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This page is about the festival. For the solar term, see Qingming.

Qingming
Burning paper gifts for the departed.
Official name	Qingming Jie (清明節) Ching Ming Festival (清明節)
Also called	Tomb Sweeping Day All Souls Day
Observed by	Chinese
Significance	Remembering past ancestors
Observances	Cleaning and sweeping of graves, Ancestor worship, offering food to deceased, burning joss paper
Date	15th day from the Spring Equinox Apr. 4, 5 or 6
2024 date

The Qingming Festival (simplified Chinese: 清明节; traditional Chinese: 清明節; pinyin: Qīngmíng Jié; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chheng-bêng-cheh or Chhiⁿ-miâ-choeh, Ching Ming Festival in Hong Kong, Vietnamese: Tết Thanh Minh, Ryukyuan:shīmī) Pure Brightness Festival or Clear Bright Festival, Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice (or the 15th day from the Spring Equinox), usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar (see Chinese calendar). Astronomically it is also a solar term (See Qingming). The Qingming festival falls on the first day of the fifth solar term, named Qingming. Its name denotes a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime (踏青 Tàqīng, "treading on the greenery") and tend to the graves of departed ones.

Qingming has been regularly observed as a statutory public holiday in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Its observance was reinstated as a nationwide public holiday in mainland China in 2008.

The transcription of the term Qingming may appear in a number of different forms, some of which are Qingming, Qing Ming, Qing Ming Jie, Ching Ming (official in Hong Kong) and Ch'ing Ming Chieh.

Introduction

The holiday is known by a number of names in the English language:

• All Souls Day (not to be confused with the Roman Catholic holiday, All Souls Day, of the same name)
• Clear Bright Festival
• Ancestors Day
• Festival for Tending Graves
• Grave Sweeping Day
• Chinese Memorial Day
• Tomb Sweeping Day
• Spring Remembrance

Tomb Sweeping Day and Clear Bright Festival are the most common English translations of Qingming Festival. Tomb Sweeping Day is used in several English language newspapers published in Taiwan.

Origin

Qingming Festival is when Chinese people visit the graves or burial grounds of their ancestors. Traditionally, people brought a whole rooster with them to the graves visited but the occasion has become less formal over time. The festival originated from Hanshi Day (寒食节, literally, Day with cold food only), a memorial day for Jie Zitui (介子推). Jie Zitui died in 636 BC in the Spring and Autumn Period. He was one of many followers of Duke Wen of Jin(晉文公) before he became a duke. Once, during Wen's 19 years of exile, they had no food and Jie prepared some meat soup for Wen. Wen enjoyed it a lot and wondered where Jie had obtained the soup. It turned out Jie had cut a piece of meat from his own thigh to make the soup. Wen was so moved he promised to reward him one day. However, Jie was not the type of person who sought rewards. Instead, he just wanted to help Wen to return to Jin to become king. Once Wen became duke, Jie resigned and stayed away from him. Duke Wen rewarded the people who helped him in the decades, but for some reason he forgot to reward Jie, who by then had moved into the forest with his mother. Duke Wen went to the forest, but could not find Jie. Heeding suggestions from his officials, Duke Wen ordered men to set the forest on fire to force out Jie. However, Jie died in the fire. Feeling remorseful, Duke Wen ordered three days without fire to honour Jie's memory. The city where Jie died is still called Jiexiu (介休, literally "the place Jie rests forever").

Qingming has a tradition stretching back more than 2,500 years. Its origin is credited to the Tang Emperor Xuanzong in 732. Wealthy citizens in China were reportedly holding too many extravagant and ostentatiously expensive ceremonies in honor of their ancestors. Emperor Xuanzong, seeking to curb this practice, declared that respects could be formally paid at ancestors' graves only on Qingming. The observance of Qingming found a firm place in Chinese culture and continued since Ancient China

