Qingming, literally clear and bright, is the most important springtime festival. It is also called the Tomb Sweeping Festival, as people visit the gravesites of their ancestors, pay respect to the dead at their tombs and hold memorial ceremonies in honor of their ancestors. This is one of the many ways to demonstrate filial piety. As part of honoring the dead, people also spend some time cleaning the gravesite area. They uproot weeds near the gravesite, plant some new trees, wipe the tombstones and decorate the tombstone with fresh flowers.

But it is not just a day for mourning the dead. The festival is celebrated two weeks after the Vernal Equinox, and the dates usually turn out to be the 4th, 5th, or 6th of April. With the coming of spring, nature wakes up, dressing the world in green. Therefore, the day is also a happy occasion for outdoor activities, such as picnicking, tug-of-war, kite flying, swinging and dancing. This might be an important reason why this festival has been very popular for thousands of years.

Ⅰ. Main Activities

1. Tomb Sweeping or Ancestor Worshipping

The major custom in the Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping. According to folk religion, the spirits of deceased ancestors still live under the ground and look after the family; the tombs are said to be their houses, thus it is very important to keep the tombs clean.

The Qingming Festival is spent honoring the dead, which is one of many ways Confucians demonstrate filial piety. On this day, people visit their family graves to remove any underbrush that has grown. They uproot weeds near the gravesites, wipe the tombstones and decorate the tombstones with fresh flowers. Then they will set out offerings of food and paper money.

2. Burning Paper Treasures

Part of honoring the dead is to make sure that they are well provided for -- even after death. Not only is food offered to the dead, but also material goods, as some believe they are also needed in the land of the dead. Nowadays, paper gifts to the dead include paper money, houses, lawn furniture, TVs, VCRs, stereo systems, refrigerators, and even cars.

3. Cold Foods

Because the legendary Jie Zitui was killed by a fire, it became a tradition to abstain from lighting fires on the day of Qingming. People could only eat cold food that had been prepared the day before. Today, the tradition of eating cold food now translates into a picnic for the family.

4. Hanging Willow Branches

Because the legendary Jie Zitui died embracing a willow tree, the willow is believed to have miraculous powers against evil. During the Qingming Festival, willow branches are hung on door fronts and used to sweep the tombs.

5. Kite-Flying

Today in China, Qingming is also known as an occasion for kite flying, an old Chinese pastime. Records about the activity were mentioned as far back as 2,500 years ago. Kites can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors, designed in the shape of swallows, geese, frogs, butterflies, peacocks, frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, crabs, bats and storks. People even fashion the kites with whistles.

6. Swinging

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), swinging was a designated recreation on the Qingming Festival, and this day was also called the Swing Festival, when swings were suspended in the Hall of Earthly Peace of the Forbidden City and in all the residential complexes where palace ladies resided. Ladies of the imperial household wore colorful silks especially made for the occasion, and amused themselves on swings.

Ⅱ. Legend

In the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), Duke Xiao was the monarch of the State of Jin. The King very much doted on his concubine Li who wanted to make her own son the crown prince. So she killed the crown prince Shen Sheng, the eldest son of the King. Soon afterwards she began to persecute Chong'er, the son of the crown prince. As soon as Chong'er got wind of this, he fled abroad together with his henchmen.

During his exile Chong'er and his henchmen went through all kinds of hardships and difficulties. One day they came to a remote and uninhabited place where Chong'er, worn out and hungry, suddenly, collapsed down the ground and was not able to go a step further. Actually, he was starving and dying.

His henchmen searched for a long time but could find nothing to eat. So everyone was deeply worried. Seeing this, Jie Zitui, an official following him, retreated to a secluded place and cut a piece of flesh off his thigh. He cooked a bowl of soup with his

flesh and held it to Chong'er in his hands.

Chong'er devoured the soup ravenously and gradually recovered his vitality. When he asked where they got the flesh, the officials looked at Jie Zitui whose gown was stained with blood and told Chong'er everything with tears in their eyes.

Chong'er was so moved that, with all sorts of feelings welling up in his heart, he embraced Jie Zitui and said, through his tears, "What shall I do to repay you?"

"You have tasted to the full the bitterness of the people through your exile. I hope you will be a king, clear and bright in the future," replied Jie.

Nineteen years later Chong'er finally became the King of the Jin State and was named Jin Wengong. After his ascending the throne, Jin Wengong conferred titles and awards to the meritorious officials who had followed him in exile, but only to forget Jie Zitui who had sacrificed the flesh of his leg.

Quite a few people felt indignant at the injustice done to Jie Zitui. They advised him to see the king and ask for awards. Jie Zitui, however, disdained very much those who contended for merits and asked for rewards. He tidied up his things and went quietly with his mother to the Mianshan Mountain to live in seclusion.

When Jin Wengong heard of this he was filled with shame and regret. He made a personal call with his men at Jie's house, only to find the door was locked. Some neighbors said that Jie was not willing to be an official and had gone to Mianshan Mountain, carrying his mother on his back.

Mianshan Mountain was very high with a dangerous and difficult mountain pass and a dense forest. It was by no means easy to look for Jie and his mother. Someone suggested starting a fire to force Jie out. Jin Wengong readily agreed. So a roaring fire was set and it immediately spread from the three sides of the mountain.

The fire burned all over Mianshan Mountain, yet not a shadow of Jie was found. When the fire died out, however, people found Jie, sitting dead under an old willow tree with his mother on his back. Seeing this, the pain Jin Wengong felt was almost unbearable and he cried his eyes out.

When putting Jie's body into the coffin, people found in a hole of the tree trunk a letter written by Jie in his own blood which read, "I cut off my own flesh to dedicate to you only to express my devotion. And I only wish my king will always be clear and bright. If you will bear me in mind, make examine yourself whenever you think of me."

The letter written in blood accompanied Jin Wengong the rest of his life. In order to keep the memory of Jie Zitui, he issued an order to turn the name of the Mianshan Mountain into Jieshan and make the day Haishi Day (or Cold Food Day). On Cold Food Day every year, no fire or smoke was allowed and people had to eat cold food for the whole day.

On Cold Food Day the next year when Jin Wengong led his officials in a memorial ceremony for Jie up the mountain, to his surprise, he found the dead old willow tree had revived and was now healthy and green. He braided a wicker ring and put it on his head to express his sincerity. One by one his officials followed his example.

As soon as he returned to the court he made known all over the country that the day after Cold Food Day was fixed as the Qingming Festival in Chinese. The festival and customs were thus handed down from generation to generation. In addition, people began to visit Jie Zitui's tomb and pay their respects to him.

It was not until the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) about 300 years ago that the practice of Hanshi (or eating cold food) was replaced by that of Qingming, which had now become an important occasion for people to offer sacrifices to their ancestors.