Qinghai Lake has been considered as a holy lake in Chinese history and many emperors had held the sea sacrifice activities here. Of course, common people also come here to pray happy and healthy.
Time: July 15 every Lunar year
Address:Qinghai Lake
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Qinghai Lake has been considered as a holy lake in Chinese history and many emperors had held the sea sacrifice activities here. Of course, common people also come here to pray happy and healthy. From Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, the main sites for sea sacrifice around Qinghai Lake were Shatuo Tample, Ketuyahuo and Chahan City. Later, the sea sacrifice became popular among common people.
Throughout the history, the Mongolians have had the customs to sacrifice holy mountains, rivers and lakes. The sea sacrifice is not only a kind of folk activity with strong religious color but also a cultural phenomenon, which contains a lot of folk customs and the understandings to the nature---a desire to coexist harmoniously with the nature for a long time. Through the activity, people pray for the livestock protection and great harvest.
Before the sea sacrifice, led by Living Buddha, people begin to chant sutras and then, throw food to the stove. After that, the Living Buddha places the arrows and alter-wares which can avoid evils around the altar. At the same time, all the horns ring and people worship on bended knees.
Then the sea sacrifice begins. People rush to the bank of the lake. Under agreement of the Living Buddha, people throw the offerings to the lake and cheer loudly. The elders and women get down on their knees and wash their amulets in the lake. It is said that it can prevent the body from illness for a year.
The other purpose of sea sacrifice is to pray the rain. The local people say that it is sure to have rain in several hours after the sea sacrifice. This idea is very special, and it can be regarded as a beautiful wish that people can coexist with the nature and live harmoniously.
Nowadays, the increasing deterioration of the environment is threatening the existence of human beings. The idea of protecting environment is not new to the world. And the sea sacrifice festival, to some extent, expresses this idea to protect our earth and coexist harmoniously with the nature.