Monster Nian
An ancient Chinese legend tells of a man-eating predatory beast called Nian, extremely fierce, with a long head and sharp horn. Nian dwelled deep in the sea the whole year long, but on every Chinese New Year’s Eve it would climb onto the shore to devour livestock and harm humans in a near-by village. Therefore, every Chinese New Year’s Eve, all the villagers would take their old and young deep into the mountains to hide from Nian.
One Chinese New Year’s Eve a grey haired man appeared in the village. He asked permission to stay for the night and assured everyone that he would chase away the beast. No one believed him. In addition, the old man steadfastly refused to go to the mountains to hide. Seeing that he could not be persuaded, the villagers departed without him.
When the beast arrived at the village to wreck havoc as usual, it was met with a sudden burst of exploding firecrackers. Startled by the noise, the flashes of light, and red banners flying about, it hastily turned and fled!
The following day, as the people returned from the mountains, they found the village intact and safe. The old man had left, but they found the remains of the three precious items he had used to chase the beast Nian away. They all agreed that the old man must be a deity who had come to help free them of the beast.
From then on, every Chinese New Year’s Eve, families would hang red banners, set off fire crackers, and light their lamps the whole night through, awaiting the Chinese New Year. The custom spread far and wide and became a grand traditional celebration of the “Passing of Nian” (“Nian” in Chinese means “year”).
So celebrating the Chinese New Year should be called “passing of Nian” or “Guo Nian” in Chinese. However the term was gradually changed to “Spring Festival” after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took power in 1949. Gradually people have forgotten the legend behind these Chinese New Year traditions. It is merely one small example of how the CCP has robbed the Chinese people of their rich traditional culture.
New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) is working hard to reverse this loss. In its 2006 Chinese New Year Global Gala it actually put the ancient story of the Nian monster on stage. NTDTV’s Chinese New Year shows are a unique opportunity to experience the magic of traditional Chinese culture. Marvelous music, ancient instruments, magnificent backdrops, splendid costumes, and first class performers–altogether make for outstanding entertainment reflecting China’s 5,000 years of civilization and traditional culture–a culture rich in myths and legends worth cherishing and preserving.
Between January and March the 2007 NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular will be touring Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and major cities in Canada, Europe and Asia. http://shows.ntdtv.com
Want to get info about Monster Nian? This sources hopefully help:
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The legend says, long ago, there was a monster called Nian. On the first and the 15th of each lunar month, the monster would come down from the mountains to hunt people. (Source) - the legend of nian monster china culture
Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a monster called In the middle of the night, the monster Nian dashed into the village. (Source) - chinese legend of the new year's monster nian
Celebrating the Chinese New Year should be called "passing of Nian" or "Guo Nian" in Chinese. However the term was gradually changed to "Spring Festival" after the (Source) - the legend of the nian monster
According to legend, there was a man-eating wild monster "Nian" with an extremely large mouth, capable of swallowing several people in a single bite. (Source) - chinatown online chinese new year traditions
From then on each New Year firecrackers and other fireworks are used to scare away the last remaining monster of the earth - Nian. sitemap (Source) - monster nian
The word Nian, which in modern Chinese solely means "year", was originally the name of a monster beast that started to prey on people the night before the New Year. (Source) - the legend of nian monster
Nian,Year,New Year's Day,Spring Festival,couplet,firecracker,monster To avoid the monster's attack, people would flee to the depth of the mountains and call (Source) - nianthe new year monster
Nian- The Chinese Character for "Year", the New Year Monster. Nian took up this challenge, and one year later, having destroyed all the monsters of the earth, he returned (Source) - legend of the chinese new year monster nian
Legend of the Chinese New Year Monster Nian. Nian dwelled deep in the sea the whole year long, but on every Chinese New Year eve it would climb onto the shore to devour (Source) - kill nian monsters max games
There is an evil ,silent in the two thousand years' fable. Till one day,when the human beings perish in their own prosperity, suddenly,the nian monsters appear (Source)
For further reference, go to the following resources:
- nian
The legend says, long ago, there was a monster called Nian. On the first and the 15th of each lunar month, the monster would come down from the mountains to hunt people. (Source) - the legend of nian monster china culture
Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a monster called In the middle of the night, the monster Nian dashed into the village. (Source) - chinese legend of the new year's monster nian
Celebrating the Chinese New Year should be called "passing of Nian" or "Guo Nian" in Chinese. However the term was gradually changed to "Spring Festival" after the (Source) - the legend of the nian monster
According to legend, there was a man-eating wild monster "Nian" with an extremely large mouth, capable of swallowing several people in a single bite. (Source) - chinatown online chinese new year traditions
From then on each New Year firecrackers and other fireworks are used to scare away the last remaining monster of the earth - Nian. sitemap (Source) - monster nian
The word Nian, which in modern Chinese solely means "year", was originally the name of a monster beast that started to prey on people the night before the New Year. (Source) - the legend of nian monster
Nian,Year,New Year's Day,Spring Festival,couplet,firecracker,monster To avoid the monster's attack, people would flee to the depth of the mountains and call (Source) - nianthe new year monster
Nian- The Chinese Character for "Year", the New Year Monster. Nian took up this challenge, and one year later, having destroyed all the monsters of the earth, he returned (Source) - legend of the chinese new year monster nian
Legend of the Chinese New Year Monster Nian. Nian dwelled deep in the sea the whole year long, but on every Chinese New Year eve it would climb onto the shore to devour (Source) - kill nian monsters max games
There is an evil ,silent in the two thousand years' fable. Till one day,when the human beings perish in their own prosperity, suddenly,the nian monsters appear (Source)
