Who knows the origin of Qingming Festival? Let me tell you briefly.

Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival is one of the twenty-four solar terms in the lunar calendar. It occurs at the turn of mid-spring and late spring, which is 108 days after the winter solstice. The traditional Qingming Festival of the Chinese Han people began around the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. "Almanac": "On the fifteenth day after the Spring Equinox, when the fighting fingers are ding, it is the Qingming Festival. At that time, everything is clean and clear. At this time, the air is clear and the scenery is bright, and everything is visible, hence the name." Once the Qingming Festival comes, the temperature rises, It is a good time for spring plowing and spring planting, so there is a saying that "before and after the Qingming Festival, plant melons and beans." Qingming Festival is a festival for worshiping ancestors, and the traditional activity is tomb sweeping. On May 20, 2006, this folk festival was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.

Origin of the festival

Tomb-sweeping Festival is a traditional Chinese folk festival and one of the eight important festivals (Shanghai Yuan, Qingming, Beginning of Summer, Dragon Boat Festival, Zhongyuan, Mid-Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice, New Year's Eve) One, usually around April 5 in the Gregorian calendar, the festival is very long. There are two versions: 10 days before and 8 days after, and 10 days before and 10 days after. The past 20 days are all Qingming Festival.

The origin of Qingming Festival is said to have begun with the "Basic Sacrifice" of ancient emperors, generals and prime ministers. Later, the people also followed suit and worshiped their ancestors and swept their graves on this day, which has been followed by generations and has become a fixed custom of the Chinese nation.

To talk about Qingming Festival, we need to start with a now-lost festival - the Cold Food Festival.

The Cold Food Festival, also known as the Hot Food Festival, the No-Smoking Festival, and the Cold Festival, is 105 days away from the Winter Solstice, which is only one or two days away from the Qingming Festival. The main custom of this festival is the prohibition of smoking. Fire, no fire is allowed for cooking, only prepared hot food and cold food can be eaten, hence the name.

The origin of Qingming Festival is said to have begun with the ceremony of "grave sacrifices" for emperors, generals and prime ministers in ancient times. Later, the people also followed suit, worshiping ancestors and sweeping their tombs on this day, which has been followed by generations and has become a fixed custom of the Chinese nation. .

The name "Qingming Festival" also comes from the Qingming solar term among the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. The 108th day after the winter solstice is the Qingming Festival. The Qingming solar term lasts for 15 days. As a solar term, Qingming takes place after the Spring Equinox. At this time, winter has gone, spring is full, the weather is clear, the fields are clear, and nature is full of vitality. "Qingming" is the most appropriate word to call this period.

The earth's revolution is 360 degrees of celestial longitude. When the earth reaches zero degrees of celestial longitude, it is designated as the vernal equinox. Then there is a solar term every 15 degrees, and there are twenty-four solar terms in total. Therefore, the dates of solar terms on the solar calendar are fixed, and will differ by two days due to leap years. The lunar calendar is a lunisolar calendar that reflects phenological changes and guides agricultural times. It is also combined with the lunar calendar, which uses a lunar phase of 29.5 days as a cycle (the time interval from one full moon to the next). Because calculating the specific times of solar terms in the lunar calendar requires accurate astronomical and mathematical knowledge, the time of each solar term recorded in the previous almanacs must be promulgated by the state (for example, the beginning of spring is accurate to the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second), and, The rules of calculation are different in different eras. When the Qing Dynasty drafted the history, the Xianzhi used a long length and many graphical formulas to explain the calculation method at that time. Generally speaking, the setting rules of solar terms in the lunar calendar usually only determine that the first of the month is the solar term and the middle of the month is the middle solar term. The interval between the two solar terms is 15 days, which is the only basis for people to calculate. Solar terms songs are also necessary knowledge for ordinary people to master the solar terms. . A slightly more complicated calculation is that 105 days after the winter solstice (the time when the sun is at its lowest in the year) last year is customarily called Cold Food, and 106 days after Tomb Sweeping Day. Now it is much simpler to calculate according to the solar calendar, and it can be fixed on April 5. or the 4th (depending on the average day of February or the 29th of the current year). From an astronomical point of view, on April 5 or 6, the apparent sun (the apparent sun is the position of the sun on the ecliptic) reaches 15 degrees of ecliptic longitude.

In the ancient people's concept, 108 is a large number that represents perfection, auspiciousness, eternity and profoundness. Putting Qingming on the 108th day after the winter solstice has a deep meaning. The name Qingming is not only due to the clean and clear growth of all things at this time, but also because the sun during this period is also a fresh sun, and the Yang Qi flowing between heaven and earth during this period is also fresh Yang Qi.

