imperial Garden to enjoy the Blossom of the different type of Flowers.
After this Practice being spread to the commoners, the commoners also held certain celebrations keep in memory of the Flower Maiden.
Due to Rules & Regulations set by Empress Wu Ze Tian of not hurting or damaging any Flowers on the Day, a lot of commoners followed in-order not to break the Law which would get themselves into big troubles and so, this action was also being passed down generation by generation till today (in some Chinese Countries, on this Day, all Florists will stop operating for 1 Day).
So how do the people celebrate in the Ancient Era?
According to the Records, the folks will cut Red Papers into small flowers pattern and then, paste them onto Tree Branches to represent Full Blossom and Ladies will used colorful strings to tie little knots and then tied them onto their hair.
If the Weather is good on the Day, the folks will gathered together to go for hiking or picnic in the Garden side or River side to enjoy the nice scenery of the Spring Arrival and Blossom of Flowers.
And Ladies will be there to chase after Butterflies using a Round-shape Silk-made Fan, this is why, this Day is also being addressed as Pu Die Jie.
So any Country still practices this now?
Yes, in Taiwan, some areas in Taiwan, the folks still carry out certain ceremony to keep the Culture going.
sifu..soem places...izzit this deity called pak fa sin loi???
ReplyDeleteYes, once you see Bai Hua aka Pak Fa, refers to her, she is the one who in-charge of all other flowers in the Three Realms.
ReplyDeleteoh yess...sometimes..she also been called Pak Far Kong Chu
ReplyDeleteHahaha, yup :P
ReplyDeletesifu..one thing i wana ask u...regarding about the qing ming....some people said cant use the small kam zhi ( Gold paper ) with the three fu lu sow images...only use silver...they said that kam zhi for deities only..may i ask..how about the ancestors whom 'they' already passed away back dated since the Chinese Imperial Dynasties???..i think ok rite??
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, that is not true.
ReplyDeleteUsing Kam Zhi is a must and also a form of respect to the Decease.
In Chinese Custom, by offering Kam Zhi, this represent having male decesdant and by offering Gan Zhi, represent having female decesdants.
Both must be used, if not, it will affect the family lineage.
sifu..its mean i can use the kam chi with the fu lu sow features ..i mean the small kam..to burn to my ancestors???wat is Gan zhi???izzit the silver paper???
ReplyDeleteYup, of cos can, no restriction in this.
ReplyDeleteBut remember, do not use the Biggest Size Kam Zhi with Fu Lu Shou printed on it, that only mend for Tian Gong or other High Position Deities.
Yes, Gan Zhi is Silver Paper.
okok..thansk..sifu..u really answer my doubts...yes..big kam zhi for deities...now i can burn the small kam zi..with the fu lu sow..features..with ease...even at the graveyard time..during Qing Ming..
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, actually that is fine, since the olden days, ppl have been using that, just that, I'm not sure why at ur side, the folks said that.. but anyway, no harm in burning all these.
ReplyDeleteDo it with faith and trust, the one who benefit most will be the passed-on.
my side..ok. in malacca....but at other parts in malaysia..like selangor..i found out that..they only burn the normal gold paper with little bit of orange color...on the paper..for the ancestors..i asked why.they said..the kam zhi with the fu lu sow..merely for the big deities..not ancestors...i confused at first sight...
ReplyDeleteHahaha, cos thats the Cantonese Culture or Belief.
ReplyDeleteyalor.cantonese culture..we burn the kam zhi with fu lu sow..
ReplyDeleteHahaha, :P
ReplyDeletesifu..may i ask got any temple in s'pore or malaysia dedicated to bai hua??
ReplyDeleteNo, in SOuth East Asia, is not easy to see temple dedicate altar to her.
ReplyDeleteyalor..sifu..hard to find..but i have faith with this deity..hope to find the Kim Sin one day
ReplyDeleteKim Sin, easy to find, but temple no.
ReplyDeleteIn SIngapore, certain shops do have the statue of her, just that no one does know who she is.
oh..ok..that's good..i plan one day..i wana have its Kim Sin in my house..dedicated to Pak Far Neong Neong..but..can we dot the Kim Sin elswhere? coz...hard to find her Temple..don mention the medium that possess Pak Far spirit..sifu..if u see next time.got any temple dedicated toi her ...do tel me..please...thanks...
ReplyDeletemany people mistaken she is Kam Fa( 金 花）neong neong..coz..she oso got flowers around sometimes.haha
ReplyDeleteAs long as you engaged a Trained Official Priest or Spiritual Master, he will be able to invite her anywhere as long as the Dotting is carried out in an Official and Accurate way.
ReplyDeleteTo be true, Jin Hua Niang Niang does not carry any form of Flowers, this is the wrong impression given by the Folks.
ReplyDeleteHi Sifu, any idea where can I find Jin Hua Miao (金花庙) in Singapore?
ReplyDeleteHi Sifu, any idea where can I find Jin Hua Miao (金花庙) in Singapore?
ReplyDeleteIn Spore, we cant find any Jin Hua Temple, but you can find her statue in Jin Lan Temple along Kim Tian Road at Tiong Bahru.
ReplyDelete