What plant is a prominent Hokkien offering for the Jade Emperor’s birthday? The answer is sugarcane.
Sugarcane is a characteristic offering during the Hokkien celebration of the Jade Emperor’s birthday on the ninth day of the first lunar month. In Hokkien, the observance is often called Pai Ti Kong, or worship of the Heavenly Lord, and sugarcane is placed prominently beside the altar or used to frame it.
The practice is associated with a Hokkien survival legend. According to the story, Hokkien people hid in sugarcane fields to escape attackers during the New Year period and emerged safely after the danger passed. The celebration therefore combines gratitude, protection and remembrance.
There is also a linguistic association: the Hokkien word for sugarcane, kin-á, resembles a phrase meaning “thank you” in some explanations of the custom. Sugarcane is not simply a generic fruit substitute, nor is it the defining offering for every Chinese New Year tradition. Offerings vary by region and household, but this plant is especially prominent in Hokkien observance.