Page 372 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

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it. This space is called the ‘Toad Palace’. An old woman acting the part of Xi-wang-
mu, Queen Mother of the West, steps onto a platform towards the front of the

The Immortal Liu Hai with the three-legged toad

boat. In front of her she has an assortment of lucky objects – ground-nuts, gourd seeds,
cinnamon cakes, tea, wine, etc. When all the members of the family are assembled, the

bride and bridegroom appear in their wedding garments and stand in the moonlight. Then
they enter the bridal chamber (the ‘Moon Palace’) and pause at the ‘Gate of the Moon-
hall’, i.e. before the bed. The old woman utters her final words of wisdom and leaves; the
couple embrace each other and kiss, and are then led to the ‘Toad Palace’ (the bridal
bed). Originally, this was a lunar festival, pure and simple, which was celebrated all over
China on the same day. The ritual re-enactment of the marriage is full of lunar
symbolism.
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