Hungry Ghost Picnic
All photos are from the event in 2022. 2023 will be similar, but I might include more bells and whistles for funsies.
Hungry ghosts are a concept in Chinese Buddhism, Chinese traditional religion, Japanese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. Hungry Ghosts are entities who are driven by intense emotional needs in an atavistic way. In the Taoist tradition it is believed that hungry ghosts can arise from people whose deaths have been violent or unhappy. Both Buddhism and Taoism share the idea that hungry ghosts can emerge from neglect or desertion of ancestors.
In Chinese culture, it is believed that during the seventh month of the lunar calendar the gates of hell are opened up and hungry ghosts are free to roam the earth seeking food and entertainment. On the 15th day of the 7th month, a big festival is held for the ghosts, and participants bring samples of food and place them on an offering table to please the ghosts and ward off bad luck. This festival is one of numerous tantric practices from Chinese Esoteric Buddhism preserved in modern Chinese Buddhism after the various Buddhist traditions started to merge in the early modern period.
Distinct from both the Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day, in spring) and Double Ninth Festival (in autumn) in which living descendants visit cemeteries to pay homage, during Ghost Festival the deceased are believed to have the freedom to roam and visit the living. Additionally, while Qingming Festival encourages paying tribute to honored ancestors, Ghost Festival encourages paying respects to all deceased, including the same and younger generations, those whose ancestors forgot to pay tribute to them after they died, those who were never given a proper ritual send-off, as well as those who died violently, suddenly, or in other less-than-desirable circumstances.
Because I am the artist in residence at Block 14, and the concept for this event came out of my research on Block 14, I did consider holding the Hungry Ghost Picnic in that space. However, Block 14 in its current state is quite barren and desolate, and the atmosphere does not lend itself to picnicking. Also, because the ghosts are free to roam where they wish at this time, I thought they might enjoy an evening at the park. There we can picnic, make offerings, remember, grieve, and celebrate them. We will also have the opportunity to let go of our own “hungry ghosts” with a releasing ritual.
Hungry ghosts are often depicted with narrow throats and distended bellies, and can be understood to represent a spiritual state of hunger seen in our everyday lives as we occupy our bodies and minds with things that do not provide us with any lasting satisfaction or positive energy. Regrets, resentments, anger, diversions, habits, addictions…we spend our time on them but it’s never truly rewarding. These “ghosts” take our energy and our focus away from our purpose and disrupt harmony in our lives. Our time for reflection will help us to acknowledge our “ghosts” and release them, by naming them and then offering them a new residence in the Ghost Archive, a beautiful structure I have created specifically for this event.
Bring with you:
Food and drink, for yourself and to share with the ghosts.
Notes, pictures, memories, etc of those who you’d like to honor.
Intention to be rid of your own hungry ghosts by releasing them at the Ghost Temple.
Incense, flowers, or other delightful sensory elements to share with the ghosts.
Friends and family! This event will be made all the better the more people attend. Spread the word.
