Qingming Festival is one of the twenty-four solar terms of the lunar calendar. It occurs at the turn of mid-spring and late spring, which is 106 days after the winter solstice. The traditional Qingming Festival in China began around the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. "Almanac": "On the fifteenth day after the Spring Equinox, when the two fingers are fighting, it is the Qingming Festival. At that time, everything is clean and clear. At this time, the air is clear and the scenery is bright, and everything is visible, hence the name." Once the Qingming Festival comes, the temperature rises, It is a good time for spring plowing and spring planting, so there is a saying that "before and after the Qingming Festival, plant melons and beans." Qingming Festival is a festival for worshiping ancestors, and the traditional activity is tomb sweeping. On May 20, 2006, this folk festival was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.

Table of Contents

Basic Introduction

Historical Development

Origin of the Festival

Related Festivals

Festival customs

Related legends

Related poems

Climate characteristics

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Basic introduction

Qingming Festival, the English standard translation is: Tomb-sweeping Day or Pure Brightness. It is one of the 24 solar terms in China and falls on April 5th of the Gregorian calendar every year. (This holiday is now listed as a 3-day national holiday).

In 2009, the General Office of the State Council issued a notice on the arrangements for some holidays in 2010.

The notice pointed out that according to the "Decision of the State Council on Amending the Measures for National Holidays and Memorial Days", there will be a three-day holiday for Qingming Festival. Since the twenty-four solar terms more objectively reflect the changes in temperature, rainfall, phenology, etc. throughout the year, ancient labor

Du Mu's "Qingming"

people used it to arrange work Farming activities. "Huainanzi Tianwen Xun" says: "Fifteen days after the vernal equinox, when Dou Zhiyi Yi comes, the Qingming wind will arrive." According to "Hundred Questions of the Years": "Everything growing at this time is clean and bright. Therefore, it is called Qingming Festival. "When Qingming Festival comes, the temperature rises and the rainfall increases. It is a good time for spring plowing and spring planting. Therefore, there are farmers' proverbs such as "Before and after Qingming, order melons and plant beans" and "Afforestation is better than Qingming." It can be seen that this solar term is closely related to agricultural production.

However, Qingming, as a festival, is different from a pure solar term. Solar terms are symbols of phenological changes and seasonal sequences in my country, while festivals contain certain customary activities and commemorative significance.

Qingming Festival is a traditional festival in my country and the most important sacrificial festival. It is a day for worshiping ancestors and sweeping tombs. Tomb sweeping, commonly known as visiting graves, is an activity to pay homage to the deceased. Most of the Han people and some ethnic minorities visit tombs during the Tomb Sweeping Day.

According to the old custom, when sweeping the tomb, people should bring wine, food, fruits, paper money and other items to the cemetery, offer the food in front of the tomb of their loved ones, then burn the paper money, build new soil on the tomb, and fold a few branches. New green branches are planted on the grave, then they kowtow and worship, and finally go home after eating wine and food. The poem "Qingming" written by Du Mu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, said: "It rains heavily during the Qingming Festival, and pedestrians on the road want to die. May I ask where the restaurant is? The shepherd boy points to Xinghua Village in the distance." It describes the special atmosphere of the Qingming Festival.

Qingming Festival, also called the Outing Festival, according to the solar calendar, it is between April 4th and 6th every year. It is the time when the spring scenery is bright and the grass is green, and it is also the time when people go out for spring outings. (called outing in ancient times), so the ancients had the custom of going outing during the Qingming Festival and carrying out a series of sports activities. In ancient times, there was another saying, "March Festival".

In the ancient people's concept, 108 is a large number that represents perfection, auspiciousness, eternity and profoundness. Putting Qingming on the 108th day after the winter solstice has a deep meaning. The name Qingming is not only due to the clean and clear growth of all things at this time, but also because the sun during this period is also a fresh sun, and the Yang Qi flowing between heaven and earth during this period is also fresh Yang Qi.

