Chung Yeung Festival (The Double Ninth Festival) – History, Legend, Traditions, and Activities

The Chung Yeung Festival (重節) (重节), or also called Double Ninth Festival, is one of the oldest and most important festivals in China.

However, it is also celebrated in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and many other countries in Asia. In some countries, the festival is called with different names, like Chōyō in Japan, and Jungyangjeol in Korea.

It is called the Double Ninth Festival (“Chung” in Chinese means double) because it is held on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

All festivals in Chinese culture have their own unique origins, traditions, and unique activities as the essences of the festivals themselves. For the Chung Yeung Festival, one of the key traditions is that it is a special day of ancestor memorials. On this holiday, many Chinese visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects.

Upcoming Chung Yeung Festival Dates (2026–2030)

History of The Chung Yeung Festival

As discussed, the Chung Yeung Festival is regarded as one of the oldest festivals in China, and the history behind can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago, to the times of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

During this time, however, the Double Ninth Festival was only celebrated by the Emperor and nobles and is only celebrated inside the Imperial Palace. In this period, the Chung Yeung Festival was mainly a worship ritual for a star that today we know as “Antares”, the brightest star in the Scorpio constellation.

The star, back then, was created as a god because its presence marks the change of seasons. The star was believed to bring abundance in harvest and soil fertility. In other words, the festival back then was celebrated to worship and prevent the wrath of their god.

Entering the period of the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD), this festival was now more widely celebrated, including by common people. According to some historians, one of the concubines of Emperor Gaozu was persecuted by the Empress and banished from the Imperial Palace.

This concubine then married a commoner and lived as a commoner, while telling others the traditions and cultures celebrated in the Imperial Palace. This is how the tradition of the Double Ninth festival spread to commoners.

The Chung Yeung Festival continued to be celebrated and became even more popular during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280AD) and the Jin Dynasty period (266-420 AD). It is during the Jin Dynasty that the traditions of drinking Chrysanthemum Wine and wearing Zhu Yu (Dogwood plant) were introduced.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the festival became one of the most celebrated festivals as it is today with various activities (that we will discuss in the next sections).

The Feng Shui and Metaphysical Significance of “Double Nine”

To truly understand the Chung Yeung Festival, one must look at it through the lens of the I Ching (Book of Changes) and Chinese numerology. In traditional Chinese philosophy, numbers are categorized as either Yin (even) or Yang (odd). The number nine is the highest single-digit odd number, making it the “supreme Yang” number. It is historically associated with the Emperor and represents ultimate authority, vitality, and heaven.

When the ninth day meets the ninth month, it creates a “Double Nine” configuration. In Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics, this represents a peak of Yang energy. However, the core principle of Yin and Yang dictates that when Yang reaches its absolute extreme, it must inevitably begin to transform into Yin. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is not just a celebration of auspiciousness; it is a transitional, highly volatile energetic threshold.

This metaphysical reality explains the underlying urgency of the festival’s traditions. The extreme shift in energy was historically believed to make people vulnerable to sudden illnesses, bad luck, or spiritual interference (hence the legend of the plague demon). The acts of climbing high mountains (closer to the heavens/Yang), wearing Zhu Yu (a pungent plant to repel negative Yin energy), and drinking Chrysanthemum wine (to cool and balance the internal organs) are essentially ancient, practical Feng Shui cures designed to harmonize the human body with the extreme shifting energies of the cosmos.

The Legend Behind The Cheung Yeung Festival

As with many other festivals in China, there are various legends and folklore behind the Cheung Yeung Festival. However, the most popular one that is known by most Chinese is the legend of Huan Jing, a demon-slaying warrior.

According to this legend, during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a demon that brought pestilence into the land. This demon brought a plague to contaminate the Ruhe river, causing those who lived near the Ruhe river to become sick. Many have died due to the plague as a result, and long story short, this plague and the demon brought so many sufferings to people in that era.

In the middle of this disastrous time lived someone named Huan Jing.

Just like many other commoners, Huan Jing’s parents died due to the plague brought by the demon. Huan Jing swore for revenge and looked for ways to stop the demon’s evil tidings. Huan Jing heard that an immortal hermit possessed incredible powers capable of killing the demon, so Huan Jing looked for this hermit, who was said to live in a remote mountain.

