The dual notions of death and the afterlife recurs throughout every culture. But to the Chinese, there is an added layer of complexity to such beliefs; their principles of filial piety. Hence, combining these two ethos, result in such practices featured within this photo essay. 

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Every month of July - though the exact dates may vary due to the Chinese’s own Lunar Calendar - the Chinese Buddhists and Taoist believe that the gates of hell shall open and out from it, the ghosts of our ancestors will have the opportunity to roam freely.

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These ghosts are thus deemed to be attracted to worldly pleasures, with a higher focus on food and entertainment. Some ghosts may take this opportunity to visit their loved ones or haunt the hated ones, or so they say. Regardless of the nocturnal activities of these ghosts, it is generally agreed by Buddhists and Taoists that it is the role of the living to satiate and pay respect to them; an extension undoubtedly from their ethos of filial piety. Hence so came the yearly ‘Hungry Ghost Festival’.

 

My readers may acquaint such practices to other cultures; the immediate affiliation would be of the Japanese’s Bon Odori or Día de Los Muertos. Note, however, that the dynamism of this Chinese ‘Festival’ should not be confused with other culture’s celebratory celebrations of death like the Western’s Halloween. In contrast, there is an air of reverence, though admittedly gravely, within this doctrine.

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As such, it is common to see Chinese families providing offerings and performing rituals throughout this period often at the porch of their homes. For more structured organizations or societies, one would see erected stages by the roads where traditional Chinese Opera are performed throughout the night. It may seem perplexing to many on why such performances were played out in the open, often to no crowd. After all, we are accustomed to plays and performances being held within proper sound stages, or event halls attended by the bourgeoisie art patrons. Street performers on the other hand often could be seen performing to the amusement of the crowd.

 

There is no such temperament of either to be found here. For these performances are performed for merely the amusement of the dead. In some establishments, empty red chairs are laid facing the stage. Note that you should not occupy the front row chairs, as it is deemed to be rude. Those are privileges of the dead. The dead, are the spectators and judges. Hence in retrospect, I could safely surmise that none of these performers would ever be willing to receive any direct reviews from their targeted audiences.