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Historical development

Along the River During the Qingming Festival

It is said that after Dayu controlled the floods, people began to use the phrase "Qingming" Congratulations that the flood has been eliminated and the world is at peace.

At this time, spring is warm, flowers are blooming, everything is revived, and the sky is clear and the earth is bright. It is a good time for spring outings. Outing began as early as the Tang Dynasty and has become a habit inherited by generations. In addition to appreciating the natural scenery of lakes, mountains and spring scenery, outings also carry out various cultural and recreational activities to add interest to life.

Tomb-sweeping is popular during Qingming Festival. In fact, tomb-sweeping is part of the Cold Food Festival on the day before Qingming Festival. According to legend, Cold Food originated from the mourning of Jie Zitui by Duke Wen of Jin Dynasty. In the 20th year of Kaiyuan, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty issued an edict to the world: "Cold food should be served to the tomb". Because cold food coincides with Qingming Festival, it gradually became known as Qingming tomb sweeping. During the Qingming Dynasty, tomb sweeping became more popular. In ancient times, children often flew kites when visiting tombs. Some kites are equipped with bamboo flutes, which can make a sound when blown by the wind, just like the sound of a kite. It is said that this is how the name of the kite comes.

The Qingming Festival was very common during the Northern Song Dynasty. Zhang Zeduan's "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" that has been handed down now depicts the two sides of the Bianhe River in Bianliang (Kaifeng), Tokyo during the Qingming Festival during the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty. scenes of people. Since 2008, my country has recognized Tomb-Sweeping Day as a legal holiday, with a one-day holiday. By 2009, it was changed to three days. It continues to this day.

Visiting tombs during the Qingming Festival shows respect and memory for the deceased.

[1] On Qingming Festival, some people weep in front of the graves of their ancestors and relatives, while others weep in front of the graves of their beloved pets. Not only people have graveyards, pets also have graveyards. When people visit their pets' graves, they are similar to paying homage to their ancestors. There are photos, white chrysanthemums, and favorite toys in front of their pets' graves. Some of them are built with cement or marble monuments just like people's. In addition to physical cemeteries, online pet cemeteries and memorial blogs are also becoming popular. Like online memorial halls for mourning loved ones, pet memorial halls allow wine and flowers to be offered, and application is easy. In most cases, you only need to enter the names of the pet and its owner.

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Origin of the festival

Tomb-Sweeping Festival is an important traditional folk festival in my country. It is one of the eight important festivals: Shangyuan, Qingming, Lixia, One of Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice and New Year's Eve. Generally, it falls on April 5th of the Gregorian calendar

Introduction to traditional Chinese festivals

, but the festival period is very long. There are two versions: ten days before and eight days after, and ten days before and ten days after. The past 20 days are all Qingming Festival.

The origin of the Qingming Festival is said to have begun with the ceremony of "grave sacrifices" for emperors, generals and prime ministers in ancient times. Later, the people also followed suit, worshiping ancestors and sweeping their tombs on this day, which has been followed by generations and has become a fixed custom of the Chinese nation. . Originally, the Cold Food Festival and the Qingming Festival were two different festivals. In the Tang Dynasty, the day of worshiping and sweeping tombs was designated as the Cold Food Festival.

The name "Qingming Festival" also comes from the Qingming solar term among the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. The 105th day after the winter solstice is the Qingming Festival. The Qingming solar term lasts for 15 days. As a solar term, Qingming takes place after the Spring Equinox. At this time, winter is gone, spring is full, the weather is clear, the fields are clear, and nature is full of vitality. "Qingming" is the most appropriate word to call this period.

[2] One hundred and five days after the winter solstice is called Cold Food. In the past, fire and cold food were forbidden on this day, so it is also called "Cold Festival" and "No Smoking Festival". According to folklore, cold food is to commemorate the Jie Zitui who was burned in Mianshan during the Spring and Autumn Period, and Duke Wen of Jin ordered a ban on fire. Jiezitui is from Shanxi, so the custom of cold food first became popular in Shanxi. In the old days, cold food cut off fire, and the next day there was a ceremony in the palace to drill wood to get new fires. Folks also used wicker sticks to beg each other for new fires.

