- Title: SINGAPORE: CHINESE MAKE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO KUSI ISLAND TO AVERT CATASTROPHE
- Date: 23rd October 1969
- Summary: BOATS IN HARBOUR; GIRLS INTO BOATS; BOATS SAIL FOR KUSU ISLAND; TEMPLE AND PEOPLE WITH JOSS STICKS; GIRLS BURNING ARTIFICIAL MONEY; PEOPLE PICKNICKING, ON BEACH. Initials GL/V/JH/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 7th November 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KUSU ISLAND, SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVACX0Q7UJE1XF065OJ55VA1OFE7
- Story Text: SINGAPORE'S CHINESE TOOK TO THEIR BOATS THIS WEEK (19 OCT) FOR THE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO KUSU ISLAND. TRADITION SAYS THAT THE CHINESE MUST ASCEND TO HIGH PLACES AND OFFER PRAYERS ON THE NINTH DAY OF THE NINTH MOON, IF THEY ARE TO AVOID A MYSTERIOUS CATASTROPHE.
KUSU -- OR "PEAK" -- ISLAND OFFERS THE SINGAPORE CHINESE AN ATTRACTIVE VENUE FOR THIS ANCIENT FESTIVAL.
THE STORY GOES THAT ABOUT 1900 YEARS AGO A STRANGE HERMIT CALLED FEI CHANG FANG, WHO WAS REPUTED TO DABBLE IN BLACK MAGIC, EMERGED FROM SECLUSION TO WARN A FRIEND, HUAN CHING, TO TAKE TO THE HILLS WITH HIS FAMILY, ON THE NINTH DAY OF THE NINTH MOON.
HUAN DID SO, AND WHEN THE FAMILY RETURNED, THEY FOUND THEIR HOMESTEAD DEVASTATED AND THEIR CATTLE WIPED OUT. SO THE CUSTOM AROSE, AND TODAY CHINESE PEOPLE STILL MARK THE DAY BY ASCENDING TO THE HEIGHTS AND BURNING JOSS-STICKS IN THE TEMPLES.
SOME TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT AND TEND FAMILY GRAVES, AS CHINESE CEMETERIES ARE GENERALLY SITED ON HIGH GROUND. BUT FOR MOST IT IS A DAY OF OUTDOOR RELAXATION, A DAY TO PICNIC, FLY KITES, OR JUST ADMIRE THE VIEW. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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