Holiday custom

The customs of Qingming Festival is full of fun. There are lots of activities that will be hold during the Qingming Festival. One of the activity is swing, which has a long history in China. The activity of swing will not only enhance the health but also it will develop the spirits of courage. Another activity is Cuju, which was said to be developed by the Yellow Emperor. The activity of Cuju was originally used to train soldiers, which later becomes a popular activity in later years. Tree planting is another activity during the Qingming Festival. Since the weather before and after the Qingming Festival is warm and rain volume is abundant, trees planted during this time have high rate of survival and fast rate of growth. In the year 1979, March 12th is decided as the tree planting day in China. Flying kite is another popular activity during the Qingming Festival. Kites are called magic lamp which refers to send the wishes of people to the sky. It’s said that the activity of flying kite can eliminate disaster and bring them good luck. Inserting willow is another custom during the Qingming Festival. In traditional Chinese culture, the activity of inserting willow has the meaning of exorcise evil spirits.

Celebration

The Qingming Festival is an opportunity for celebrants to remember and honour their ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, joss paper accessories, and/or libations to the ancestors. The rites have a long tradition in Asia, especially among farmers. Some people carry willow branches with them on Qingming, or put willow branches on their gates and/or front doors. They believe that willow branches help ward off the evil spirit that wanders on Qingming.

On Qingming people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing, and dance. Qingming is also the time when young couples start courting. Another popular thing to do is to fly kites in the shapes of animals or characters from Chinese opera. Another common practice is to carry flowers instead of burning paper, incense or firecrackers.

The holiday is often marked by people paying respects to those who died in events considered sensitive in China. The April Fifth Movement and the Tiananmen Incident were major events on Qingming that took place in the history of the People's Republic of China. When Premier Zhou Enlai died in 1976, thousands visited him during the festival to pay their respects. Many also pay respects to victims of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and the graves of Zhao Ziyang and Yang Jia in areas where the right of free expression is generally recognized, as in Hong Kong. In most areas of China observance of sensitive events are suppressed and all public mention of such events is taboo. In Taiwan this national holiday is observed on April 5 because the ruling Kuomintang moved it to that date in commemoration of the death of Chiang Kai-shek on April 5.

Despite having no holiday 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 oversea Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore can be dated back to Ming and Qing dynasties, as the oversea 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 oversea Chinese community, the Qingming festival is very much a family celebration and, at the same time, a family obligation. They see this festival as a time of reflection and to honour and give thanks to their forefathers. Overseas Chinese normally visit the graves of their recently deceased relatives on the nearest weekend to the actual date. According to the ancient custom, grave site veneration is only feasible 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. Traditionally, the family will burn spirit money and paper replicas of material goods such as cars, homes, phones and paper servants. In Chinese culture, it is believed that people still need all of those things in the afterlife. Then family members start take turns to kowtow three to nine times (depending on the family adherence to traditional values) before the tomb of the ancestors. The Kowtowing ritual in front of the grave is performed in the order of patriarchal seniority within the family. After the ancestor worship at the grave site, the whole family or the whole clan feast on the food and drink they brought for the worship either at the site or in nearby gardens in the memorial park, signifying family reunion with the ancestors. Another ritual related to the festival is the cockfight, as well as being available within that historic and cultural context at Kaifeng Millennium City Park (Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden).

Hanshi, the day before Qingming, was created by Chong'er, the Duke Wen of the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period. The festival was established after Chong'er accidentally burned to death his friend and servant Jie Zhitui (介之推) (or Jie Zitui) and Jie Zitui's mother. Chong'er ordered the hills in which they were hiding set on fire in the hope that Jie Zitui would return to his service, but the fire killed Jie and his mother. Because of this, people were not allowed to use fires to heat up food and the date became named Hanshi. Eventually, 300 years ago, the Hanshi "celebration" was combined with the Qingming festival and later abandoned by most people.

