Yesterday was what we Chinese call it the Qing Ming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day in English. Actually, Qing Ming Festival was originally just one of the 24 seasonal festivals in ancient Chinese society observed by the farmers to plan their crop-growing duties. Qing Ming, also known as "Bright and Clear" festival, was used to mark the period of time where by the weather starts to get warmer, and with more rainfall, floral and fauna starts to bloom. As for how this seaonsal festival subsequently got linked to honouring of one's ancestors were due to 2 historical figures: Duke Jinwen of Spring & Autumn dynasty and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty.
Duke Jinwen, whose real name was Chong'er, once was forced to fled from the palace due to internal conflicts. Many of his royal subjects accompanied him on his exile, but only a small number stayed by him throughout, and one of them was known as Jie Zhitui. 19 years later, when Duke Jinwen returned to become the king of his contry, he decided to honour and reward those who had stood by him in times of trouble, but Jie Zhitui had been forgotten. When being reminded by his other subjects, Duke Jinwen immediately summoned him into court, by Jie Zhitui refused to come. He even took his elderly mother deep into the forest to hide. Duke Jinwen then decided to set the forest ablaze, hoping that this would force Jie Zhitui out. However, after 3 long days of burning, Jie Zhitui never came out, and subsequently he was found burnt to death. In remorse, Duke Jinwen ordered this day to be a day to honour the deceased. Centuries later during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, the Emperor was upset because the wealthy held too many expensive, elaborate ancestor-worshipping ceremonies (that period of the Tang dynasty was well-known for the high standards of living among the commonfolks due to the prosperity of the country). In order to cut down on such extravagant acts, Emperor Xuanzong declared that respects could be formally paid at ancestor's graves only on Qing Ming Festival, and this was how Qing Ming Festival became what it is today.
Actually for Qing Ming Festival, one do not neccesarily have to pay respects to their ancestors' graves on the day itself. For us Hokkiens, one can do so as long as it's not beyond 10 days ahead or 10 days behind. Our family did that on 27th March, and there're already quite a number of people at the cemetery already. I can't imagine how crowded the place would become when the actual day draws closer!
Duke Jinwen, whose real name was Chong'er, once was forced to fled from the palace due to internal conflicts. Many of his royal subjects accompanied him on his exile, but only a small number stayed by him throughout, and one of them was known as Jie Zhitui. 19 years later, when Duke Jinwen returned to become the king of his contry, he decided to honour and reward those who had stood by him in times of trouble, but Jie Zhitui had been forgotten. When being reminded by his other subjects, Duke Jinwen immediately summoned him into court, by Jie Zhitui refused to come. He even took his elderly mother deep into the forest to hide. Duke Jinwen then decided to set the forest ablaze, hoping that this would force Jie Zhitui out. However, after 3 long days of burning, Jie Zhitui never came out, and subsequently he was found burnt to death. In remorse, Duke Jinwen ordered this day to be a day to honour the deceased. Centuries later during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, the Emperor was upset because the wealthy held too many expensive, elaborate ancestor-worshipping ceremonies (that period of the Tang dynasty was well-known for the high standards of living among the commonfolks due to the prosperity of the country). In order to cut down on such extravagant acts, Emperor Xuanzong declared that respects could be formally paid at ancestor's graves only on Qing Ming Festival, and this was how Qing Ming Festival became what it is today.
Actually for Qing Ming Festival, one do not neccesarily have to pay respects to their ancestors' graves on the day itself. For us Hokkiens, one can do so as long as it's not beyond 10 days ahead or 10 days behind. Our family did that on 27th March, and there're already quite a number of people at the cemetery already. I can't imagine how crowded the place would become when the actual day draws closer!
2 comments:
For my family we aslo don't do it on the actual day because of the crowds and the traffic jam.
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