The Qingming or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is a traditional Chinese festival on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This makes it the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, either 4 or 5 April in a given year.
Qingming has been regularly observed as a statutory public holiday in China. It became a public holiday in China in 2008.
The holiday is associated with the consumption of qingtuan, green dumplings made of glutinous rice and barley grass.
The festival originated from the Cold Food Festival ("Hanshi Festival"), established by Chong'er, Duke Wen of Jin, during the Spring and Autumn period. The festival was a memorial for his retainer Jie Zitui,who had loyally followed him during his years of exile. Supposedly, he once even cut meat from his own thigh to provide Chong'er with soup. Once Chong'er was enthroned as duke, however, Jie considered his services no longer required and resigned. Although Duke Wen was generousin rewarding those who had helped him in his time of need, he long passed over Jie, who had moved into the forest with his mother. Duke Wenwent to the forest in 636 BCbut could not find them. He then ordered his men to set fire to the forest in order to force Jie out. When Jie and his mother were killed instead, the duke was overcome with remorse and ordered three days without fire to honor Jie's memory. The city erected over the former forest is still called Jiexiu (lit. "Jie's rest").
Qingming was frequently mentioned in Chinese literature. Among these, the most famous one is probably Du Mu's poem (simply titled "Qingming"):
清明时节雨纷纷
A drizzling rain falls on the Mourning Day;
路上行人欲断魂
The mourner's heart is breaking on his way.
借问酒家何处有
Inquiring, where can a wineshop be found?
牧童遥指杏花村
A cowherd points to Apricot Flower Village in the distance.
Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival with a history of 2500 years.
清明佳节是中国传统的节日,有两千五百年的历史。
Its main traditional cultural activities include: going to the grave, going on a walk, playing on the swing, etc.
它主要的传统文化活动有:上坟、踏青、荡秋千、等。
On this day, pedestrians on the road are thinking of the dead and expressing their respect and sorrow.
在这个日子里,路上的行人都在思念去世的人们,表达对他们的尊重与哀思。
Qingming is a recognition and respect of Chinese traditional culture.
清明,是中国传统文化的一种认可及尊重。
Tomb Sweeping Day is a very important festival in the traditional customs of the ancients. It is also the most important festival of memorial ceremony, which is the day of ancestor worship and tomb sweeping.
清明是古人传统习俗中十分重要的一个节日,也是最重要的祭奠节日,是祭祖和扫墓的日子。
During the Qingming Festival, people went back to their hometown to worship their ancestors, which is a kind of culture and a habit.
清 明 节(Tomb-Sweeping Day) 1、Qing Ming Jie(All Souls' Day) Qing Ming is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More important, it is a period to honour and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival. Literally meaning "clear" (Qing) and "bright" (Ming), this Chinese festival falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a "spring" festival, and it is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forebears. Chinese being practical people this sweeping of the graves is given an extended period, that is, 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. Among some dialect groups a whole month is allocated. 清明节是一个纪念祖先的节日。主要的纪念仪式是扫墓,扫墓是慎终追远、郭亲睦邻及行孝的具体表现;基于上述意义,清明节因此成为华人的重要节日。 清明节是在仲春和暮春之交,也就是冬至后的106天。扫墓活动通常是在清明节的前十天或后十天。有些地域的人士的扫墓活动长达一个月。 ORIGIN(起源) Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains. Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit. The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. Whatever practice is observed,the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Zhui who choose death over capitulation.