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Qingming Festival
April 4
The Qingming Festival (清明节), also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival. It is a time for Chinese people to honor their ancestors by visiting their graves, cleaning the tombstones, and making offerings.
Table of Contents
- When is Qingming Festival?
- The History of Qingming Festival
- What Do People Do on This Day?
- The Legend of Jie Zitui
When is Qingming Festival?
The Qingming Festival typically falls on April 4th or 5th each year, depending on the Gregorian calendar. It aligns with the 15th day after the Spring Equinox on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.
The following is the list of Qingming Festival from 2020 to 2049.
The History of Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival has a history that spans over 2,500 years. Its origins are rooted in Chinese traditions of ancestor worship and agricultural practices. Over time, it has evolved into a significant cultural and social event.
The name "Qingming" means "clear and bright" and refers to the time of year when the weather becomes warmer, flowers bloom, and people begin preparing for spring planting. It was originally a solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, marking the arrival of spring.
The Qingming Festival is closely associated with the Hanshi Festival (寒食节), or the "Cold Food Festival," which predates it. The Hanshi Festival originated during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BCE), in honor of Jie Zitui, a loyal retainer of the Jin prince Chong'er (later Duke Wen of Jin).
During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), Qingming officially became a time for ancestor worship and grave-sweeping, replacing the Hanshi Festival. The festival combined elements of honoring ancestors with the practical tasks of tending to family graves and preparing fields for agriculture.
Qingming was formalized as a national festival for ancestor worship in Tang and Song Dynasties. Families began making visits to their ancestors' tombs to clean and offer sacrifices.
In Ming and Qing Dynasties, the festival gained more rituals, including the burning of joss paper, offering food and lighting incense. It also became a time for spring outings and kite flying.
In modern times, Qingming continues to be a deeply meaningful day in Chinese culture, symbolizing respect for the past and embracing nature.
After decades of modernization, it was officially recognized as a public holiday in China in 2008.
What Do People Do on This Day?
The Qingming Festival is a day to honor ancestors and enjoy the arrival of spring. The activities associated with this festival reflect both its solemn and celebratory aspects.
People will clean and tidy the tombs of ancestors, removing weeds and dirt. At the same time, people offer sacrifices (e.g., food, wine and flowers), and burn joss paper (symbolic money) to provide for ancestors in the afterlife.
Families and friends go on picnics in the countryside or parks, and appreciate blooming flowers and greenery.
People of all ages fly kites with colorful designs. In some regions, lanterns are attached to the kites, making them glow at night.
People plant trees to honor ancestors or contribute to the environment. This activity has become more common in modern times as part of environmental conservation.
The Legend of Jie Zitui
The Legend of Jie Zitui (介子推) is a poignant tale of loyalty and selflessness from ancient China. It is closely associated with the origins of the Cold Food Festival (Hanshi Festival, 寒食节), which eventually merged with the Qingming Festival.
Jie Zitui was a retainer of Prince Chong'er of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BCE). When Chong'er was exiled due to political turmoil, Jie Zitui accompanied him on a long and arduous journey. During a time of extreme hardship, when the group ran out of food, Jie Zitui secretly cut a piece of flesh from his own leg and cooked it to sustain the prince.
After 19 years in exile, Prince Chong'er regained power and returned to Jin, becoming Duke Wen of Jin. Jie Zitui, who had played a significant role in Chong'er's survival, did not seek recognition or rewards. Instead, he withdrew from the court and retreated to the mountains with his elderly mother, choosing a simple and humble life.
Duke Wen, feeling remorse for neglecting Jie Zitui's contributions, sought to bring him back to court. Jie Zitui, however, refused to leave his secluded life, prompting Duke Wen to order the burning of the forest where Jie was hiding to force him out.
The fire consumed the forest, but Jie Zitui and his mother were found dead under a willow tree. Jie was holding a letter written in his own blood, urging Duke Wen to govern wisely and prioritize the welfare of his people.
Overcome with guilt and grief, Duke Wen declared that no fire could be lit for three days, leading to the tradition of eating cold food during the Hanshi Festival.
Over time, the Hanshi Festival became part of the Qingming Festival, incorporating its themes of honoring the dead and reflecting on moral values.