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Related festivals

In ancient my country, there was another important festival connected with Qingming before Qingming Festival - Cold Food Festival. Cold food is on the 105th day after the winter solstice, and the cold food lasts for 3 days, followed by Qingming, so the Qingming Festival happens to be on the 108th day after the winter solstice. The modern Cold Food Festival has basically been merged into the Qingming Festival, but there are still differences between the two. There is still a legend about the Cold Food Festival.

According to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Li Ji, the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin, set up a poisonous plot to kill Prince Shen Sheng in order to let her son Xi Qi succeed to the throne. Shen Sheng was forced to commit suicide. Shen Sheng's younger brother Chong'er fled into exile in order to avoid the disaster. During his exile, Chong'er suffered a lot of humiliation. Most of the ministers who originally ran away with him went their separate ways one after another.

There were only a few loyal people left who followed him. One of them is called Jie Zitui. Once, Chong'er fainted from hunger. In order to save Chong'er, Jie Zitui cut a piece of meat from his own leg, roasted it over fire and gave it to Chong'er to eat. Nineteen years later, Chong'er returned to his country and became the king. He was Duke Wen of Jin, one of the famous Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period. After Jin Wengong came to power, he greatly rewarded those ministers who shared the same hardships with him, but he forgot about Jie Zitui. Someone cried out for Jie Zitui in front of Duke Wen of Jin. Duke Wen of Jin suddenly recalled the old events and felt guilty, so he immediately sent someone to invite Jie Zitui to go to court to receive a reward and an official title. However, after sending people several times, Jie Zitu could not come.

Jin Wengong had no choice but to invite him personally. However, when Duke Wen of Jin came to Jie Zitui's house, he saw that the door was closed. Jie Zitui didn't want to see him, so he hid in Mianshan (today's southeast of Jiexiu County, Shanxi) with his mother on his back. Duke Wen of Jin asked his imperial guards to search Mianshan Mountain, but they couldn't find it. So, someone came up with an idea and said that it would be better to set fire to the mountain, light fires on three sides and leave one side alone. When the fire breaks out, Jie Zitui will come out on his own. Duke Wen of Jin ordered a fire to be set on the mountain. Unexpectedly, the fire burned for three days and three nights. After the fire was extinguished, the meson was not pushed out after all. When he went up the mountain, he saw that Jie Zitui, mother and son, were already dead holding a large burnt willow tree. Duke Wen of Jin looked at Jie Zitui's body and cried for a while, then buried the body. He found that Jie Zitui's back was blocked by a willow tree hole, and there seemed to be something in the hole. He took it out and saw that it was a piece of clothing with a blood poem inscribed on it: "I cut my flesh to serve you with my loyalty, I hope my lord will always be clear. It is better to be a ghost under the willow and never see you again than to accompany you as an admonisher. If my lord has me in your heart, When you remember me, you always reflect on yourself. I have a clear conscience in Jiuquan, and I work diligently to restore the Qingming Festival." [3] Duke Wen of Jin hid the blood book in his sleeve. Then Jie Zitui and his mother were buried under the big burnt willow tree. In order to commemorate Jie Zitui, Duke Wen of Jin ordered that Mianshan be changed to "Jieshan", an ancestral hall be built on the mountain, and the day when the mountain was set on fire was designated as the Cold Food Festival, and he informed the whole country that fireworks were forbidden and only cold food was eaten on this day every year. When he left, he cut down a section of burnt willow wood and made a pair of wooden clogs in the palace. He looked at it every day and sighed: "What a sad step." "Sudden step" is the ancient people's term for mutual respect between superiors and peers. It is said that That's where it comes from. The next year, Duke Wen of Jin led his ministers to hike up the mountain in plain clothes to pay homage and express their condolences. When I walked to the grave, I saw that the dead old willow tree had come back to life, with thousands of green branches fluttering in the wind. Duke Wen of Jin looked at the resurrected old willow tree as if he had seen Jie Zitui. He walked up to it respectfully, pinched the branch lovingly, made a circle and put it on his head. After the memorial ceremony, Duke Wen of Jin named the resurrected old willow tree "Qingming Festival Willow" and designated this day as Qingming Festival.

