Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.63

v2.c12.s1.63

In seasonal festivals, Avalokitesvara Fair was to be held on Avalokitesvara’s Birthday (19ᵗʰ day of the second lunar month) in China. According to folk legend, 13ᵗʰ day of the fifth lunar month was the birthday of Guan Yu, so temple fairs were held in all the places. Guan Yu was absorbed as protector Sangharama, was honoured as Master Guan in Daoism and was called Martial Saint by the masses and many professions and societies worshipped him. So temple fair on the 13ᵗʰ day of the fifth lunar month was a national activity. The masses called 24ᵗʰ day of the sixth lunar month as Lotus Birthday. People appreciated lotuses on this day in Ming and Qing Dynasty. China has had lotus since ancient times and it became the Chinese's favourite gradually under the influence of Buddhism after it was introduced into China, because ancient Indians loved lotus and endowed it with many symbolic meanings. This Lotus Birthday Festival was also naturally related to the influence of Buddhism. Chinese common people celebrated Kshitigarbha Festival on 30ᵗʰ day of the seventh lunar month and it was Kshitigarbha's birthday (there was another saying that it was his nirvana day). For example, *Records of the Capital of the Empire: Kshitigarbha Fair*, volume VII of Gu Lu's *Worthy Records of the Qing Dynasty* wrote about this festival celebrated by the people in Qing Dynasty. Moreover, some Buddhist festivals had certain influences on common people such as the 21ˢᵗ day of second lunar month (Samantabhadra's Birthday), 4ᵗʰ day of the fourth lunar month (Manjusri's Birthday), 13ᵗʰ day of the seventh lunar month (Mahasthama's Birthday), 22ⁿᵈ day of the eighth lunar month (Dipamkara's Birthday), 30ᵗʰ day of the ninth lunar month (Bhaisajyaguru's Birthday), 17ᵗʰ day of the eleventh lunar month (Amitabha's Birthday), and so on.