《道教新春文化。大年初七。天下人日。2026》
慈愛撒佈天下間。
悲憫濟生離苦天。
不懼辛勞日復日。
將泥化作世間人。
「農曆正月初七日」﹐為「天下人」之【生日】﹐也是我們【道教文化】中的【母親節】。
在這一天﹐身為「子孫」的我們﹐一定的前往供奉有【女媧元君】的宮廟向【祂】獻上最忠誠的感謝。沒了我們的【母親女媧元君】﹐也就沒有今天的你我他。
除此之外﹐在「正月初七日」﹐各別不同區域的【華人】也會準備【七菜羹】或用「七種」不同【蔬菜】製作而成的【菜餚】來慶祝這個特別的【節日】。
在【東南亞】一代﹐就有【撈起七彩魚生】的【習俗】。
在此﹐祝各方【同道好友】﹕
新春壽辰多樂喜。
當年生日添吉祥。
7th Day of Lunar 1st Month - All Human Kind Day
7th Day
of Lunar 1st Month (農曆正月初七), the Day that Empress Nv Wa
(女媧娘娘) descended into this Mortal Realm to create
Human-kind, making Men out from Soil (泥土造男) and Women
from Water (泥水造女) - (approx time period: 400-5000, 000
years ago).
In
Chinese Culture, this Day is known as Ren Ri (人日) aka
Human-kind Day, it’s the Birthday of All “Human”.
Till
today, on the 7th Day of Lunar 1st Month, Chinese & Taoist still visit
Temples to Honour Empress Nv Wa, thanking her for her Compassionate &
Kindness of creating Human on this Mortal Realm. Besides that, Chinese &
Taoists will also eat a type of Dish, made from 7 types of Vegetables known as
Qi Cai Geng (七菜羹) to celebrate the New Born of
Human-kind. Hoping that by eating the Qi Cai Geng, ALL Bad-issues will be
eliminated and Good-issues will bestowed onto Oneself and ALL Mortals in this
Mortal Realm.
Few
Decades ago, in Singapore, the 4 Famous Cantonese Chefs created a Lunar New
Year Dish known as Qi Cai Lao Qi Yu Sheng (七彩撈起魚生 – See
Picture below) accordingly to the Culture of the consuming of the Qi Cai Geng.
Till Today, during Lunar New Year period, this Dish became a MUST-eat dish for
Chinese.
During
the Honouring, Chinese or Taoists will bring 7 type colours Flowers (七色花) to honour her and also, for those who collect Nv Wa
Stone (女媧石 – See Picture below), they will bring it to
the Temple to allow the Energy of Nv Wa to bestow on it.
Other
info on 7th Day of Lunar 1st Month 正月初七相關資料:
Seventh
Day of Lunar New Year, known as Ren Day (人日) aka Day of
Human or Mortal, in some contexts, this Day is also being addressed as the
Birthday of All Human (人生辰). This is to keep in memory
that on this Day, the Universe created Human.
So what
are the usual practices on this Day?
In Myth,
on the 7th Day after the Universe is formed, Nv Wa (女媧)
created Human. In-order to show our gratitude towards Nv Wa, the Chinese or
Taoists will visit Temples that are dedicated to Nv Wa to pay respect to her.
Besides
that, the Chinese will prepare a dish that is made up of 7 different kinds of
Vegetables to celebrate the Birthday of Human.
These 7
Vegetables are:
1 – Celery 芹菜
2 –
Water Chestnut 荸荠
3 – Spinach 菠菜
4 – Spring Onion 青蔥
5 – Garlic or Chinese Leek 大蒜
6 – Chinese Cabbage 蒿麗菜
7 – Mustard 芥菜
In the
Ancient Era, folks believed that by eating these 7 types of Vegetables, all
misfortune & bad-luck will be eliminated and good luck will be bestowed
upon oneself in the New Year.
After
this custom being imported into Singapore, the 4 Famous Chefs in the Early
1900s invented a dish known as Qi Cai Yu Sheng (by adding the 7 different type
of vegetables with fish-slices, 七彩魚生). Till today, our
local Chinese still like to consume the Yu Sheng on every 7th Day of Lunar New
Year. In Cantonese known as Loy Hey (撈起).
So, any
other Deities that one self must pay respect to?
Yes,
besides Nv Wa aka The Mother of All Human, the Chinese or Taoists shall pay
respect to The Great 9 Star Lords of the Northern Dipper Group (北斗九皇星君).
In
certain part of the Chinese History, Chinese or Taoists will pay respect to the
9 Star Lords to request for blessing on improving the Luck of oneself in the
New Year.
After
the custom being imported into our Hokkien Custom, on the 7th Day of Lunar New
Year, the Hokkien, Chinese & Taoists will visit Temples to pay respect to
them, if not, the Hokkien, Chinese or Taoists will pay respect at home.
It will
be great if one self can do the requesting of Prolonging of the Life-span of
oneselfs Parent.
How to
go about with the honouring?
1st,
prepared the Five or Ten Taoist Offerings (道教五/十供), if not, just prepared 5 oranges (五顆桔子),
Nian Gao (年糕), some traditional cookies (傳統糕點), 3 cups of Chinese Tea (三杯清茶),
then, place them on the Main Altar.
2nd,
when one self is ready, light 9 Incenses (九支香) and
kneel down sincerely facing the Heaven (for those who house is facing North
will be the best)
3rd,
make a short report on who you are, where you stay, what is the event and then,
make a short request
4th,
after paying respect, stand up, make a simple bow and then place the 9 Incenses
into the Main Urn on the Main Altar
And the
whole honouring is considered completed.
Why 9
Incenses are being used?
9 to
represent the 9 Star Lords of the Northern Dipper Group –
7 visible (七現) & 2 invisible (二隱).
Besides
using the 9 Incenses, some folks will like 7 Lamps or 9 Candles to represent
the 9 Star Lords.
So what
to do after the honouring?
Distribute
out the offerings to the other family members, allowed them to get the blessing
from the 9 Star Lords.
