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In Chinese culture, the seventh month of the Lunar Calendar holds special significance. It is known as “Ghost Month” 鬼月and hosts the so-called “Ghost Festival” (鬼节) on the 15th of the ghost month. Several Asian countries celebrate the annual Ghost Festival, which is also referred to as either “Zhongyuan Festival” or Yulanpen Festival盂兰盆节. The festival finds it origins in Buddhism, Taoism and Chinese folk beliefs.
中元节，民间俗称七月半，七月十五，祭祖节，佛教则称其为盂兰盆节。在统治者推崇道教的唐代，道教的中元节开始兴盛，逐渐将“中元”固定为节名，并相沿迄今。
Ghost Month 鬼月
Ghost Festival 鬼节
Buddhism 佛教
Yulanpen Festival 盂兰盆节
Taoism 道教
Zhongyuan festival 中元节
Folk belief 民间信仰

Ever since ancient times, Chinese people had the ritual of paying tribute to their ancestors in the middle of the seventh month on the night of the full moon.
Taoist doctrine holds that the three basic elements that generate everything in the universe are heaven, earth and water, namely sanyuan or “three elements". The official of heaven brings blessings during Shangyuan (Lantern Festival). The official of earth absolves sins during Zhongyuan Festival, while the official of water dispels disasters during Xiayuan Festival. 
自古以来，每年农历七月半满月的晚上，人们有祭拜先祖的习俗。道教将宇宙中万物归为三类：天，地，水，又叫做三元，并以三元配三官，说天官赐福，地官赦罪，水官解厄。上元天官正月十五日生，对应的是上元节（元宵节）；中元地官七月十五日生，对应的是中元节（鬼节）；下元水官十月十五日生，对应的是下元节（比较不受重视，没有小名）。

Pay tribute to one’s ancestors 祭祖
Bring blessing 赐福
Absolve sins 赦罪
Dispel disaster 解厄