Although it took Huan Jing some time and serious efforts, finally Huan Jing found the hermit in the middle of the mountain. The hermit was touched by Huan Jing’s story and his persistence and decided to teach magical arts and swordsmanship to Huan Jung so he can fight the demon.

Huan Jing trained under the immortal hermit and became very good in swordsmanship and magic, Once the hermit felt that Huan Jing was already strong enough, he told Huan jing that the demon will once again attack the village on the ninth day of the ninth month, so the hermit told Huan Jing to hurry back to the village.

The Hermit gave Huan Jing a magical sword capable of slaying the demon. Also, he told Huan Jing to wear a Zhu Yu (Dogwood) plant, and drink Chrysanthemum wine to protect himself before fighting the demon.

Once Huan Jing reached the village, he warned people about the return of the demon and told them to run to the mountains while wearing a necklace made of Zhu Yu and protect themselves by drinking Chrysanthemum wine.

The demon finally appeared from the Ruhe river, but become severely weakened by the smell of Zhu Yu and Chrysanthemum. Huan Jing took this opportunity to slay the demon and brought peace into the land.

Related reading: The Chrysanthemum in Chinese Culture and as Feng Shui Symbol – Opens in new tab

The Literary Essence: Poetry and the Modern Evolution of Filial Piety

No discussion of Chinese culture is complete without acknowledging the profound impact of literature, and the Double Ninth Festival has inspired some of the most famous poetry in Chinese history.

The most iconic is “Thinking of My Brothers on Mountain-Holiday” by the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei. He famously wrote: “A lonely stranger in a strange land, / He longs for his family all the more on every holiday. / I know my brothers, high on a distant peak, / Are missing me, as one is missing from the Zhu Yu wreath.” This poem cemented the festival’s emotional core in the Chinese consciousness: it is a day of deep nostalgia, familial longing, and the realization of our connections to our roots, even when we are far away.

Furthermore, the festival’s focus on longevity has beautifully evolved in modern times. In 1989, the Chinese government officially designated the Double Ninth Festival as “Senior Citizens’ Day” (老人节). While the traditional aspect of the day remains focused on honoring deceased ancestors through grave sweeping, the modern cultural essence has beautifully expanded to celebrate the living elderly.

It is now a day dedicated to Xiao (filial piety), where younger generations take their parents and grandparents on outings, gift them Chrysanthemum cakes, and express gratitude for their longevity and wisdom.

Traditions and Activities During the Double Ninth Festival

A lot of traditions and activities performed during the Chung Yeung festival were based on the Huan Jing legend above.

People often hiked to the mountains during the festival, and also use the time to visit and clean ancestors’ graves. Hiking during the Cheung Yeung Festival is often believed as an energy-cleansing ritual before they visit the ancestor graves. So, they believed that they’ll visit the graves with cleaner energy.

Chung Yeung Cake

Chung Yeung cake ( 重), or Chongyang Gao is a traditional cake eaten during this festival. This cake is mainly made of rice flour with layered textures, and in each layer, we’ll get toppings made of red beans, dried fruits, and other types of sweet toppings. To make it even more appealing, people often make the Chung Yeung cake in a flower shape.

Beyond its delicious taste, the Chung Yeung cake (Chongyang Gao) carries a deeply auspicious meaning rooted in Chinese linguistic Feng Shui. In Mandarin, the word for cake (“Gao” 糕) is a perfect homophone for the word “high” or “tall” (“Gao” 高).

Therefore, eating this layered cake during the festival is a symbolic act of “stepping higher” (gao sheng). It is believed to bring progress, promotions, academic success, and upward mobility in one’s life. The higher the cake is layered, and the more ingredients it contains, the more auspicious the omen for the family’s future prosperity.

Chrysanthemum Wine

The tradition of drinking Chrysanthemum wine during the Double Ninth Festival is based on the Huan Jing folklore we’ve told above. It is believed that the Chrysanthemum smell will weaken the demon that plagued Huan Jing’s village, and many Chinese people still drink Chrysanthemum wine during the festival as a remembrance for this story.

Many people also believe that drinking Chrysanthemum wine during the Double Ninth Festival can cleanse negative energy from the body and soul and ward off bad luck. Chrysanthemum in Chinese culture and in Feng Shui is also a symbol of longevity and good health.