Historical development

It is said that after Dayu controlled the floods, people used the words "Qingming" to celebrate that the floods had been eliminated and the world was at peace. At this time, spring is warm, flowers are blooming, everything is revived, and the sky is clear and the earth is bright. It is a good time for spring outings. Outing began as early as the Tang Dynasty and has become a habit inherited by generations. In addition to appreciating the natural scenery of lakes, mountains and spring scenery, outings also carry out various cultural and recreational activities to add interest to life.

Grave-sweeping is popular during Qingming Festival. In fact, grave-sweeping is part of the Cold Food Festival on the day before Qingming Festival. According to legend, Cold Food originated from Duke Wen of Jin mourning Jie Zitui. In the 20th year of Kaiyuan, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty issued an edict to the world: "Cold food should be sent to the tomb." Because cold food coincides with Qingming Festival, it gradually became known as tomb-sweeping during Qingming Festival. During the Qingming Dynasty, tomb sweeping became more popular. In ancient times, children often flew kites when visiting tombs. Some kites are equipped with bamboo flutes, which can make sounds when blown by the wind, just like the sound of a kite. It is said that this is how the name of the kite comes.

The Qingming Festival was very common during the Northern Song Dynasty. Zhang Zeduan's "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" that has been handed down now depicts the scenes of people on both sides of the Bianhe River in Bianliang (Kaifeng), Tokyo during the Qingming Festival during the Huizong reign of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Since 2008, China has recognized Tomb-Sweeping Day as a legal holiday, with a one-day holiday. By 2009, it was changed to three days.

It continues to this day.

Festival Customs

The customs of Qingming Festival are rich and interesting. In addition to the fire ban and tomb-sweeping, there are also outings, swings, and tomb-sweeping during Qingming Festival

A series of customary sports activities such as Cuju, playing polo, and willow planting. According to legend, this is because cold food and fire are forbidden during the Cold Food Festival. In order to prevent cold food and cold meals from harming the body, everyone comes to participate in some sports activities to exercise. During Qingming Festival, people are prohibited from using needles or washing clothes, and women in most areas are prohibited from walking. Before evening, a gray line should be sprinkled in front of the door. It is said that it can prevent ghosts from entering the house. Therefore, in this festival, there are not only the sad and sad tears of paying respects to new graves, but also the laughter of outings. It is a unique festival.

Swinging

This is an ancient Chinese Qingming Festival custom. Swing means moving by holding on to the leather rope. It has a very ancient history. It was first called Qianqiu, but later was changed to Swing to avoid taboos. In ancient times, swings were mostly made of tree branches and tied with colorful ribbons. Later, it gradually developed into a swing with two ropes and pedals. Swinging can not only improve health, but also cultivate bravery. It is still loved by people, especially children.

Cuju

Ju is a ball made of leather and stuffed with hair. Cuju means kicking a ball with your feet. This is a game that people loved during the Qingming Festival in ancient times. According to legend, it was invented by the Yellow Emperor, and its original purpose was to train warriors. Playing polo is also part of the Dragon Boat Festival. Along the River During the Qingming Festival

One. Polo is played by riding on a horse and holding a stick. It was called Juju in ancient times. There is a sentence in "Famous Capitals" written by Cao Zhi of the Three Kingdoms: "Strike the soil continuously". In Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty, there was a spacious stadium, and emperors such as Xuanzong and Jingzong were all fond of polo. The "Polo Picture" in the tomb of Prince Zhanghuai depicts the prosperity of polo in the Tang Dynasty: in the picture, more than 20 horses are galloping, their tails are tied up, and the player wears a scarf on his head, boots on his feet, and holds a ball. The sticks hit each other ball by ball. "Analysis of Jinzhi" records that the Liao Dynasty regarded polo as a traditional festival custom, and played polo on the Dragon Boat Festival and Double Ninth Festival. "History of the Jin Dynasty·Li Zhi" also records that the Jin people hit the ball on the Dragon Boat Festival. In the Song Dynasty, there was a "playing ball" dance team. By the Ming Dynasty, polo was still popular. "Xu Wen Tong Kao Le Kao" records that Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty went to Dongyuan to hit balls and shoot willows several times. The long scroll "Xuanzong's Playing Music" in the Ming Dynasty shows the scene of Xuanzong enjoying polo. Wang Zhi, an official at that time, wrote a poem about watching basketball on the Dragon Boat Festival: "A thousand-gold horse with jade and a seven-treasure ball with carved inscriptions. Flying in the sky is startled by lightning, and Fu Fen is aware of the stars. The fire page has achieved three victories, and Huanzhuan is the first." Qingyun followed Yi's footsteps and circled the east end of the hall. "There is also a mass horseback riding ceremony in front of Baiyun Temple in Beijing. Polo was also played around the Temple of Heaven in the Qing Dynasty. It was not until the middle of the Qing Dynasty that polo disappeared. In recent years, antique polo has appeared in Xi'an, making this ancient sport reappear in China after being extinct for many years.

