Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.48

v2.c12.s1.48

With the transformations of the era and society, there were more Chinese festivals in this period, which may be the result of cultural accumulation. There were more books recording folk customs than before in this period and information was richer, such as Meng Yuanlao's *Record of the Dreamlike Prosperity of the Eastern Capital* and Wu Zimu's *Dreams* of *Past Glories of Bianliang*. Buddhism had become the popular belief of common Chinese people and entered into activities of folk customs and festivals in this period. Except the Lantern Festival, Bathing Buddha Festival and Ullambana Festival, there were some new festivals related to Buddhism, such as New Year’s Day (first day of the first lunar month), Nirvana Festival (15ᵗʰ day of the second lunar month), Birthday of the Emperor of the Eastern Mountain (28ᵗʰ day of the third lunar month), Pure Brightness Festival (before April 5 in the Gregorian Calendar), Double Seventh Festival (seventh day of the seventh lunar month), Mid-autumn Festival (15ᵗʰ day of the eighth lunar month), Double Ninth Festival (ninth day of the ninth lunar month), Laba Festival (eighth of the 12th lunar month) and so on.