Climate Feature

Qingming is one of the 24 Solar Terms in traditional Chinese culture, which refers to the warming of wether and booming of plants. During the Qingming time, the climate in the South of China is getting warm and Spring is coming. However there is also some cold wether before and after the Qingming time. The average daily temperature may be below 12℃ which will result to the death of early season rice. In the northwest highlands of China, livestock will suffer the lack of food due to the consumption of the whole winter. It’s essential to protect old and young livestock from the harm of early Spring due to lack of food. “It’s always raining during the Qing Ming time” is written by a famous poet Du Mu of Tang Dynasty. However the situation is not the same as described in the poem. The southern of China and the western part of China often suffer from dry weather for long time. The total raining volume in early April is only about 10 to 20 mm, which is far from half of the raining volume in that of regions south of the Yangtze River. Though the southeast part of China has rather more raining volume. The early April raining volume is about 20 to 40 mm. Except from the northeast and northwest part of China,the temperature in most places of China has raised to more than 12℃. Most places of China show a busy Spring scene. The wheat is about booting, and rape has been full bloom. Agriculture plants such as corn, broomcorn and cotton is about planted. During this season, the fertilization and water management should be implemented well to assure the nutrition of plant. The tea tree is also sprouting at this time, measures should be taken to protect from diseases and pets.

Highway free of charge in China during the Qingming Festival

Since the implementation of small passenger car toll exempt during major holidays in April 1st 2013, Qing Ming Festival will be the third holidays after the National Holidays and Spring Festival during which high way charge is free in China. From 0 o’clock in April 4th to 24 0’clock in April 6th, high way will be free for small passenger car toy.

Low carbon Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival is the traditional Chinese Festival of sacrifice. In modern times, more and more people perceive Qingming Festival as tomb swamping, which includes the activities of firing oblation, fireworks. However in recent days, the environment of China is getting worse and worse. Foggy days appear frequently in China. The biggest danger is PM 2.5 which has tremendous harm to the health of human body. It’s proved that the average PM2.5 density during the Qingming Festival is 5.4 times higher than that of normal days. It’s now proposed that low-carbon Qingming Festival should be advocated. First, green plants such as flowers and plants are advocated to replace that of papers and fireworks. Second, public bus should be chosen rather than private cars. Third green and healthy activities should be proposed during the Qingming Festival.

In Chinese tea culture

See also: 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' (清明前) designation which commands a much higher price tag. These teas are prized for having much lighter and subtler aromas than those picked after the festival.

In painting

Main article: Along the River During the Qingming Festival

The famous Qingming scroll by Zhang Zeduan is an ancient Chinese painting which portrays the scene of Kaifeng city, the capital of the Song Dynasty during a Qingming festival.

Panorama of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, 12th century original by Zhang Zeduan (1085-1145)

Panorama of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, an 18th century remake of the 12th century original

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	A drizzling rain falls on the Mourning Day;
路上行人欲斷魂	路上行人欲断魂	lù shàng xíng rén yù duàn hún	The mourner's heart is breaking on his way.
借問酒家何處有	借问酒家何处有	jiè wèn jiǔ jiā hé chù yǒu	Enquiring, where can a winehouse be found?
牧童遙指杏花村	牧童遥指杏花村	mù tóng yáo zhǐ xìng huā cūn	A cowherd points to Apricot Flower (Xing Hua) Village in the distance.

(The word 酒家 can have multiple meanings: winehouse, inn, tavern, restaurant, hostel, hotel or motel. The most common and most appropriate translation for '酒家' should be 'inn' or 'tavern.')

In the Vietnamese epic poem The Tale of Kieu, Qingming is mentioned as the occasion when the protagonist Kieu meets a ghost of a dead old lady. The lines describing the sceneries during this festival remain some of the most well-known lines in Vietnamese literature:

Hán Nôm	Vietnamese	English translation
節皮𡥵燕迻梭，	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

• Traditional Chinese holidays
• Cold Food Festival, three consecutive days starting the day before the Qingming Festival
• Double Ninth Festival, the other day to visit and clean up the cemeteries in Hong Kong
• Ghost Festival
• Day of the Dead
• Hansik, a related Korean holiday on the same day
• Along the River During Ching Ming Festival by Zhang Zeduan
• Songkran, South and Southeast Asia equivalents

External links

• Clear Brightness Festival - Qing Ming

{Taiwan Holidays}

Category:Public holidays in China Category:Public holidays in Taiwan Category:Chinese folk religion Category:Festivals in China Category:Public holidays in Hong Kong Category:Death customs Category:Buddhist festivals Category:April events