Outing

Also called spring outing. In ancient times, it was called Tanchun, Xunchun, etc. On the Qingming Festival in April, spring returns to the earth, and the natural world presents a vibrant scene everywhere. It is a great time for outings. Chinese people have long maintained the habit of going outing during the Qingming Festival.

Planting trees

Before and after the Qingming Festival, when the spring sun shines and the spring rain falls, the survival rate of planted saplings is high and they grow quickly. Therefore, China has had the habit of planting trees during Qingming Festival since ancient times. Some people also call Qingming Festival "Arbor Day". The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. In 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress stipulated that March 12th every year would be China's Arbor Day. This is of great significance in mobilizing people of all ethnic groups across the country to actively carry out activities to green the motherland.

Kite flying

Kite flying is also a favorite activity during the Qingming Festival. During the Qingming Festival, people not only play during the day but also at night. At night, a string of small colorful lanterns are hung under the kite or on the wind-stabilizing wire, like twinkling stars, and are called "magic lanterns." In the past, some people would cut the strings after flying kites into the blue sky and let the breeze carry them to the ends of the earth. It is said that this can eliminate diseases and disasters and bring good luck to themselves.

Grave-sweeping

Sweeping tombs during the Qingming Festival is called "respecting the times" for ancestors. Its custom has a long history. "On the Scenery of the Imperial Capital" of the Ming Dynasty records: "On Qingming Day in the third month, men and women sweep tombs, carry bamboo poles, hang ingots on the backs of sedans and horses, and the streets are full of charm. People worship, pray, cry, and weed and add soil to the tomb. , burn ingots, and place paper money on the grave. If there is no paper money in sight, the grave will be lonely. After crying, you will go to the fragrant tree, sit in the garden, and get drunk. "In fact, tomb-sweeping existed before the Qin Dynasty. , but not necessarily during the Qingming Festival. Tomb-sweeping during the Qingming Festival was a matter after the Qin Dynasty. It did not become popular until the Tang Dynasty. "Qing Tong Li" says: "On the New Year's Day, during Cold Food and Frost's Descent Festivals, people worship the tomb sweepers. During the period, they go to the tomb in plain clothes, equipped with wine and food and a tool for cutting grass and trees. They seal the trees and cut off the wattle grass, so it is called tomb sweeping." And it has been passed down to this day. The Qingming Festival sweeping ceremony should be held in person at the tomb site, but because each family's economic and other conditions are different, the method of sweeping the memorial ceremony is also different. "Burning baggage" is the main form of paying homage to ancestors. The so-called "baggage", also known as "package", refers to the parcel sent by filial piety from the Yang world to the "underworld". In the past, Nanzhi Store sold so-called "furoshiki", which was a large bag made of white paper. There are two forms: one is to use a woodblock board to print the Sanskrit transliteration of the "Rebirth Mantra" around it, and print a rosette tablet in the middle to write the area code and the name of the deceased, such as: "The late Zhang Fujun said: The words "Sir Shan Lao" are both a postal package and a tablet. The other type is plain furoshiki, which does not have any pattern printed on it. It only has a blue label stuck in the middle and the name of the deceased can be written on it. Also used as main card. There are many types of money in the baggage.

Inserting willows

It is said that the custom of inserting willows is also to commemorate the founder of farming, Shennong, who "taught the people how to farm". In some places, people put willow branches under the eaves to predict the weather. There is an old proverb that "when the willow branches are green, it is rainy; when the willow branches are dry, it is sunny." During the Huang Chao uprising, it was stipulated that "the Qingming Festival will last for a period of time, and Dai Liu will be the number." After the failure of the uprising, the custom of wearing willows was gradually eliminated, and only inserting willows remained popular. Willows have strong vitality. As the saying goes: "If you plant flowers intentionally, they will not bloom, but if you plant willows unintentionally, they will create shade." Willows will live when they are inserted into the soil. Wherever they are inserted, they will live wherever they are inserted. Willows will be inserted year after year, and they will become shade everywhere. There is another saying about planting willows during the Qingming Festival: It turns out that the Chinese regard Qingming, half July and the first day of October as the three major ghost festivals, when hundreds of ghosts appear and beg for help. In order to prevent the intrusion and persecution of ghosts, people plant willows and wear willows. Willow has the function of warding off evil spirits in people's minds. Influenced by Buddhism, people believe that willow can ward off ghosts, and are called "ghost-terrible trees." Avalokitesvara dips willow branches in water to save all living beings. Jia Sixie of the Northern Wei Dynasty said in "Qi Min Yao Shu": "Putting willow branches on the door will prevent all ghosts from entering the house." Qingming is the Ghost Festival, and when willows germinate, people naturally plant willows to ward off evil spirits.

