WANG Wei (701~761) is one of my favorite poets. On this 9th day of the 9th lunar month, long, long time ago, he wrote this famous poem. It became an instant classic and spread all over China.
王ç¶ã€Šä¹æœˆä¹æ—¥æ†¶å±±æ±å…„弟》
ç¨åœ¨ç•°é„‰ç‚ºç•°å®¢ï¼Œ æ¯é€¢ä½³ç¯€å€æ€è¦ªã€‚
é™çŸ¥å…„弟登高處， éæ’茱è¸å°‘一人。
In Chinese numerology, the number 9 stands for masculinity (Yang) and 6 for femininity (Ying). The double-9 day is the 9th day of the 9th month on the lunar calendar. In a branch of Daoism that values the masculine energy. The practitioners will climb up to the very highest point of the hill by noon to absorb all those energy from the Sun, the ultimate symbol for Yang. Since most of the Daoism practitioners are respectable members of the society. Many common citizens copy this behavior. After centuries, it becomes a tradition to climb up mountains on this day. It is also the day to pay your respect to the old, since Daoists tend to age very gracefully.
While you are up there, pick a branch from this fragrant Rutaceae plant and pin it on your clothes. Its aroma is know to expel bugs and enhance your health.
In this foreign land I am a lone stranger
Holidays make me miss the family most
Far away my brothers must be reaching for the height
Rutaceae branches on lapels, one extra