Cultural Activities and Quests

Welcome to the Chinese Island Cultural Activities and Quests Page!

On this page you will find details of ‘quests’ that have been set up on Chinese Island as a fun way of learning Chinese language and culture. More quests will be added over time and will be detailed here as they are put in place.

The Mid-Autumn Festival and the Mooncake Challenge

The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节 Zhōngqiūjié) is one of four major festivals celebrated by the common folk (老百姓 lǎobǎixìng) in China for centuries in one form or another. Like a number of other cultural festivals in China, the central focus of this festival is the family and family re-union (团聚 tuánjù). The festival is traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar month or late September to early October in the Western calendar.

The moon, which when full symbolizes the unity of the family,  features strongly in this festival, both in the legends associated with the festival and the Chinese custom of giving and eating mooncakes during the festival. Mooncakes are round (the shape of the moon) or square shaped delicacies made from pastry and sweet fillings and are generally eaten in small wedges with Chinese tea.

Like many other traditional Chinese festivals there are a number of legends surrounding Mid-Autumn Festival, the most famous being  ‘Chang Er flies to the moon’ （嫦娥奔月 Cháng é bēn yuè).

To learn more about mooncakes and the legends associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival why not head off to Chinese Island and take on the ‘Mooncake Challenge’. At the end of the challenge you can even take on the role of the legendary archer Hou Yi （后羿 Hòu Yì), Chang Er’s husband, who is sent down to earth by the emperor of heaven to save the world from 10 rampaging celestial beings. You too can save the earth!

To start the Mooncake Challenge, first go to the Nanguang General Merchandise Store (南光百货 Nán Guāng Bǎihuò) in Changcheng Village (长城村 Chángchéng cūn) and look for the mooncake tin on the counter (click the hyperlink above for an SLURL that will take you straight there). Click the tin lid and away you go on an exciting and informative quest.

To become the legendary archer Hou Yi and save the world, look for the poster below after you find the last mooncake:

The Duanwu Festival and the Dragon Boat Challenge

The story of the Duanwu Festival Dates back over 2000 years to the time of the ancient patriot poet Qu Yuan in 278 BCE. This was the time of the Warring States Period (approx. 475 – 221 BCE) a time when seven sovereign states warred against each other for supremacy, only to finally succumb to the iron will of the Qin Shihuang, the head of the State of Qin and the commissioner  of the making of the famous Entombed Warriors (terracotta arm).

Qu Yuan (340-278 BCE) was a poet, scholar and imperial offical in the State of Chu. In the face of the overwhelming might of the Qin army, Qu Yuan advocated a joining of forces between the State of Chu and the other states under seige by the Qin to repell their attacks and ensure the integrity of their own state. However, Qu Yuan was undermined by other influential and corrupt officals in the imperial court who slandered him to the King of Chu, resulting in his banishment by the king into exile.

On finally hearing the news that his beloved country, the State of Chu, had fallen to powerfull Qin army, Qu Yuan in protest against the corruption of his fellow officials and sorrow at the loss of Chu, committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River(汨罗江 – Mìluó Jiāng ).

Qu Yuan (340-278 BCE) was a poet, scholar and imperial offical in the State of Chu. In the face of the overwhelming might of the Qin army, Qu Yuan advocated a joining of forces between the State of Chu and the other states under seige by the Qin to repell their attacks and ensure the integrity of their own state. However, Qu Yuan was undermined by other influential and corrupt officals in the imperial court who slandered him to the King of Chu, resulting in his banishment by the king into exile.

On finally hearing the news that his beloved country, the State of Chu, had fallen to powerfull Qin army, Qu Yuan in protest against the corruption of his fellow officials and sorrow at the loss of Chu, committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River(汨罗江 – Mìluó Jiāng ).

To learn more about the Duanwu Festival come to Chinese Island and listen to the legend of Qu Yuan as told by ‘Old Zhang’ in the traditional Chinese garden at the northwest end of the island. Take on the Duanwu Festival challenge and paddle our dragon boats with your friends to help search for the body of Qu Yuan. If you succeed in finding Qu Yuan, your reward will be your very own dragon boat!

The Qingming Festival

The festival of Qingming is held every year around the 5th of April (depending on the traditional agricultural calander). At Qingming time, families traditionally return to their home villages and visit the graves of their parents and ancestors to pay their respects and to clean their graves.

At Qingming time, it is common to see people sweeping away the leaves that cover the grave of a parent and exchanging withered flowers for fresh ones. It is also customary to light insense and pray to the ancestors during Qingming.

Qingming is also a time for families to relax and enjoy a meal (usually food taken along to offer to the ancestors) and other activities outdoors. One common traditional activity is flying kites, an activity that dates back 2000 years.

To learn more about the Qingming Festival and one of the legends associated with the festival, why not visit the grave of two famous lovers from what is purportedly the first Chinese novel, Dream of Red Mansions (红楼梦 hónglóumèng ? If you follow Chinese custom and tend to the grave in the traditional way and please the ancestors, you may even receive an unexpected reward!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Monash%20University%202/145/11/26

For more information about the Qingming Festival click here.