Page "Mid-Autumn Festival" Paragraph 8

According to a widespread folk tale ( not necessarily supported by historical records ), the Mid-Autumn Festival commemorates an uprising in China against the Mongol rulers of the Yuan Dynasty ( 1279 – 1368 ) in the 14th century.

As group gatherings were banned, it was impossible to make plans for a rebellion.

Noting that the Mongols did not eat mooncakes, Liu Bowen ( 劉伯溫 ) of Zhejiang Province, advisor to the Chinese rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang, came up with the idea of timing the rebellion to coincide with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

He sought permission to distribute thousands of moon cakes to the Chinese residents in the city to bless the longevity of the Mongol emperor.

Inside each cake, however, was inserted a piece of paper with the message: " Kill the Mongols on the 15th day of the 8th month " ( traditional Chinese: 八月十五殺韃子 ; simplified Chinese: 八月十五杀鞑子 ).

On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels attacked and overthrew the government.

What followed was the establishment of the Ming Dynasty ( 1368 – 1644 ), under Zhu.

Henceforth, the Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated with mooncakes on a national level.