Guānyīn Kāi Kù

A folk custom full of good wishes

Preface: This post involves some local customs and religious practices.

Every year on the 26th day of the first lunar month, which is today, we celebrate a grand one-day folk event called “Guānyīn Kāi Kù（观音开库）” in our area.

I found a Chinese entry on Wiki, but unfortunately, there is no English version yet. The gist of it is:

During Guanyin Bodhisattva’s period of cultivation, 500 guardian arhats incarnated as monks to test Guanyin’s practice. They came down to the Guanyin Temple to seek alms.

On the 26th day of the first lunar month, Guanyin opened the storehouse, providing vegetarian food for the monks, and the remaining food was left for the visiting believers.

This folklore has become a tradition, evolving into a religious activity where believers come to the Guanyin Temple on that day to repay favors and participate in the borrowing from the storehouse ritual.

In modern times, this folk custom has evolved into a gathering at the Guanyin Temple where people come to borrow wishes from Guanyin Bodhisattva (as per my personal understanding). Some wish for better financial luck, while others pray for good health.

Regardless of what one borrows from the Bodhisattva, the wishes made on that day are typically repaid by the end of the year.

Taking advantage of the gap hour at noon, I also went to join in the fun.

People like to buy pinwheels on that day, symbolizing the adjustment of their luck through the spinning of the pinwheel, dispelling bad luck and enhancing good luck.

At the square of the Guanyin Temple, many devout believers gathered. You could see that most them were holding pinwheels and incense candles, and there were designated areas for everyone to offer their prayers.

Finally, everyone gathers inside the main building, which has a history of hundreds of years, to pay their respects to Guanyin Bodhisattva.

I respect the local customs and traditions, and surely this activity filled with good wishes is welcomed by everyone.