Qing Ming Day Festival
Qing Ming Jie
[Clear-bright Day]
The Qing Ming Jie, or Qing Ming Festival, occurs in the middle
of Spring, shortly after Spring Solstice.
In 2003, the day falls on April 5.
An often-quoted poem by Du Mu
Qing Ming (Pure Brightness Festival)
On the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month (usually around the 4th or 5th of April) the
Qing Ming festival is celebrated. This is a time when ice and snow has gone and
plants are beginning to grow again, and is a time for respect to ancestors. The
graves of deceased relatives are swept and tended, the memory of the dead
cherished and offering of food may be made. To assist ancestors in the afterlife
'Bank of Hell' money is burned, thereby transferring money to the ancestors to
spend as they will. Qing Ming is often marked by an indulgence of the Chinese
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passion for kite flying.
Qing Ming Festival and Its Origin
Qing Ming, which means clear and bright in Chinese, falls on April 5th this year. It is
both the fifth term in the traditional lunar calendar and a festival to hold memorial
ceremony for the dead. It is a time to express one's grief for his lost relatives. An
ancient elegiac poem, which described a grievous woman, was read that vines
tangled in vain and weeds crept in the graveyard, and her husband slept there
lonely. It was so difficult to endure for her as if summer in the day and winter at
night. And her only wish was to reunite with him after death.
People often go to sweep and weed graves with whole family and take a walk in the
countryside as well. In Tang Dynasty, the habit of taking an excursion on this day
was developed. At this time, spring returns and dominates the earth again. The feel
of growing life is in the air, with sap ascending in trees and buds bursting. And the
willow branches inserted on each gate add vigor and vitality to the surroundings.
But it actually means more than that. This custom can be traced back to over one
thousand years ago.
During the Period of Spring and Autumn in the Jin Kingdom, one of the King's sons
was called Chong Er. Jealous of his talent, a concubine falsely accused him of
rebellion to make her son the crown prince. He had no choice but to flee and with
him were some officials. They hid themselves in a mountain and went hungry for
quite some time. An official named Jie Zitui took great pain to cut some flesh from
his thigh and cooked it for Chong Er. When the fact was known the young master
was moved to tears and knelt down in gratitude. And Jie replied his best repayment
should be a just king. They lived a life of hunger and cold for three years until the
evil concubine died. Many soldiers were sent to look for him and to escort him back
home. Going into the carriage, he saw an official packed an old mat onto a horse, he
said laughingly, 'What on earth is the use of that? Throw it away!' Jie Zitui heard it
and sighed, 'It is hardship that can be shared with his majesty but not prosperity.'
So he went away quietly and lived in seclusion with his old mother.
As Chong Er became king, he rewarded many people but he forgot Jie Zitui. He did
not realize it until was reminded. However his invitation was refused and he flared
up. Soldiers were ordered to burn up the mountain to force Jie to come out. Finally
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they found Jie and his mother scorched under a willow. He would rather die than
yield to the power. Chong Er was so overwhelmed with regret that he ordered
people hold memorial ceremony for Jie. So every year on that day folks mourned for
him and the day before ate cold meals, which avoided making fire. Later the custom
of inserting willow branches on gates was also added.
QING MING FESTIVAL
NYCHINATOWN com
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2001: April 5
2002: April 5
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar is divided into 24 solar periods and Qing
Ming (Pure Brightness) is the first day of the fifth period. It falls at the point when Spring
turns to summer, around the tenth day of the third lunar month.
On this day, whole families go to their ancestral grave site to sweep the graves of
their forefathers and make offerings to them - a ritual that shows how mindful the
Chinese are of where they come from.
Origins - The Story of Chong'er and Jie Zitui
The Qing Ming Festival has its origins in the Cold Food Festival (Hanshi Jie) of
ancient times. On the Cold Food Festival, people could only eat cold food or pre-cooked
food. Heating by fire is not allowed. Do you know why?
This custom is said to have originated from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475
B.C.). In the state of Jin, there were evil men who wanted the Duke of Jin's eldest son,
Chong'er, dead. Jie Zitui, Chong'er's loyal retainer, smuggled him out of the state of Jin
in the middle of the night.
Because Chong'er had always shown concern for his people's welfare, Jie tried his
best to take care of Chong'er during his exile. Once, when they were on the verge of
starvation, Jie even cut out a piece of his own flesh to feed Chong'er. He did this in the
hope that when Chong'er finally returned to the state of Jin, he would be a benevolent
and dutiful ruler.
More than a decade later, Chong'er finally became Duke Wen of Jin. He then
rewarded all those who had given him assistance during his exile. However, he forgot
all about Jie. He only remembered Jie when someone reminded him, and he
immediately sent for him so that he could get his reward.
