On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, people often ascend heights and wear cornels. This custom aims to dispel evils, and originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). The legend is recorded in Xuqikaiji, written by Wu Jun of the country Liang. It’s sad that there was a person named Fei Zhangfang, who was good at magic arts and could tell of wealth and woe. Once he told his apprentice, Huan Jing that his family would be in danger on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. To avoid disaster, Huan Jing was told to make a red bag for each of his family members, hold cornels in the bags, wear them on their wrists and climb to the peak of a mountain that day. While hikinig, they should drink chrysanthemum wine, Fei said. Huan Jing did exactly as his master told him. On that night when they came back from the mountain, all their chickens, dogs, cows and sheep were found dead. Fei told Huan Jing that the livestock had suffered the disaster instead, and everyone was happy.

N.B.: Cornel is a kind of medical material, fragrant but peppery with a warm nature. It can be used to treat colds and dispel toxins. The custom of wearing cornels to resist cold is somehow reasonable.

Source: www.th55.cn

Translated by Chen Yanqiu

Editor: Wen Yi