EAST ASIA

CHINA

FACTS

• Name in Chinese: 中秋节 Zhongqiujie /jong-chyoh-jyeah/
• Importance: the second most important (traditional) Chinese Festival after Chinese New Year
• Date: September or October(during the full moon)
• Popular food: mooncakes
• Celebrations: admiring the full moon, eating mooncakes
• Origin: A harvest festival with origins in moon worship.

Untitled Slide

JAPAN

Nebuta Matsuri

• A breathtaking and unique festival celebrated in the northern prefecture of Aomori. Held once a year, it features gorgeous, vivid floats shaped after famous historical and mythological Japanese characters. Often hailed as the most colorful festival in Japan, the Nebuta Matsuri should not be missed.
• http://us.jnto.go.jp/blog/festival-of-color-the-aomori-nebuta-matsuri/

Untitled Slide

• No one can agree on the origin of the Nebuta Matsuri. However, some believe the nebuta floats were invented by General Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro in the 800’s, when his army created these gruesome creatures from cloth and bamboo to scare away the enemy. As time passed, the size, shapes, and colors of the lanterns evolved into what’s seen at the present day Aomori Nebuta Matsuri. However, while historians cannot agree on the origins of the festival, no one can argue with the fact it is one of the most memorable and visually impressive festivals in Japan.

KOREA

ART FORMS HIGHLIGHTED

• Lantern art
• Korean paintings

Untitled Slide

• The Chopail Festival is celebrated in honor of Buddha's birthday which is celebrated on the 8th day of the fourth month by merrymaking and making lanterns.
• Korean painting includes post-modern conceptual art using transient forms of light.
• Lantern art is a widespread form of art in many parts of Asia and other continents. Each country has its own varying style of decoration for lanterns.

MONGOLIA

TSAAGAN SAR

• The last day of the old year Mongolian people widely celebrate the “Bituun” – Lunar New Year Eve, all members of families are gathered around richly served table and have dinner together. You will visit nomad family and celebrate the “Bituun” with them.
• https://www.discovermongolia.mn/blog-news-festivals-and-events-in-mongolia/

Untitled Slide

TAIWAN

PINGXI

• invented during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-265) by Zhuge Liang
• In the early 19th century the Lantern Festival was brought to Taiwan, where every year, at the beginning of the spring planting season, people would release “sky lanterns” into the air as a prayer for the coming year.
• Art form- lanterns
• At first it was used to transmit military information, different from beacon towers yet ingeniously serving the same function, and is now generally recognized as the earliest ancestor to the hot air balloon.

http://eventaiwan.tw/cal_en/cal_19543#left