🚀 go-pugleaf

Greetings to fellow Chinese and others who cares about us,

Here is some cultural fact that you may not have heard about:

Today on 9/12 corresponds to 7/30 of Chinese lunar calender. 

Supposedly July of Chinese calender is the Month of Ghosts, when the door
to the underworld was open so that all the ghosts can come out and play in
mortal's world.  There is supposed to be some Buddhist religious ceremony
on the 7/15 of putting food on something that flows on water and send it
away so the ghosts can enjoy food and get back to the pit where they belong.

7/30 is the last day of the month, so this day is called "Hell Gate
Closes".  If any ghosts decide to stay in mortal world and wreak havoc,
the "Great General of Ghost Busting" Zon Kuei will be in charge of getting
them back. (Speaking of which, there was a show a while ago in Taiwan
featuring the collaboration on investigation of a trial between Bao
Ching-Tien (famous Chinese judge) and Zon Kuei...)

Of course, that was just the legend.  Supposed Zon Kuei (by the way, his
last name is spelled "Chung" here and some of you may have the same last
name) was a smart guy that won the first place in our ancient Chinese
examination (the only chance for commoners to enter politics).  However,
on the day that the emperor is supposed to confirm the choices, the
emperor refused to name him as ______ (whatever title that was...) because
of his hideous appearances, so he committed suicide in front of the
emperor by smashing his head on a column (yes, Chinese has other more
fancy way of suicide too...).

The emperor felt sorry and decide to name him the General of Underworld. 
Since Chinese emperor's has the title Son of Heaven, his order is somewhat
followed in the underworld too so that's how he got his title.

And just as a side bonus for finishing this story....  I have heard
something interesting about driving in Taiwan these days:

The authorities there decide to take out the "Reverse Driving in S-shape"
out of driver's road test because it is supposedly taking people too long
to learn it.  Aren't you glad you are in Georgia....

--
Ben Hsieh
Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 
E-mail: gt1762a@prism.gatech.edu
Homepage: http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gt1762a/