The fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar marks the birthday of Taiyin Xingjun, the Star Lord of the Moon Palace, and is also the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival. For this reason, worship of the Moon is one of the principal ritual observances of this festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. The fullness and roundness of the moon symbolize reunion and togetherness, expressing people’s longing for their homeland and their loved ones. Family and friends gather together to worship and admire the moon, give thanks for the harvest, and pray for happiness and blessings.
In the hearts of the Chinese people, the Moon has always carried the symbolism of gentleness and light, embodying our hopes and aspirations for what is beautiful and good.
The Historical Origins of Moon Worship
Moon worship, also known as worship of the Moon, ritual observance of the Moon, or offering to the Moon, is a traditional practice centered on reverence for the Moon. As a custom associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, Moon worship generally took shape during the Tang Dynasty, although the practice of observing and honoring the Moon during the autumn season dates back to much earlier times. In ancient times, Autumn-Evening Moon Rituals were performed on the night of the autumn equinox. In folk belief, the Moon was regarded as a lunar deity and was referred to by names such as the Moon Deity, Moon Aunt, or Moon Maiden.
Today, Daoism has preserved this traditional custom of the Chinese people and developed it into a distinctive Daoist Moon-Worship Ritual.
Within Daoist tradition, the lunar deity is respectfully known as Taiyin Xingjun, and is also referred to as Yueguang Niangniang, Taiyin Xingzhu, or Yuegu. Her full sacred title is Yuefu Jielin Huangjun Miaoguo Suyue Tianzun, and her celestial palace is known as the Palace of Pure Radiance beneath the Celestial Enclosure. The fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar is regarded as the Sacred Birthday of Taiyin Xingjun. As the Moon rises on this day, many Daoist temples and sacred sites throughout China traditionally establish ritual altars and conduct ceremonies in worship of the Moon.
In ancient China, when men and women were deeply in love, they would make vows and pledge their devotion beneath the Moon, offering prayers to Taiyin Xingjun. Lovers who had been separated would also pray to Taiyin Xingjun for reunion. The renowned Yuan Dynasty playwright Guan Hanqing wrote a famous drama entitled The Moon-Worship Pavilion. In The Romance of the Western Chamber, Cui Yingying also sincerely confides in Taiyin Xingjun, expressing her longing and hope to meet the person destined to become her beloved.
The Merits and Blessings of Moon Worship
1. Relief from Calamities and Difficulties
In Daoist tradition, Taiyin Xingjun is regarded as one of the eleven great Star Lords who illuminate the Three Realms from the Upper Pure Celestial Wheel Palace. Taiyin Xingjun governs the Water Realm, distinguishes clearly between day and night, oversees the records of all living beings, governs the souls of humanity, and bestows blessings while dispelling calamities.
Taiyin Xingjun is believed to nurture all beings, cleanse impurity, dispel evil, bring coolness and purity to the Three Realms, and help resolve calamities and difficulties.
2. Preservation of Youth
According to tradition, after Hou Yi received the elixir of immortality from the Queen Mother of the West, his wife Chang’e secretly consumed the sacred medicine and consequently ascended to the Moon, where she has remained in the Guanghan Palace ever since.
It is said that the elixir of longevity kept within the Lunar Palace is in fact the sacred medicine preserved by Chang’e, which maintains youth and preserves one’s appearance from aging. Through the continual cultivation of the Taiyin method of Condensing Form, one may preserve youthful vitality and maintain a youthful appearance.
Taiyin Xingjun is also believed to dispel illness and affliction from living beings. Those who sincerely worship the Moon Deity may receive blessings for longevity.
3. Relief from Illness and Blessings of Longevity
There is a traditional story that three immortals once took the forms of poor and elderly men and separately begged food from a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit.
The fox and the monkey both brought food to help the old men, but the rabbit had nothing to offer. The rabbit then said to them, “Eat me.” It leapt into the blazing fire.
After testing the Jade Rabbit’s sincerity and compassion, the immortals sent it to the Guanghan Palace, where it would accompany Chang’e. There, the Jade Rabbit would prepare the elixir of longevity, bringing relief from suffering and healing illness among living beings.
4. Reunion and Family Happiness
Those who sincerely worship Taiyin Xingjun may seek the Star Lord’s blessings for family reunion, marital harmony, and a happy and fulfilling marriage.
5. Increase in Blessings and Prosperity
Taiyin Xingjun is believed to govern the destiny and souls of human beings and may therefore increase one’s blessings and prosperity, protecting virtuous people and bringing abundance to their material affairs.
6. Growth in Wisdom
Taiyin Xingjun embodies the energies of Metal and Water, and Water is associated with wisdom. Taiyin also represents one’s original mind and innate nature, complete in its luminous radiance. For this reason, Taiyin Xingjun is believed to help expand and deepen one’s wisdom.
7. Protection and Blessings for Women
Taiyin Xingjun manifests in feminine form and is believed to protect women and grant them peace and well-being.
Through regular worship of the Moon, women may seek blessings for a calm and refreshed body and mind, the easing of worries and afflictions, and physical and spiritual well-being.
According to traditional belief, such worship may also bring blessings of fertility, and women who have difficulty conceiving may pray for the blessing of children.
8. Harmony Within the Family
Taiyin Xingjun is said to have manifested as Mingwang Chuan Lan Gong, who transmitted teachings concerning filial piety, as well as the Jingming tradition of loyalty and filial devotion.
By worshipping the Moon and practicing the principles of loyalty and filial piety, devotees may seek the blessings of Taiyin Xingjun for harmony, peace, and unity within the family.
9. Transformation of Fortune
The Taiyin Star is one of the celestial stars associated with the destiny palace in a given year. According to traditional belief, those whose destiny palace is influenced by this star may particularly benefit from worshipping Taiyin Xingjun, seeking an increase in blessings within their destiny and the protection and assistance of benevolent and influential people.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival of the Bingwu Year approaches, Jyuncing Temple will hold a “Mid-Autumn Moon-Worship and Blessing Ritual.” A High-Rank Daoist Ritual Master will present a formal memorial petition to Taiyin Xingjun on behalf of the faithful, seeking blessings and protection. That evening, floating river lanterns will also be released upon the water.
May our prayers be received:
May Taiyin Xingjun bestow abundant grace upon all.
May all transgressions and accumulated faults be cleansed and dispelled.
May the nation prosper and the people live in peace; may the Moon be full and all people be reunited.