While drinking the wine is a cherished tradition, the physical Chrysanthemum flower itself is a powerful Feng Shui cure. In Chinese metaphysics, the Chrysanthemum blooms in the late autumn, enduring the first frosts, which makes it a supreme symbol of resilience, vitality, and longevity.

If you are looking to bring the festival’s energy into your home, placing a vase of fresh, bright yellow or white chrysanthemums in the East sector of your living room can activate health and family harmony. Alternatively, placing them in the South sector can enhance fame, recognition, and the fiery, vibrant energy of the season.

Wearing accessories made of Zhu Yu (Dogwood) plant

Zhu Yu or dogwood plant is a very important part of the Cheung Yeung Festival tradition. The tradition also originated from the Huan Jiang folklore.

Same with Chrysanthemum, many believe that the Zhu Yu (Dogwood) plant is effective in cleansing negative energy and ward off evil. While traditionally people wear the Dogwood plant as a necklace, now it comes in many different forms of accessories.

Chung Yeung Festival In Other Countries

The Double Ninth Festival is not exclusively celebrated in China, but also in many different countries and cultures that use the lunar calendar. While there are several differences in each culture and country, all of these variations are celebrated on the ninth day and ninth month of the Lunar calendar.

Here are some of the variations of the Chung Yeung Festival celebrated in other countries.

Choyo Festival, Japan

The Choyo festival in Japan is also called Kiku no Sekku, or literally translated into “Chrysanthemum Festival”. The Choyo Festival is also celebrated as a ritual to ward off evil, just like the Chung Yeung Festival in China, but there are some differences in celebrating the Japanese version of the festival.

There are many different legends behind the Choyo Festival, but the most famous one is called The Tale of Kankei. In this legend, Kankei is someone who lived in China, and he heard of a prophecy from a fortune teller that on the ninth day of the ninth month, a disaster will strike his family. To ward off this bad luck, he is told to hike the tallest mountain near him and drink Chrysanthemum wine.

The festival became a country-wide tradition in the Heian Period (794-1185 AD). In this period, only the emperor and the nobles can plant and see Chrysanthemum, but along with time, the plant also spread amongst the commoners.

We can see that both the Choyo festival and the Chinese Double Ninth Festival have a similarity in their use of Chrysanthemum wine, but rather than the Cheung Yeung cake, the Japanese use a savory dish based on rice mixed with chestnut and salt. In some areas in Japan, other foods are also often consumed during the festival, such as Chrysanthemum petals dipped in Japanese rice vinegar and eggplants.

Jungyangjeol, Korea

In Korea, the festival was already celebrated during the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392 AD) but was only celebrated by the Royal Court and nobles. Entering the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910 AD), during the reign of Sejong (1397-1450 AD), Jungyangjeol became the tradition celebrated by many commoners in Korea and the king established the ninth day of the ninth month as a national holiday, until this day.

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Practical Feng Shui Tips for the Chung Yeung Festival at Home

You do not need to climb a mountain to benefit from the auspicious energy of the Double Ninth Festival. As a day of transition and cleansing, it is an excellent time to refresh the Feng Shui of your home. Here are a few expert tips to harmonize your space during this festival:

• Perform a Deep Energy Cleanse: Because the festival is historically tied to warding off pestilence and negative energy, use this day to deep-clean your home. Open all windows to allow stale Qi (energy) to escape and fresh autumn air to circulate.
• Burn Auspicious Incense: Light sandalwood or aloeswood incense in the center of your home or in the areas where your family spends the most time. The smoke acts as a spiritual cleanser, clearing out any lingering negative Qi accumulated over the past months.
• Eat “Gao” for Breakfast: To harness the homophonic magic of the Chung Yeung cake, eat a slice of it first thing in the morning on the day of the festival. This sets a strong, intentional vibration for “upward mobility” and progress for the rest of the year.
• Display Autumn Foliage and Chrysanthemums: Bring the protective and longevity-enhancing energy of the season indoors. Aside from chrysanthemums, displaying branches with autumn leaves (especially red or gold) in the South or Southwest of your home can activate beneficial earth and fire energies, bringing warmth and stability to your household as the weather turns cold.

Featured Image by Jebulon from Wikimedia Commons