Dajiao, (Chinese: 打醮)[1] called the Taiping Qingjiao or Taai ping ching jiu in Hong Kong, (太平清醮) is a Taoist ritual and festival which is performed every year.

Dajiao
Traditional Chinese打醮
Literal meaningWorshipping the gods
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDǎ jiào
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationDa jiu
JyutpingDa3 ziu3
Taai ping ching jiu
Traditional Chinese太平清醮
Literal meaningThe Purest Sacrifice Celebrated for Great Peace
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationTaai pìhng chīng jiu
JyutpingTaai3 ping4 cing1 ziu3
Tai Ping Ching Chiu in Hong Kong

The ritual is to pray and request the Taoist Deities to bestow peace and harmony in the particular neighborhood or location. Pak Tai is the most popular Chinese Deity for this religious service and rituals. Believers have to abstain from meat and eat vegetarian food at the festival. It is performed across Greater China: Sichuan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong

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The festival name is transliterated as Tai Ping Ching Chiu from Cantonese. Some of these festivals are called Da Jiu Festival, a famous one of which is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. This festival is also practiced in Hong Kong in Sheung Shui Wai, New Territories, Yuen Long and Kam Sheung Road.

References

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  1. ^ New Journey Through History 1A. Kan, Nelson Y. Y. and Tang, Miranda K. L. Published by Aristo Education Press LTD.

Further reading

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  • Choi, C.C. (1990). "Studies on Hong Kong Jiao Festivals" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 30: 26–43. ISSN 1991-7295.
  • Chan, Wing-Hoi (1986). "Observations at the Jiu festival of Shek O and Tai Long Wan,1986" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 26: 78–101. ISSN 1991-7295.
  • Chan, Wing-hoi (1989). "The Dangs of Kam Tin and Their Jiu Festival" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 29: 302–375. ISSN 1991-7295.
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