Qingming Festival

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Qingming
Burning paper gifts for the departed.
Official nameQingming Jie (清明节)
Ching Ming Festival (清明節)
Tomb Sweeping Day (掃墳節)
Observed by
ancestor worship, offering food to deceased, burning joss paper
Date15th day after March equinox (between April 4 and April 6)
2023 date5 April[2]
2024 date4 April[3]
2025 date4 April[4]
First time732; 1292 years ago (732)
Qingming Festival
BUC
Chĭng-mìng-cáik

The Qingming Festival[5] or Ching Ming Festival,[6] also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English (sometimes also called Chinese Memorial Day, Ancestors' Day, the Clear Brightness Festival, or the Pure Brightness Festival),[7][8][9][10] is a traditional Chinese festival observed by ethnic Chinese in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. A celebration of spring,[10][11] it falls on the first day of the fifth solar term (also called Qingming) of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This makes it the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, either 4, 5 or 6 April in a given year.[12][13][14] During Qingming, Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites and make ritual offerings to their ancestors.[9] Offerings would typically include traditional food dishes and the burning of joss sticks and joss paper.[9][10][15] The holiday recognizes the traditional reverence of one's ancestors in Chinese culture.[9]

The origins of the Qingming Festival go back more than 2500 years, although the observance has changed significantly. It became a public holiday in mainland China in 2008, where it is associated with the consumption of qingtuan,[16] green dumplings made of glutinous rice and Chinese mugwort or barley grass.

In

Jersey cudweed
, is consumed there.

A similar holiday is observed in the Ryukyu Islands, called Shīmī in the local language.[17]

Origin

The festival originated from the

immortal and avoided lighting fires for as long as a month in the depths of winter, a practice so injurious to children and the elderly that the area's rulers unsuccessfully attempted to ban it for centuries. A compromise finally developed where it was restricted to 3 days around the Qingming solar term
in mid-spring.

The present importance of the holiday is credited to

in honor of their ancestors. In AD 732, Xuanzong sought to curb this practice by declaring that such respects could be formally paid only once a year, on Qingming.[18]

Observance

Indonesian Chinese family pray for their deceased members at Qingming Festival of 2013 under the Heaven Gate of Sanggar Agung
Qingming at the cemetery by Kolkata Chinese

Qingming Festival is when Chinese people traditionally visit ancestral tombs to sweep them.

ancestors in the uniquely Chinese concept of the afterlife
and to offer remembrances of their ancestors to living blood relatives, their kith and kin. In some places, people believe that sweeping the tomb is only allowed during this festival, as they believe the dead will get disturbed if the sweeping is done on other days.

The young and old alike kneel down to offer prayers before tombstones of the ancestors, offer the burning of joss in both the forms of incense sticks (

joss-sticks) and silver-leafed paper (joss paper), sweep the tombs and offer food in memory of the ancestors.[9][10] Depending on the religion of the observers, some pray to a higher deity
to honour their ancestors, while others may pray directly to the ancestral spirits.

People who live far away and can't travel to their ancestors' tombs may make a sacrifice from a distance.[11]

These rites have a long tradition in Asia, especially among the imperialty who legislated these rituals into a national religion. They have been preserved especially by the peasantry and are most popular with farmers today, who believe that continued observances will ensure fruitful harvests ahead by appeasing the spirits in the other world.

Religious symbols of ritual purity, such as pomegranate and willow branches, are popular at this time. Some people wear willow twigs on their heads on Qingming or stick willow branches on their homes.[9][10] There are similarities to palm leaves used on Palm Sundays in Christianity; both are religious rituals. Furthermore, the belief is that the willow branches will help ward off misfortune.[9][10]

After gathering on Qingming to perform Confucian clan and family duties at the tombstones, graveyards or columbaria, participants spend the rest of the day in clan or family outings, before they start the spring plowing. Historically, people would often sing and dance, and Qingming was a time when young couples traditionally started courting.[10] Another popular thing to do is to fly kites in the shapes of animals or characters from folk tales or Chinese opera.[10][19] Another common practice is to carry flowers instead of burning paper, incense, or firecrackers.[20]

