波羅說故事-中元節篇 Hungry Ghost Festival

簡介 Introduction

鬼節好怕怕？西方也有鬼節呀！西方的鬼節是「萬聖節Halloween」，東方華人的鬼節是「中元節 Zhongyuan Festival」，為什麼說到中元節就會怕怕呢？我想是因為大家都會連想到「好兄弟 good brothers」對吧？喂！怎麼越說越毛啦～回歸正題啦～今天就讓我們學習用英文說故事吧！
在本篇內容/本集影片中，波羅會為大家講述中元節的故事，以及分享鬼月的習俗與禁忌，在開始之前要提醒大家(請閱讀以下內容)：
◎ 切記以上內容僅供參考 請勿過於迷信
◎ 尊重他人宗教信仰 若影片內容讓您感到不適請見諒
◎ 民間信仰有眾多說法 以上內容僅為波羅英文版本
準備好了我們就開始學習英文吧！Here we go~

教學影片 Video

波羅說故事 Story

溫馨提醒機會教育：
▴中元節宗教意味濃厚，若信奉其他非佛、道教者，請尊重他人宗教信仰。
Respect and be open to all beliefs.

There are several different stories about Zhongyuan Festival.
關於中元節有幾個不同的故事。
Today, let me give you my version.
今天就讓我來說說我的版本吧。
The 7th month on lunar calendar is traditionally regarded as “Ghost Month” in Taiwan.
農曆七月在台灣被認為是“鬼月”。
The 15th day of the 7th lunar month is called the “Zhongyuan Festival” or “Ghost Festival”.
農曆七月十五又被稱為“中元節”或“鬼節”。
People in Taiwan have believed that the gates of hell will open up for the spirits on Hungry Ghost Festival.
台灣人相信在中元節那天，地獄之門會為鬼魂而打開。
People will honor their ancestors and wandering ghosts with offerings of food, drinks, and fruits.
人們會準備食物、飲料與水果供品來祭拜他們的祖先和好兄弟。
In order to allow them to live better in the afterlife, people will also light incense and burn praying cash for the spirits.
為了讓祂們在來世過得更好，人們還會為神靈點香和燒紙錢。
Praying cash is their currency in the underworld.
紙錢就是祂們在陰間使用的貨幣。
Many temples in Taiwan will also hold Zhongyuan Pudu, offering feasts to wandering ghosts.
在台灣很多寺廟也會舉辦中元普渡，為孤魂野鬼擺設筵席。
Most of those ghosts didn’t have family when they were alive.
這些孤魂野鬼，大多在世時沒有家人無親無故。
Therefore, nobody will worship the good brothers and give them food and money.
所以，就沒有人會祭拜祂們，給祂們食物和錢。
So, that is why people will show respect and do Pudo to them on the festival.
所以，這就是為什麼人們會在中元節表示對祂們的尊敬，並且舉辦普渡活動。
In addition, there are several famous traditional activities of Zhongyuan Festival include releasing the water lanterns and paper boats, and grappling with the ghosts.
此外，中元節還有放水燈、燒紙船、搶孤等著名的傳統活動。
Usually these activities are held on the last day of the seventh lunar month.
通常這些活動都會於鬼門關(鬼月最後一天)前舉行。
The purpose is to release the spirit of the death and pray for good luck.
目的是要超渡亡靈，並祈求好運。
People hope these good brothers who are suffering in the underworld can be saved through these activities.
人們希望透過這些活動，讓這些在陰間受苦受難的好兄弟們能夠得到救贖。

鬼月習俗＆禁忌 Customs & Taboos of Ghost Month

◎ Things To Do During the Zhongyuan Festival

1. Remember to prepare a washbasin of water and towels for the spirits and good brothers to wash their faces and hands.
   除了供奉食物外，別忘了也準備一個洗臉盆和毛巾，讓神靈和好兄弟們洗臉和洗手。
2. It’s unlucky to say the word “ghost,” so people called them “good brothers” instead.
   說“鬼”這個字不吉利，所以人們都稱祂們為“好兄弟”。
3. Sometimes, people will set a place at the table for their deceased relatives when they have meals.
   有時，人們吃飯時會在餐桌座位上為已故的親人留一個位置。

