Ghost Festival

What it is

The Ghost Festival is a traditional observance held across East and Southeast Asia. It occurs on the fifteenth night of the seventh month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. During this time, the boundaries between the living world and the spirit realm are believed to open. Spirits, including ancestors and hungry ghosts, are thought to visit the earth. The festival serves as a time for the living to provide sustenance and comfort to these visiting souls. It is also known by various names depending on the region and religious tradition involved.

Where it comes from

The festival has roots in both Taoist and Buddhist traditions. In Taoism, it relates to the Three Yuan theory and the name Zhongyuan. In Buddhism, it derives from the Ullambana Sutra. This text tells of the disciple Maudgalyayana seeking his deceased mother in the hungry ghost realm. He learns to offer food to the monastic community to transfer merit to his mother. Similar older texts exist in Theravada Buddhism, such as the Petavatthu, which features the disciple Sariputta.

How it is done

Families prepare ritualistic food offerings and burn joss paper to provide goods for the afterlife. Incense containing styrax benzoin is burned at household doors. Elaborate meals are served with empty seats for the deceased. Lotus-shaped lanterns are floated on water to guide lost spirits. In some areas, live performances called Getai are held, with the front row left empty for the ghosts. Priests and monks perform ceremonies to relieve the suffering of the dead.

Tools and materials

Joss paper is used to create representations of money, clothes, and other items. Styrax benzoin incense is burned for prosperity. Lotus-shaped lanterns are placed on paper boats to float on rivers. Altars are set up outside temples or houses with fresh fruit and sacrifices.

What it is for

The festival aims to appease wandering spirits and prevent them from bringing misfortune. It allows descendants to show filial piety to their ancestors. Offering food helps hungry ghosts who lack descendants. Guiding lanterns help spirits find their way back to the underworld. The rituals are intended to maintain harmony between the living and the dead.

Who does it

Households participate by preparing offerings and burning paper goods. Taoist priests and Buddhist monks conduct formal ceremonies. Community organizations may fund street performances. In some regions, local residents gather to distribute offerings to the poor after praying for spirits who died unluckily. The practice involves both private family rituals and public community events.

Peoples and places

The festival is widely observed in China, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Thailand. In China, it is known as the Zhongyuan Festival or Yulanpen Festival. In Indonesia, it is called Chit Gwee Pua. Khmer people observe a similar festival called Pchum Ben. Different cultures have unique customs, such as floating lanterns in some areas and holding concerts in others. The core theme of honoring the dead remains consistent across regions.

What people believe

The belief system centers on the existence of a lower realm where spirits reside. Hungry ghosts are beings driven by intense emotional needs. They are often those without descendants or proper tribute. The living believe that offerings can alleviate the suffering of these spirits. Burning joss paper transfers value to the afterlife. The festival reflects a worldview where the dead remain connected to the living through memory and ritual.

When it is done

The festival takes place on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. This date coincides with a full moon and the autumn harvest. In some southern parts of China, it is observed on the fourteenth day. The entire seventh month is considered Ghost Month. Rituals continue throughout the month, with specific activities peaking on the main festival day.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Scholars view the festival as a blend of Taoist, Buddhist, and folk religious elements. Anthropologists study how the festival reinforces family bonds and social cohesion. Historians trace its origins to ancient Indian scriptures and their translation into Chinese. Researchers note the festival's adaptation over time, incorporating modern entertainment like concerts alongside traditional opera.

Compare and confuse

The Ghost Festival is related to other ancestor veneration festivals like Qingming and Double Ninth Festival. While Qingming focuses on older generations, the Ghost Festival honors all deceased relatives. It shares themes with the Japanese Obon festival and the Vietnamese Vu Lan. Each culture has distinct customs, but all involve feeding and guiding spirits.

Law and persecution

The festival is legally permitted and culturally accepted in most regions where it is observed. There are no significant legal restrictions on the practices described. Some areas may have regulations regarding public gatherings or fire safety for burning paper offerings, but these are general public safety measures rather than specific bans on the festival itself.

Today

The festival continues to be practiced by communities across Asia and in diaspora populations. Modern adaptations include live concerts and digital offerings. Temples and community organizations play a central role in organizing events. The festival remains an important cultural touchstone for maintaining connections to ancestry and tradition.

Rites that involve Ghost Festival

Questions people ask about Ghost Festival

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Ghost Festival on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data