From then on, Duke Wen of Jin often kept the blood letter on his sleeve as a motto to spur him to govern. He worked diligently on the Qingming Festival and worked hard to govern the country well. After that, the people of Jin State were able to live and work in peace and contentment, and they missed Jie Zitui very much, who did not seek wealth and honor after his meritorious service. On the day of his death, fireworks are banned to commemorate him. He also mixed flour with jujube paste, shaped it into the shape of a swallow, strung it with willow sticks, and stuck it on the door to summon his soul. This thing is called "Zhitui Yan" (Jie Zitui is also called Jie Zitui). Since then, Cold Food and Qingming Festival have become grand festivals for people across the country. Whenever there is cold food, people do not light a fire to cook, but only eat cold food.

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Festival Customs

The customs of Qingming Festival are rich and interesting. In addition to banning fires and sweeping tombs, there are also outings, swings, and kicking. A series of custom sports activities such as Cuju, playing polo, and willow planting. According to legend,

Combination of graves during the Qingming Festival

This is because during the Cold Food Festival, cold food and fire are prohibited. In order to prevent cold food and cold meals from harming the body, everyone comes to participate in some sports activities to exercise. During Qingming Festival, people are prohibited from using needles or washing clothes, and women in most areas are prohibited from walking. Before evening, a gray line should be sprinkled in front of the door. It is said that it can prevent ghosts from entering the house. Therefore, in this festival, there are not only the sad and sad tears of paying respects to new graves, but also the laughter of outings. It is a unique festival.

Swinging

This is an ancient Chinese Qingming Festival custom. Swing means moving by holding on to the leather rope. It has a very ancient history. It was first called Qianqiu, but later was changed to Swing to avoid taboos.

In ancient times, swings were mostly made of tree branches and tied with colorful ribbons. Later, it gradually developed into a swing with two ropes and pedals. Swinging can not only improve health, but also cultivate bravery. It is still loved by people, especially children.

Cuju

Cuju is a ball made of leather and stuffed with hair. Cuju means kicking a ball with your feet. This is a game that people loved during the Qingming Festival in ancient times. According to legend, it was invented by the Yellow Emperor, and its original purpose was to train warriors. Playing polo is also one of the Dragon Boat Festival dramas. Polo is played while riding on a horse and holding a stick. It was called Juju in ancient times. There is a sentence in "Famous Capitals" written by Cao Zhi of the Three Kingdoms: "Striking the soil continuously". In Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty, there was a large stadium, and emperors such as Xuanzong and Jingzong were all fond of polo. The "Polo Picture" in the tomb of Prince Zhanghuai depicts the prosperity of polo in the Tang Dynasty: in the picture, more than 20 horses are galloping, their tails are tied up, and the player wears a scarf on his head, boots on his feet, and holds a ball. The sticks hit each other ball by ball. "Analysis of Jinzhi" records that the Liao Dynasty regarded polo as a traditional festival custom, and played polo on the Dragon Boat Festival and Double Ninth Festival. "History of the Jin Dynasty·Li Zhi" also records that the Jin people hit the ball on the Dragon Boat Festival. In the Song Dynasty, there was a "playing ball music" dance team. By the Ming Dynasty, polo was still popular. "Xu Wen Tong Kao Le Kao" records that Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty went to Dongyuan to hit balls and shoot willows several times. The long scroll "Xuanzong's Playing Music" in the Ming Dynasty shows the scene of Xuanzong enjoying polo. Wang Zhi, an official at that time, wrote a poem about watching basketball on the Dragon Boat Festival: "A thousand-gold horse with jade and a seven-treasure ball with carved inscriptions. Flying in the sky is startled by lightning, and Fu Fen is aware of the stars. The fire page has achieved three victories, and Huanzhuan is the first." Qingyun followed Yi's footsteps and circled the east end of the hall. "There is also a mass horseback riding ceremony in front of Baiyun Temple in Beijing. Polo was also played around the Temple of Heaven in the Qing Dynasty, but it did not disappear until the middle of the Qing Dynasty. In recent years, antique polo has appeared in Xi'an, making this ancient sport reappear in China after being extinct for many years.

