"Fang Yan Kou": A Feeding Ritual for Hungry Ghosts Who Breathe Fire from Their Mouths

In the seventh lunar month, temples and some wealthy households hold rituals, one of which is called "Fang Yan Kou."

The origin of this practice is a story in Buddhist scriptures: One night, while Ananda, a disciple of the Buddha, was meditating, he saw a very thin ghost whose throat was as fine as a needle, whose belly was as large as a drum, who breathed flames from his mouth, whose body was nothing but bones, and whose face was black. The ghost told Ananda: Three days from now, you will die and become a hungry ghost like me.

Ananda was terrified and ran to ask the Buddha what to do. The Buddha said: Give food to these hungry ghosts, offer them food and drink, and recite a mantra so they may eat their fill. Once they have received benefit, your lifespan can be extended.

Later, this became a fixed ritual called "Yoga Yan Kou". The ceremony is performed as follows: The presiding monk wears a crown of the Five Buddhas, dons specially made vestments, and sits high on a platform; beside him sit several assistants who strike ritual instruments, recite sutras, and chant mantras together. Below the platform are offering tables, upon which rice, flour, fruit, and clear water are placed. The monk forms hand seals and chants mantras, said to transform a small amount of food on the table into countless portions, so that hungry ghosts with throats as fine as needles may each receive a share and eat their fill, after which the flames in their mouths are extinguished.

This ritual generally lasts several hours, and in some places it is performed late at night.

Around the Ghost Festival, large temples hold "Water and Land Dharma Assemblies" and "Yan Kou" rituals; many people attend, some to deliver deceased relatives, others merely passersby who stop to listen for a while.

At the end of the ritual, the monk scatters the rice from the offering tables in all directions, so that ghosts who did not arrive in time may also receive a share.

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