◎ 15 Things To Avoid During the Zhongyuan Festival

1. To avoid placing the offering table indoor when we worship ancestors and good brothers.
   祭祀祖先和好兄弟時，避免將供桌放在室內。(*家裡的陽台也不可以哦！)
2. Do not speak out your name when you worship the spirits.
   敬拜神靈時不要說出你的名字。
3. Do not set off the firecrackers. It will scare the ghosts.
   不要放鞭炮。會嚇到鬼。(→因為這樣祂們會找不到回家的路)
4. Do not buy bananas, plums, and pears as offerings.
   不要買香蕉、李子和梨子作為供品。(→是台語招你來的諧音)
5. Do not touch or make jokes of the offerings for the hungry ghost.
   不要碰或拿餓鬼的供品開玩笑。
6. Do not pick any strange items on the street, especially coin and money.
   不要在街上撿任何奇怪的東西，尤其是硬幣和錢。
7. Do not do any water-related activities.
   不宜戲水。不要做任何與水有關的活動。(→有這麼一說是水鬼會來抓交替)
8. Do not stay out too late and take the last bus.
   不要在外面待得太晚，不要搭乘末班車。
9. Do not whistle at night.
   晚上不要吹口哨。
10. Do not cut your nails.
    不要剪指甲。(→據說會剪掉靈氣。)
11. Do not tap someone on the shoulder.
    不要拍別人的肩膀。(→傳說每個人頭頂與肩膀都有三把火，亂拍火會熄滅，就像少了保護神一樣，容易引起不好的東西附身。)
12. To avoid hanging out wet clothes late at night.
    避免在深夜曬衣服。
13. Do not take pictures late at night.
    不要在深夜拍照。
14. Do not stab your bowl of rice with chopsticks.
    不要把筷子插在飯碗裡。(很像給死人的供品。)
15. To avoid holding weddings, traveling, and doing business during ghost month.
    避免在鬼月舉行婚禮、旅行和做買賣。(→不吉利)
    To avoid buying car and house in the seventh lunar month.
    避免在農曆七月購買車子和房子。(→不吉利)

相關單字整理 Vocabulary

1. The Zhongyuan Festival (n.) 中元節
2. (Hungry) Ghost Festival (n.) 餓鬼節
3. Yulan Festival (n.) 盂蘭盆節
4. Ullambana Festival (n.) 盂蘭盆節
5. Chinese Ghost Festival (n.) 華人鬼節
6. Zhongyuan Pudu (n.) 中元普渡
7. Lunar calendar/ Chinese calendar (n.) 農曆
8. The seventh lunar month (n.) 農曆七月
9. The 15th day of the 7th lunar month (n.) 農曆七月十五
10. Ghost Month (n.) 鬼月
11. gate of Hell (n.) 鬼門
12. the gate to Underworld (n.) 鬼門
13. Buddhist (n.) 佛教
14. rituals (n.) 儀式
15. custom (n.) 習俗
16. ancestors (n.) 祖先
17. ancestor veneration/ ancestor worship (n.) 祭拜祖先
18. reciting sutras (v.) 誦經
19. releasing souls from purgatory/ releasing the spirit of the death (v.) 超渡
20. the gods/ deities (n.) 神祇
21. wandering ghosts (n.) 孤魂野鬼
22. good brothers (n.) 好兄弟
23. offering (n.) 供品
24. offering table (n.) 供桌
25. make food offerings (v.) 供奉食物
26. sacrificial offerings (n.) 祭品
27. washbasin/ washbowl (n.) 洗臉盆
28. towel (n.) 毛巾
29. incense (n.) 線香｜(v.) 激怒、使大怒
30. incense stick (n.) 香柱
31. light incense (n.) 點香
32. burning incense (v.) 燒香
33. incense burner (n.) 香爐
34. ghost money/ spirit money (n.) 金紙、冥紙
35. paper money/ praying cash (n.) 紙錢
36. joss (n.) 佛像、神像
37. joss paper (n.) 紙錢
38. burning ghost money/ spirit money (v.) 燒冥紙
39. burning joss paper (v.) 燒紙錢
40. currency (n.) 貨幣
41. rice wine (n.) 米酒
42. water lanterns (n.) 水燈
43. releasing water lanterns (v.) 放水燈
44. releasing paper boats (v.) 燒王船
45. Chiang Ku Festival / ghost grappling (n.) 搶孤
46. temple (n.) 廟宇
47. taboo (n.) 禁忌
48. whistle (v./n.) 吹口哨
49. drown (v.) 溺水

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