Outing

Also called spring outing. In ancient times, it was called Tanchun, Xunchun, etc. On the Qingming Festival in April, spring returns to the earth, and the natural world presents a vibrant scene everywhere. It is a great time for outings. Chinese people have long maintained the habit of going outing during the Qingming Festival.

Tree planting

Tree planting during Qingming Festival

Before and after Qingming Festival, the spring sun shines and the spring rain falls. The survival rate of planted saplings is high and they grow quickly. Therefore, since ancient times, our country has had the habit of planting trees during the Qingming Festival. Some people also call Qingming Festival "Arbor Day". The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. In 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress stipulated that March 12th every year would be my country's Arbor Day. This is of great significance in mobilizing people of all ethnic groups across the country to actively carry out activities to green the motherland.

Kite flying

Kite flying is also a favorite activity during the Qingming Festival. During the Qingming Festival, people not only play during the day but also at night. At night, a string of small colorful lanterns are hung under the kite or on the wind-stabilizing wire, like twinkling stars, and are called "magic lanterns." In the past, some people would cut the strings after flying kites into the blue sky and let the breeze carry them to the ends of the earth. It is said that this can eliminate diseases and disasters and bring good luck to themselves.

Grave-sweeping

Tomb-sweeping during the Qingming Festival is called "respecting the times" for ancestors. Its custom has a long history. "On the Scenery of the Imperial Capital" of the Ming Dynasty records: "On Qingming Day in the third month, men and women sweep tombs, carry bamboo poles, hang ingots on the backs of sedans and horses, and the streets are full of charm. People worship, pray, cry, and weed and add soil to the tomb. , burn ingots, and place paper money on the grave. If there is no paper money in sight, the grave will be lonely. After crying, you will go to the fragrant tree, sit in the garden, and get drunk. "In fact, tomb-sweeping existed before the Qin Dynasty. , but not necessarily during the Qingming Festival. Tomb-sweeping during the Qingming Festival was a matter after the Qin Dynasty. It did not become popular until the Tang Dynasty. "Qing Tong Li" says: "On the New Year's Day, during Cold Food and Frost's Descent Festivals, people pay homage to the tomb sweepers. During the period, they go to the tomb in plain clothes, equipped with wine and food and a tool for cutting grass and trees. They seal the trees and cut off the wattle grass, so it is called tomb sweeping." And it has been passed down to this day.

The Qingming Festival sweeping ceremony should be held in person at the tomb site. However, because each family’s economic and other conditions are different, the method of sweeping the memorial ceremony is also different. "Burning baggage" is the main form of paying homage to ancestors. The so-called "baggage", also known as "package", refers to the parcel sent by filial piety from the Yang world to the "underworld". In the past, Nanzhi Store sold the so-called "furoshiki", which was a large bag made of white paper.

There are two forms: one is to use a woodblock board to print the Sanskrit transliteration of the "Rebirth Mantra" around it, and print a rosette tablet in the middle to write the name of the deceased with the area code, such as: "The late Zhang Fujun said: The words "Sir Shan Lao" are both a mail package and a tablet. The other type is plain furoshiki, which does not have any pattern printed on it. It only has a blue label stuck in the middle and the name of the deceased can be written on it. Also used as main card. There are many types of ghost money in the baggage.

