READING CIRCLE STUDIES ( SEND INTERNATIONAL OF TAIWAN )

"Taiwan Customs and Traditions:"

This table of contents serves as list of reference: 
CHAPTER ONE: ANNUAL FESTIVALS 
1. NEW YEAR 1st mont., 1st day 
Books: Chinese Creeds and Customs by V.R. Burkhardt (pp.26-29, at SEND library)
Fun with Chinese Festivals by Tan Peng (pp.54-61, at SEND library)
Internet: http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/dec97/holiday/boatz
http://www.sandiego-online.com/forums/chinese/
a)Inscription Pasted On Doors 
b)Setting of Firecrackers
2. THE BIRTHDAY OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN 
1st mon., 9th day
Books: Chinese Creeds and Customs, by V.R.Burkhardt (p.158, SEND library)
Gods, Ghosts and Ancestors, by David K.Jordan (chapter.3 describes a similar deity for a village, SEND library)
100 Chinese Gods, by Lu Yanguang (Caves Bookstores)
Internet: http://www.sinica.edu.tw/.
3. THE BIRTHDAY OF KUAN YUE 1st mon., 13th day 
http://www.sinica.edu.tw/tit/ under “seventh maid”
4. SHANG-YUEAN-HSIAO, "LANTERN FESTIVAL" 
1.st mon., 15th day 
http://www.sinica.edu.tw/tit/festivals/0296_Lantern.html
http://goseasia.about.com/travel/goseasia/ (search word : “hungry ghosts” and “lantern festival” and then check the list )
5. THE BIRTHDAY OF THE GOD OF LITERATURE 

2nd mon., 3rd day 

6. CLEAR AND BRIGHT FESTIVAL 3rd mon., 

7. COLD FOOD FESTIVAL3rd month 

8. MA-CHU'S BIRTHDAY 3rd month, 23rd day 

9. THE FIFTH DAY FESTIVAL5TH MONTH, 5TH DAY ("The 5th Day Festival”

a) Tying Up In Bomboo Leaves 

b) Rowing The Dragon Boats 

c) Hanging Fragrant Incense Around The Neck 

d) Sticking Artemisia, Banyan, and Sweet Flag On The Doorposts 

e) Noon-time Water 

10.BIRTHDAY OF THE CITY GOD, 5th month, 11th day ("The City God"

11.BIRTHDAY OF THE SEVENTH MAID , 7th month, 7th day( "The Seventh Maid"

12.BUDDHIST RITES FOR THE DEAD,7th month,15thday ("The Buddhist Rites"

13.MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL8th month, 15th day

Book: “Fun with Chinese Festivals, by Tan Huay Peng at Lai Lai Book Co.

a)Moon Cakes http://www.peacock.tnjc.edu.tw/ADD/TOUR/keep.html

b)Enjoying The Moon On The Night Of The Mid-Autumn Festival http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/moon.htm

14.THE DOUBLE YANG FESTIVAL, 9th month, 9th day 

15.THE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL, 11th month

16.THE FINAL WORSHIP OF THE GOD OF THE EARTH, 12 months 

17.SENDING OFF THE GODS 12month, 24th day 

18.THE DAY OF HEAVENLY GODS DESCEND, 12th month, 25th day 

19.THE MARRIAGE MONTH 12th month 

CHAPTER TWO: 

1. MARRIAGE 

2. MARRIAGE BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SURNAME IS NOT PERMITTED 

3. CONSIDERATION IN THE SELECTION OF A MATE

4. THE SIX PROPRIETIES 

Book: Women and the Family in Rural Taiwan, by Margery Wolf, Stanford University, University Press, California

a) Inquiry About The Name 

b) Engagement 

c) Marriage Presents To The Bride's Family 

d) Marriage Money To The Bride's Family 

e) Setting The Date 

f)The Groom Going To The Bride's Home to Take Her Away In Person 

5. CONGRATULATORY GIFTS 

6. DOOR INSCRIPTIONS 

7. MAKING THE NUMBER OF PRESENTS COMPLETE 

8. ENTERING THE BEDROOM 

9. MARRIAGE FEAST WITH LIQUOR 

10.MAKING A DISTURBANCE IN THE BEDROOM, ANNOYING THE BRIDE 

11.THE FIRST TRIP TO THE BRIDE'S HOME FOR DINNER 

12.PREGNANCY 

13.GIVING THE NAME 

14.CELEBRATING THE CHILD'S FIRST MONTH'S BIRTHDAY 

14.SEWING ON THE SWASTIKA 

CHAPTER THREE: MATTERS CONNECTED WITH DEATH

1.BELIEF IN THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL

Book: Cult of Death, (SEND library)
2. THE DELUSIONS OF FALSE DOCTRINE IN EVIL RELIGION
3. THE INFLUENCE OF CONFUCIANISM"Matters of Death”)
a) Moving The Dying Person From His Bed 
b) The Son Who Collects Debts 
c) Putting On Clothes 
d) Distributing Sack Clothes 
e) Washing the Corpse 
f) Meeting the Coffin 
g) Announcing The Death 
h) Placing The Body In The Coffin 
i) Closing The Coffin 
j) Presents For The Family Of The Deceased 
k)Funeral 
l) Service At The Grave-side 
m)Offerings At Set Intervals To The Dead 
n)Performing Meritorious Works For The Dead 
o)Tombstone 
p)Visiting The Grave 

q)Anniversary Of The Death

 
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