History of Hungry Ghosts Festival

​*History of Hungry Ghosts Festival* - Respect, Gratitude and Honour

*中元节的历史* - 尊重、感恩和荣誉

_by Dr. Punna Wong_

Many wonder why the Chinese especially of the older generation make offerings at the roadside this 7th lunar month.

To the senior generations, it is very important and many of the younger people have forgotten why, merely dismissing the practice as superstition. Our forefathers who came to malaria endemic Malaya and South East Asia clearing jungles for tin, rubber and pepper, had very difficult lives, eking out a living to survive and hoping to send some money home to their villages in China to help loved ones.

Mortality was thought to be about 50% for those  brave poor folks seeking a better life from war and famine ravished China. To anyone bidding “goodbye” from their families at the village exit, each had a more than even chance that they may never meet again.

This 7th Lunar month tells of an important lesson in our history that i would like to share.

When our forefathers came to work as tin miners, rubber tappers, coolies or indentured workers, they came in groups of men. The womenfolk stayed back in China taking care of families, elderly and children in villages now devoid of men.

The menfolk who slaved in the hot, humid tropics had extremely hard lives. Mortality was high, many dying of malaria, beri-beri or sheer poverty. Their lives were miserable, and not a few squandered their hard earned wages on the temporary relief offered in alcohol, opium or gambling.

Knowing well that many will die alone in a foreign land, the men pledged to take care of each other should they die, making offerings and burying the deceased.

Clan associations sprang up to help with this too.

Their promise to honour and make offerings was a sacred pledge that they swore, and binding even to their descendants, who will continue to offer to these "good brothers", the 'Hao Xiong Di', who are without kin and descendants.

To this day during the Chinese 7th lunar month, the Chinese descendants of those who braved the South China Sea will offer at the roadside to these nameless and unknown "Hungry ghosts" of the  "good brothers", recalling the comradeship forged by the hopes and  sufferings of the forefathers who paced the way for us.

This is a tradition we must importantly understand.

It is NOT superstition; it is Respect, Gratitude and Honour for those on whose shoulders the present generation stand in comfort.

Very often in our Prosperity today, we had forgotten about the sufferings and sacrifices of our predecessors. This “Hungry Ghost Festival” is Not only Honouring our own ancestors But to those without anyone to help, offer or share Merits. Simply poor people who braved the South China Sea with our ancestors who died nameless, unknown and unappreciated. 🙏🏽

*中元节的历史* - 尊重、感恩和荣誉

 _by Dr. Punna Wong_

 许多人想知道为什么中国人特别是老一辈的中国人在这个农历七月在路边供养。

 对老一辈来说，这很重要，很多年轻人都忘记了为什么，只是把这种做法当作迷信不屑一顾。 我们的祖先来到疟疾流行的马来亚和东南亚清理丛林以获取锡、橡胶和胡椒，他们的生活非常艰难，勉强维持生计，并希望寄一些钱回家帮助他们在中国的村庄帮助亲人。

 那些从战争和饥荒蹂躏的中国中寻求更好生活的勇敢穷人的死亡率被认为约为 50%。 对于任何在村口与家人“告别”的人来说，他们每个人都有可能永远不会再见面的机会。

 这个农历七月讲述了我们历史上的一个重要教训，我想分享。

 当我们的祖先以锡矿工、橡胶敲击工、苦力或契约工人的身份来工作时，他们成群结队地来到这里。 妇女们留在中国，照顾现在没有男人的村庄的家人、老人和孩子。

 在炎热潮湿的热带地区劳作的男人们过着极其艰苦的生活。 死亡率很高，许多人死于疟疾、脚气病或赤贫。 他们的生活很悲惨，不少人把辛苦赚来的工资花在了酒精、鸦片或赌博中提供的临时救济上。

 深知许多人将在异国他乡孤独地死去，他们承诺在他们死后互相照顾，供奉并埋葬死者。

 氏族协会也应运而生来帮助解决这个问题。

 他们兑现供养的承诺，是他们发誓的神圣誓言，甚至对他们的子孙也有约束力，他们将继续为这些没有亲人、无后裔的“好兄弟”“好兄弟”‘昊兄弟’献祭。

 直到农历七月的这一天，那些冒着南海的中国后裔，都会在路边献给这些“好兄弟”的无名无名“饿鬼”，缅怀希望和结下的同志情谊。 为我们铺路的先人的苦难。

 这是我们必须重要地理解的传统。

 这不是迷信； 这是对那些肩负着当代人舒适的人的尊重、感恩和荣誉。

 在我们今天的繁荣中，我们经常忘记前人的苦难和牺牲。 这个“中元节”不仅是在祭祀自己的祖先，也是为了那些没有人帮助、奉献或分享功德的人。 简直就是和我们的祖先一起在南海奋战的可怜人，死去的无名，不为人知，不为人知。  🙏🏽