Inserting willows

It is said that the custom of inserting willows is also to commemorate the founder of farming, Shennong, who "taught the people how to farm". In some places, people put willow branches under the eaves to predict the weather. In ancient times, they planted willow branches during the Qingming Festival. "day". During the Huang Chao uprising, it was stipulated that "the Qingming Festival will last for a period of time, and Dai Liu will be the number." After the failure of the uprising, the custom of wearing willows was gradually eliminated, and only inserting willows remained popular. Willows have strong vitality. As the saying goes: "If you plant flowers intentionally, they will not bloom, but if you plant willows unintentionally, they will create shade." Willows will live when they are inserted into the soil. Wherever they are inserted, they will live wherever they are inserted. Willows will be inserted year after year, and they will become shade everywhere.

There is another saying about planting willows during the Qingming Festival: It turns out that the Chinese regard Qingming, half July and the first day of October as the three major ghost festivals, when hundreds of ghosts appear and beg for help. In order to prevent the intrusion and persecution of ghosts, people plant willows and wear willows. Willow has the function of warding off evil spirits in people's minds. Influenced by Buddhism, people believe that willow can ward off ghosts, and are called "ghost-terrible trees." Avalokitesvara dips willow branches in water to save all living beings. Jia Sixie of the Northern Wei Dynasty said in "Qi Min Yao Shu": "Putting willow branches on the door will prevent all ghosts from entering the house." Qingming is the Ghost Festival, and when willow branches sprout, people naturally plant willows to ward off evil spirits.

[4] The Qingming Festival is an important period of the year for health preservation. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the body also grows in spring. Breathing and breathing method is beneficial to the human body's yang energy. During this period, everyone should wear looser clothes and go to places with fresh air to exercise.

During the Qingming Festival, the liver qi in the body is at its strongest. If the liver qi is too strong, it will have a negative impact on the spleen and stomach, hinder the normal digestion and absorption of food, and also cause emotional disorders, poor qi and blood circulation, and lead to Various diseases. Therefore, this period is a period of high incidence of hypertension and respiratory diseases, and everyone needs to pay attention to it. Qingming Festival is also called the "Cold Food Festival". In terms of diet during the Qingming Festival, some places still retain the custom of banning fire and eating cold food during the Qingming Festival. However, some people are not suitable for eating cold food. During the Qingming Festival, any situation that depletes or blocks Yang Qi should be avoided. The rise of "Yang Qi" refers to the movement and contraction of the spleen and stomach. Therefore, people usually have a better appetite in spring, but they must pay attention to a moderate diet to protect the normal function of the spleen and stomach. During the Qingming Festival, you should eat warm food and eat more fruits and vegetables, especially leeks and other seasonal vegetables. It is also suitable to eat sweet potatoes, cabbage, radish, taro and other foods during the Qingming period to warm the stomach and remove dampness, and it is also suitable to eat more. In addition, during the Qingming solar term, it is not advisable to eat bamboo shoots, chicken, etc. You can eat more foods that protect the liver and nourish the lungs, such as shepherd's purse, spinach, and yams, which are good for the body.

When outing during the Qingming Festival, it is not advisable to do too much exercise. People who are less active should exercise within their ability and should not exercise too much. The elderly should control their heart rate within 105 beats/minute and breathing within 24 times/minute during activities. Young and middle-aged people should relax appropriately depending on the individual. Patients with heart disease, high blood pressure, acute and chronic bronchitis, emphysema, nephritis, anemia, tuberculosis, fever, acute infection, and those in the active stage of stone formation should not try to climb mountains.

Qingming Festival is a festival for outings, sweeping tombs, remembering ancestors, and mourning. While paying homage to your ancestors, you should also pay attention to your own health. Tomb-Sweeping Day is a traditional festival to express condolences to loved ones. It is an opportunity to vent grief, which is good for eliminating bad emotions and is also good for mental health. However, during this period, for those who have lost their loved ones, the Tomb-Sweeping Day can easily touch the occasion and cause bad emotions. Especially the elderly are prone to negative emotions when sweeping graves. Everyone's sadness and depression should not last for too long. This period is a period of high incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke and other diseases. Patients with such diseases should not be overly sad, but should pay attention to regulating their emotions. They need to find relatives and friends to accompany them to alleviate the impact of negative emotions.