But Jie had already gone into the mountains with his mother to live a life of
seclusion. Duke Wen and his ministers looked for him in the mountains but to no avail.
Just then someone suggested that they set fire to the mountains. Jie was well known
for being a filial son, thus he would surely escape the blaze with his old mother.
The fire burnt for three days and three nights but Jie still did not appear. After the fire
died down they found Jie with his mother on his back under a willow tree. Both had
been burnt to death. Duke Wen then regretted what he had done and was extremely
saddened. He decreed that this day be the Day of Cold Food. No one was to use fire.
Everyone had to eat cold food for a day to honor Jie Zitui's loyalty.
In ancient times, the Cold Food and Qing Ming Festivals were both observed. The
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Cold Food Festival preceded the Qing Ming Festival by one or two days. The rituals for
both festivals also bore strong resemblance to each other. In time, the Cold Food and
Qing Ming Festivals merged into one.
Sweeping
Sweeping the graves of one's ancestors is something descendents do as a sign of
respect. A proper sweeping consists of three steps: cleaning the grave, making
offerings to ancestors and burning ceremonial money.
Cleaning the grave was just what it sounds like - removing weeds, making necessary
repairs, and repainting the gravestone engravings.
After the clean up, families made offerings of meat and fruit to the guardian spirit of
the graveyard (Hou Tu) followed by incense offerings to their ancestors.
There are different ways to burn ceremonial money in different parts of China. Joss
paper is usually burnt, however, in some places it is not burnt but tossed into the air.
Then there is the practice of placing a stone over pieces of yellow and white or
multi-colored joss paper on the gravestone, the front of the grave and at the Hou Tu's
alter. The offering of joss paper represents wealth given to the ancestors for use in the
underworld - it also shows that the descendents have visited the graves!
The rituals of grave sweeping have been simplified by the Chinese in modern times.
After sweeping the graves, families offer fruit and flowers to their ancestors and
remember them in their hearts. Whatever the rituals may be, Qing Ming Festival is an
expression of the filial spirit of the Chinese and the respect they have for their
forefathers.
Celebration of
Tomb Sweeping Day
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(Qing Ming Jie)
Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox, Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the few
traditional Chinese holidays that follows the solar calendar-- typically falling on April 4,
5, or 6. Its Chinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness," hinting at its
importance as a celebration of Spring. Similar to the spring festivals of other cultures,
Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of
the planting season and other outdoor activities.
Qing Ming Jie in Ancient Times
In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing, picnics,
and kite flying. Colored boiled eggs would be broken to symbolize the opening of
life. In the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate
the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young men and women would court
each other.
The Tomb Sweeping Day as Celebrated Today
With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors.
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Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked
after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family
would prosper through good harvests and more children.
Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds
are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit
money. Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually
consist of dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts rome around a
grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be
plundered by strangers.
Honoring Ancestors
Honoring ancestors begins with proper positioning of a gravesite and coffin. Experts in feng
shui, or geomancy, determine the quality of land by the surrounding aspects of streams,
rivers, trees, hills, and so forth. An area that faces south, with groves of pine trees creates
the best flow of cosmic energy required to keep ancestors happy. Unfortunately, nowadays,
with China's burgeoning population, public cemetaries have quickly surplanted private
gravesites. Family elders will visit the gravesite at least once a year to tend to the tombs.
While bland food is placed by the tombs on Qing
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Ming Jie, the Chinese regularly provide
scrumptious offerings to their ancestors at altar tables in their homes. The food usually
consists of chicken, eggs, or other dishes a deceased ancestor was fond of. Accompanied
by rice, the dishes and eating utensils are carefully arranged so as to bring good luck.
Sometimes, a family will put burning incense with the offering so as to expedite the transfer
of nutritious elements to the ancestors. In some parts of China, the food is then eaten by
the entire family.
Kites
Besides the traditions of honoring the dead, people also often fly kits on Tomb Sweeping
Day. Kites can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. Designs could include frogs,
dragonflies, butterflies, crabs, bats, and storks.
Qing Ming (Pure Brightness Festival)
On the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month (usually around the 4th or 5th of April) the Qing
Ming festival is celebrated. This is a time when ice and snow has gone and plants are
beginning to grow again, and is a time for respect to ancestors. The graves of deceased
relatives are swept and tended, the memory of the dead cherished and offering of food
may be made. To assist ancestors in the afterlife 'Bank of Hell' money is burned, thereby
transferring money to the ancestors to spend as they will. Qing Ming is often marked by
an indulgence of the Chinese passion for kite flying.
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