Beijing Stories ②: Ancient Beijing Temple Fairs

Author: Zhao Xinghua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-08-01
Features: In this book, you will see the colorful folk customs of old Beijing. The Great Bell Temple fair, Baiyun Temple's "meeting immortals," City God Temple market, Caishen Temple borrowing ingots, Qianmen Guandi Temple, Huangsi Temple's "beating ghosts," Shichahai lotus market, and Miaofeng Mountain Temple fair—all of which allow you to experience the customs and cultural flavors of old Beijing. The temple fairs of old Beijing are an important part of Chinese folk culture, with rich content. This book is divided into three parts: Upper, Middle, and Lower, respectively documenting the traditional customs and religious beliefs of old Beijing's temple fairs since the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Upper Part discusses the origins, types, and history of temple fairs; the Middle Part describes the customs, commerce, entertainment, opera, acrobatics, and local delicacies of major temple fairs; the Lower Part collects and organizes a collection of poems and essays by scholars over the generations about temple fairs. Through the three parts, the author introduces the temple fairs of old Beijing to readers in a panoramic manner, using a wealth of first-hand materials and little-known anecdotes.