Traditionally, a family will burn

cockfight,[22] as well as being available within that historic and cultural context at Kaifeng Millennium City Park (Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden).[23][24]

The holiday is often marked by people paying respects to those who are considered national or legendary heroes or those exemplary Chinese figures who died in events considered politically sensitive.

thousands honored him during the festival to pay their respects. Some also pay respects to politically sensitive people such as Zhao Ziyang.[26]

In Taiwan, the Qingming Festival was not a public holiday until 1972. Three years later, upon the death of Chiang Kai-shek on 5 April 1975, the Kuomintang government declared that the anniversary of Chiang's death be observed alongside the festival. The practice was abolished in 2007.[27]

Malaysia and Singapore

Colored papers placed on a grave during Qingming Festival, Bukit Brown Cemetery, Singapore

Despite the festival having no official status, the overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asian nations, such as those in Singapore and Malaysia, take this festival seriously and observe its traditions faithfully. Some Qingming rituals and ancestral veneration decorum observed by the overseas Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore can be dated back to Ming and Qing dynasties, as the overseas communities were not affected by the Cultural Revolution in Mainland China. Qingming in Malaysia is an elaborate family function or a clan feast (usually organized by the respective clan association) to commemorate and honour recently deceased relatives at their grave sites and distant ancestors from China at home altars, clan temples or makeshift altars in Buddhist or Taoist temples. For the overseas Chinese community, the Qingming festival is very much a solemn family event and, at the same time, a family obligation. They see this festival as a time of reflection for honouring and giving thanks to their forefathers. Overseas Chinese normally visit the graves of their recently deceased relatives on the weekend nearest to the actual date. According to the ancient custom, grave site veneration is only permissible ten days before and after the Qingming Festival. If the visit is not on the actual date, normally veneration before Qingming is encouraged. The Qingming Festival in Malaysia and Singapore normally starts early in the morning by paying respect to distant ancestors from China at home altars. This is followed by visiting the graves of close relatives in the country. Some follow the concept of filial piety to the extent of visiting the graves of their ancestors in mainland China.

Other customs

Games

During the Tang dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang promoted large-scale

willow trees.[29][9]

Buddhism

The Qingming festival is also a part of spiritual and religious practices in China, and is associated with Buddhism.[11] For example, Buddhism teaches that those who die with guilt are unable to eat in the afterlife, except on the day of the Qingming festival.[30]

Chinese tea culture

The Qingming festival holiday has a significance in the Chinese tea culture since this specific day divides the fresh green teas by their picking dates. Green teas made from leaves picked before this date are given the prestigious 'pre-Qingming tea' () designation which commands a much higher price tag. These teas are prized for their aroma, taste, and tenderness.[31][32]

Weather

The Qingming festival was originally considered the day with the best spring weather, when many people would go out and travel. The Old Book of Tang describes this custom and mentions of it may be found in ancient poetry.[33]

In painting

A small section of Along the River During the Qingming Festival

The famous Song dynasty Qingming scroll attributed to Zhang Zeduan may portray Kaifeng city, the capital of the Song Dynasty, but does not include any of the activities associated with the holiday, however, and the term "Qingming" may not refer to the holiday.

In literature

Qingming was frequently mentioned in Chinese literature. Among these, the most famous one is probably Du Mu's poem (simply titled "Qingming"):

Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Pinyin English translation
清明時節雨紛紛 清明时节雨纷纷 qīng míng shí jié yǔ fēn fēn Drizzling during Qingming
路上行人欲斷魂 路上行人欲断魂 lù shàng xíng rén yù duàn hún Dwellers on the road seem lifeless
借問酒家何處有 借问酒家何处有 jiè wèn jiǔ jiā hé chù yǒu Please sir, where can I find a bar
牧童遙指杏花村 牧童遥指杏花村 mù tóng yáo zhǐ xìng huā cūn A herdsboy pointing to a village afar – the Apricot Flowers.

