Tradition
The Night of the 15th
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Tradition
The Night of the 15th
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CHAP GOR MAIR, the 15th night of the lunar new year, when the moon is perfectly round. marks the end of the Chinese New Year. In the words of C S Wong, the painstaking chronicler of Penang's Festivals, it is that "Night of Moonlight Romance", when once upon a time rich marriageable maidens resplendently bedecked with diamonds, promenaded in open cars for all to see and many more cast oranges into the sea or river in the hope of getting suitable husbands. What is the origin of Chap Gor Mair? It seems that once upon a time a sacred bird lost its way and fell among men. It was killed by hunters who knew not its true identity. When he heard the terrible news the wrath of the Emperor of Heaven knew no bounds. He ordered that on the 15th night of the new year the heavenly troops should destroy mankind with fire. His daughter however could not bear to think that innocent people should be thus cruelly killed. She therefore secretly informed the people of their fate Hearing the bad news, the people were much afraid and they despaired for they knew not what to do. Days passed without an answer until one day an old man said, "During the 14th, 15th, and 16th days each house should hang the red lantern dragon, let off fire crackers and fireworks. In this fashion the Emperor of Heaven will think that mankind has been destroyed" The people welcomed the old man's advice and went about preparing to do what they were told. On the night of the 15th when the heavenly soldiers looked down they saw a whole mass of red and advised the Emperor that mankind had been consumed by a huge bonfire Ever since mankind has celebrated with red lantern dragons, firecrackers and fireworks |
According to C S Wong's Chinese Festivities (1967) the 15th night, Yuan Hsiao, was originally called fang yeh the "night of freedom", which goes back to the Han period (first century AD ) when the city gates were kept closed at all times and a curfew was imposed at night, so that the Son of Heaven was at ease to move about without fear of foul play. It was only on the 15th evening, and on the eve before and the eve after, that Chin Wu , the chief police officer in charge of security, was ordered to lift the curfew for the people to rejoice. A few centuries later the Freedom Night was celebrated with fireworks. The origin of the display of fireworks is attributed to Emperor Yang of the Sui period ( AD 608-616), who on New Year's Eve had some tens of lofty beacons built in front of the palace buildings. Each beacon consisted mainly of fragrant woods, and when it was lighted at night the fire rose scores of feet skywards and its fragrance spread miles around...
It was only during the time of Tang that the festival became the Teng Chieh (Lantern Festival), known to the West as the Feast of Lanterns. Taking the lead in the celebration was Ming Huang, an Emperor of Tang (AD 713-755), who had the loveliest and loftiest lantern-towers constructed in commemoration of the 15th night of the 1st Moon. In all, thirty lantern-towers were built by Mao Shun, the skilful craftsman, each about five hundred metres from the ground. Each lantern-tower was adorned with pearls, jades, gold and silver, which gave forth musical rhythms when swayed by the gentle breeze. The lanterns took the form of dragons, phoenixes, tigers and leopards, dangling and prancing in mid-air, so skilfully created that they appeared to be real. # |
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MESSAGES from Mr Lim Huck Aik We have had a message from Mr Lim Huck Aik to thank us for sending him a printed copy of The Penang File. Mr Lim Huck Aik, a retired lawyer and a former chairman of the Penang Bar Committee, is the son of Lim Chin Guan, the shipping magnate of the twenties and the grandson of Lim Mah Chye, who built and lived in "Homestead" at Northam Road . His school was St Xavier's and his college was Christ College, Cambridge. He has served as a municipal commissioner, Straits Settlements Councillor and Federal Legislative Councillor. He was also a director of Bank Negara and pro-Chancellor of the Universiti Sains. He was a president of the Straits Chinese British Association and was for many years president of the Penang Turf Club. Mr Huck Aik, now 95, says he reads every line of The Penang File. |
| from Yoong Chin I have been reading the archives. I think some of the feature articles, especially those of Lim Kean Siew can be expanded into scripts for one-person performance theatre, or 2-3 actors in a coffeeshop routine - carrying on a dialogue. If you have come across plays written by Stella Kon -"Emily of Emerald Hill" or Kao Pao Kun - "This Coffin Is Too Big For The Hole", you will know what I mean. These were one actor performances which I found very captivating and powerful because of the themes. If properly scripted, Kean Siew's "We are Such Nice People" will be a hilarious, but very meaningful play, because of its deep emotional themes - it will certainly prick the conscience of any perceptive audience, likewise the coffee shop dialogues re nyonya-baba social themes.The title "We Are Such Nice People" will make a great theme for a continuing series of one actor performances !! Yoong Chin Solicitor, Australia |
| ******************************************************** Raymond Kwok: Phone 656 9550 email dkwok@tm.net.my ******************************************************** |
| ______ INDEX Point to the article that you want to read, and CLICK Home Artist Baba Sayings China Street Fort Cornwallis Horse Year Jaffna Rojak Market English True Baba 15th Night |
___________________ The Penang File Issue 20 |