Qingming Festival(Tomb Sweeping Day)

As stated in the tittle Qingming Festival is known as Tomb Sweeping Day. It is a day when Chinese people remember their ancestors and pay some respect to them.  Festival is at least 2500 years old.

People at Babaoshan cemetery, Beijing, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201804/06/WS5ac6da3ea3105cdcf6516750_10.html

Origin

Legend of the origin goes like this –  in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC), there was man named Jie Zitui. He once cut a piece of meat from his own leg in order to save his hungry lord who was forced to go into exile when the crown was in jeopardy. The lord came back to his position nineteen years later, and forgot Jie Zitui but later felt ashamed and decided to reward him. However, Jie was stuck in the  mountain. In order to find Jie, the lord ordered that the mountain should be set on fire. But Jie was found dead. . In order to commemorate Jie, the lord ordered that the day Jie died was Hanshi (Cold Food) Festival – the day that only cold food could be eaten. This day became combined with day when ancestors are worshipped.  It was initially known as Cold Food Festival, but later it became known as Qingming Festival.

Customs

Festival almost always falls in  beginning of April. In 2018 it fell on 5^th April. Most important custom during Qingming is tomb sweeping. It means that people go to cemeteries to visit tombs of their ancestors. There they sweep the tombs, clean them and cut the grass in order to pay respect to ancestors. There they burn incense and joss papers in front of tombs and bow to show respect to their ancestors.  These practices origin from Confucian rituals for posthumous respect and filial piety. Prayer is directed to spirits of ancestors or to deities who are supposed to protect ancestral spirits.  On the tombs are offered flowers, food, tea, wine and chopsticks. Chinese traditionally believe that in afterlife spirits of ancestors need all the things that humans during life need too so they offer them food and drinks. Even money is offered when special joss paper which is considered to be a money for spirits is burnt.

At martyrs cemetery in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201804/06/WS5ac6da3ea3105cdcf6516750_6.html

Religious symbols of ritual purity, such as pomegranate and willow branches, are popular at this time. Some people carry willow branches with them on Qingming or stick willow branches on their gates and/or front doors. Furthermore, the belief is that the willow branches will help ward off the unappeased, troubled and troubling spirits, and/or evil spirits that may be wandering in the earthly realms on Qingming.

Food and incense offering at tomb, http://www.heredg.com/2016/04/qingming-festival/

Since at least Tang dynasty( 618-906) spring outing is practiced. In past families used to spend time in nature after visiting graveyard and worshipping ancestors. They used to spend time in their garden to enjoy spring, blooming and warmer weather. Today it is also practiced by families or young couples to go to public parks or to visit forests and mountains beyond towns enjoy greenery, spring warmth, and blooms of plum, cherry, pear or peach.

Burning Joss paper as money for ancestors, https://www.quora.com/Why-are-so-many-Chinese-people-atheists-What-do-they-believe-in-instead-of-a-god

Also during Qingming it is popular to fly kites in shapes of animals or mythological beings. It is popular to tie small lanterns on kites and fly them in the evening.  Then usually string is cut and kites are flying away freely with lanterns. This practice is believed to chase away evil spirits and brings good luck.  Except in China, similar holidays are held in Korea, Vietnam and Japan.  Chinese who live beyond China practice Qingming as well.

Kite flying, http://www.sinosprocket.com/the-qingming-festival/

 

used source: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/qingming.htm

cover photo source: http://jamesduvalier.com/qingming-the-festival-of-pure-brightness/