The eighth day of the Lunar New Year is believed to be the birthday of millet. As one of ancient China’s “Five Grains,” it has been a staple food for thousands of years and remains central to certain rituals during the 15-day Spring Festival. According to folk proverbs, if this day is bright and clear, the year will bring a plentiful harvest; however, if it is cloudy or rainy, the year will suffer poor crops. (It sounds more poetic in the original language.)
The eighth day of the Lunar New Year is also the birthday of Yen-Lo King (also known as Yanluo Wang), the fifth king of the legendary Hell, who presides over the fifth palace. This fifth palace of Hell is said to lie beneath the northeastern side of a great scorching stone in the sea. (Location, location, location.) He is typically depicted with a scowling red face, bulging eyes, and traditional judge’s robes. Despite his fearsome appearance, he is regarded as a just and fair judge rather than an evil deity, embodying the principle that every action has consequences.
The palace has 64,000 square miles long. It contains 16 divisions of the small hells. (Be thankful you don’t have to clean it. That’s what all those idle hands are for.)
Yen-Lo King was originally in charge of the first palace of Hell. He presides over the underworld (Diyu), maintaining the “Records of Life and Death” and determining a soul’s next reincarnation based on its earthly deeds. He was later demoted to the fifth palace of Hell. (At least he didn’t have to test rectal thermometers.)
The day is also referred to as Completion Day – a time when people return from the holiday and go back to work. All the meat and cakes prepared for the Lunar New Year should be finished by this day. Everything returns to normal.
On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, some people release pet fish or birds into the wild in a ritual known as Fang Sheng (“Life Release”) to show respect for nature. Rooted in Buddhist and Taoist teachings, this practice is believed to generate good karma and spiritual merit. By saving a creature from captivity or potential slaughter, practitioners hope to gain blessings, health, and prosperity for their families in the coming year.
The Haus of Dcaligari 