Predicting Weather By The Moon - Xavier University Libraries

The Moon in Ancient History
To the Chinese, the Moon was a timepiece. Being
an agricultural people, they planted and harvested by the
Moon.and gave special attention to the Moon in times of
worship. During the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-906) the 15th
day of the eighth lunar month was made an official holiday
- Moon Festival.
In Taiwan, the Harvest or Fruit Moon (Full Moon in
September) signals a time for romance and family togetherness.
The 15th day of the eighth lunar month marks the
mid-autumn Festival, also known as the Chinese Moon Festival.
On this special day, Chinese people worship in temples
throughout Taiwan and hold joyous family reunions at
home. After nightfall, entire families go out under the stars
for picnics in public parks. It is also a for the lovers, who
sit holding hands on riverbanks and park benches.
According to folk legend, the 15th day of the eighth
lunar month is also the birthday of the Earth god, or Tu-ti
Kung. Thus the festival has come to symbolize the fruitful
end of a year’s hard work in the fields. Farm families across
the island express their gratitude to the Earth God as to
Heaven, represented by the Moon, for the year’s good
blessings.
During the Yuan dynasty (A.D.1280-1368) China was
ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding
Sung dynasty (A.D.960-1280) were unhappy at submitting
to foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion
without it being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion,
knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered
the making of special cakes. Backed into each
mooncake was a message with the outline of the attack. On
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