Although the date is not presently a holiday in Vietnam, the Qingming festival is mentioned (under the name Thanh Minh) in the epic poem The Tale of Kieu (which takes place in Ming China during the reign of Jiajing), when the protagonist Thúy Kiều (翠翹) meets a ghost of a dead old lady. The description of the scenery during this festival is one of the best-known passages of Vietnamese literature:

Chữ Nôm Vietnamese alphabet English translation
𣈜春𡥵燕迻梭, Ngày xuân con én đưa thoi Swift swallows and spring days were shuttling by;
韶光𠃩𨔿㐌外𦒹𨑮。 Thiều quang chín chục đã ngoài sáu mươi Of ninety radiant ones three score had fled.
𦹵𡽫撑羡蹎𡗶, Cỏ non-xanh tận chân trời Young grass spread all its green to heaven's rim;
梗梨𤽸點沒𢽼񣡢花, Cành lê trắng điểm một vài bông hoa Some blossoms marked pear branches with white dots.
清明𥪞節𣎃𠀧, Thanh Minh trong tiết tháng ba Now came the Feast of Light in the third month
礼羅掃墓,噲羅踏清。 Lễ là Tảo mộ, hội là Đạp thanh With graveyard rites and junkets on the green.
𧵆賒奴㘃燕񣡢, Gần xa nô nức yến oanh As merry pilgrims flocked from near and far,
姉㛪懺所步行制春。 Chị em sắm sửa bộ hành chơi xuân The sisters and their brother went for a stroll.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Meet the Chetti Melaka, or Peranakan Indians, striving to save their vanishing culture". Channel News Asia. 21 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Qingming Festival – April 5, 2023". National Today. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Qingming Festival". National Today. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Qingming Festival". National Today. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Qingming Festival". Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  6. ^ "108 years of Ching Ming Festival continuous holiday traffic evacuation information". Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration. 25 March 2019.
  7. ^ "General holidays for 2015". GovHK. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Macau Government Tourist Office". Macau Tourism. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  9. ^
    ISBN 9787508516936.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
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  11. ^ a b c d e Eberhard, Wolfram (1952). "Ch'ing-ming, the spring festival". Chinese Festivals. New York: H. Wolff. pp. 112–127.
  12. ^ "Traditional Chinese Festivals". china.org.cn. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  13. ^ "Tomb Sweeping Day". Taiwan.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Ching Ming Festival | Hong Kong Tourism Board".
  15. ^ "Why Chinese Burn Paper on Tomb-Sweeping Day". The Beijinger. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Across China: Sticky rice balls make tradition "stickier" for young Chinese". Xinhua. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Festivals and Rituals of Okinawa – Seimei Ritual (Shiimii) –". www.wonder-okinawa.jp. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  18. ^ "寒食清明节:纪念晋国大夫介之推". Cathay.ce.cn. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  19. ^ "中华人民共和国外交部". Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  20. ^ "Asia News – South Asia News – Latest headlines – News, Photos, Videos". UPIAsia.com. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  21. S2CID 187756852
    .
  22. ^ "Festival of Pure Brightness". Uiowa.edu. Archived from the original on 19 November 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  23. ^ "Millennium City Park, Kaifeng, Henan". Travelchinaguide.com. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  24. ^ "Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden". Cultural-china.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  25. ^ "Celebration". China Daily. 3 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  26. Straits Times. 8 April 2009. Archived
    from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  27. ^ "Taiwan in Time: The evolution of Tomb Sweeping Day – Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  28. ^ Tang dynasty Feng Yan: Notes of Feng, volume 6
  29. ^ "Chinese Traditional Holidays". Qingming Festival Customs. China Internet News Center.
  30. ^ "Buddhism and Qingming Festival". Chinese Scholars. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  31. . Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  32. . Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  33. ^ 劉昫. 舊唐書  [Old Book of Tang] (in Chinese) – via Wikisource.

Further reading

  • Aijmer, Göran (1978), "Ancestors in the Spring the Qingming Festival in Central China", Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 18: 59–82,
    JSTOR 23889632

External links