Take a good, long soak for Shangsi Festival
Print Edition
ON Shangsi Festival (上巳节) — the third day of the third month on the Chinese lunar calendar — ancient Chinese people had fastings and bathing to get rid of the evils and pray for blessings.
This day refers both to the lunar calendar day and ancient method of calculation by 12 earthly branches. This year, it fell yesterday.
Chun yu (春浴), or washing oneself in spring in the river, is an ancient tradition on the festival to prevent catching diseases when yin and yang energies change shift in the universe in early spring.
The tradition was later expanded to various water-side activities including banquet at the river lake, floating egg or jujube in the river and dating.
To revive the forgotten festival and the lost traditions, a lively “cultural outing” is being held at an ecological park resort by the Dianshan Lake in suburban Qingpu District.
Jointly organized by Guoxue Xin Zhi or New Knowledge of Sinology (www.guoxue.org), Shanghai Yangtze Delta Ecology Society and the Union of University Environmental Protection Societies, the event runs through April 20 and features old-time rituals and festivities such as praying ceremony, as well as modern activities like kite flying.
On the same day, the mythic Western Mother Goddess celebrates her birthday. The Yellow Emperor, the legendary ancestor of all Chinese, and Zhenwu Dadi, the Taoist god of war and military arts, also celebrate their birthday on the Shangsi Festival.
Date: Through April 20
Admission: 50 yuan
Address: 1 Xiyangdian, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District
How to get there:
• By car — Take G50, get off at Zhujiajiao Exit and turn right. Go straight till the road end; it’s next to Zhujiajiao People’s Hospital.
• By bus — Take Metro Line 2 to Xujingdong, transfer to bus Zhuxu Line and get off at Zhuhu Road.
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