She willow

She willow is a game for practicing archery skills. According to records from the Ming Dynasty, pigeons were placed in gourds, and then the gourds were hung high on a willow tree. The gourds were shot with a bow, and the pigeons flew out. The victory was determined by the height at which the flying pigeons flew.

Cockfighting

Cockfighting was a popular game during Qingming Festival in ancient times. Cockfighting started from Qingming Festival and lasted until Summer Solstice. The earliest record of cockfighting in China can be found in "Zuo Zhuan". By the Tang Dynasty, cockfighting became popular, not only among private citizens, but even the emperor participated in cockfighting. For example, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty loved cockfighting the most.

Silkworm Flower Fair

Silkworm Flower Fair "Silkworm Flower Fair" is a unique folk culture in Silkworm Township. During the Qingming Festival in the past, people in Wutong, Wuzhen, Chongfu, Zhouquan, etc. This folk activity can be found everywhere. Among them, the Silkworm Flower Fair at Maming Temple in Zhouquan and Shuangmiao in Qingshi are the most exciting and grand. Maming Temple is located in the west of Zhouquan Town. It is known as the "King of Temples" in the local area. Every year, the Silkworm Flower Festival is crowded with people and has frequent activities, including welcoming the silkworm god, rocking the speed boat, Nao Tai Pavilion, worshiping incense stools, boxing, and dragon lanterns. There are more than ten activities such as climbing poles, singing operas and so on. Some of these activities are carried out on the shore, and most of them are carried out on the boat, which is very characteristic of a water town.

Climate Characteristics

Qingming is a solar term that represents phenology, which means sunny weather and luxuriant vegetation. As the saying goes: "The Qingming Festival cuts off the snow, and the Grain Rain cuts off the frost." When the Qingming Festival comes, the climate in South China is warm and spring is in full swing. However, around the Qingming Festival, cold air still invades from time to time, even causing the daily average temperature to fall below 12°C for more than three consecutive days, causing rotten middle rice seedlings and dead early rice seedlings. Therefore, rice sowing and planting should avoid the warm tail and cold head. In the northwest plateau, livestock have been affected by the harsh winter and insufficient forage, and their resistance is weak. It is necessary to strictly guard against the harm to old, weak and young livestock caused by the strong cooling weather after the beginning of spring. "It rains heavily during the Qingming Festival" is a description of the spring rain in the south of the Yangtze River by Du Mu, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty. But for some areas, this is not the case. In particular, western South China is often in a spring drought period. The rainfall in early April is generally only 10 to 20 mm, less than half of that in Jiangnan. Although eastern South China has more spring rain, the rainfall in early April is generally only 20 to 40 mm. Natural precipitation It is not enough to meet the needs of agricultural production and must be replenished by water storage in previous years. In addition, May-June is the month with the most hailstorms of the year, so prevention against hail disasters should be strengthened. During the Qingming Festival, except for the northeastern and northwest regions, the daily average temperature in most parts of China has risen to above 12°C. There is a busy scene of spring plowing everywhere from north to south of the Yangtze River to inside and outside the Great Wall. "During the Qingming Festival, wheat grows for three seasons." Wheat in the south of the Huanghuai region is about to boot, rapeseed has bloomed, and wheat in the northeast and northwest has also entered the jointing stage. We should pay close attention to the later fertilizer and water management and disease and insect pest control work. Dry farming in the north and early and mid-season rice in the south of the Yangtze River have entered the suitable season for sowing in large quantities. We must seize the opportunity to sow early and early when the weather is clear. "The wind blows in the pear blossoms during the Qingming Festival". At this time, various fruit trees enter the flowering period. Attention should be paid to artificial assisted pollination to increase the fruit setting rate. The planting of early rice in South China is almost finished, and fertilizing the fields should be carried out in a timely manner. Corn, sorghum, and cotton will also be sown in various places. "Mingqian tea, two buds", the new buds of the tea tree are growing vigorously, so we must pay attention to the prevention and control of diseases and pests; famous tea production areas have been gradually exploited, and they should be strictly and scientifically harvested to ensure yield and quality.

Customs from various regions

There are 25 ethnic groups in China celebrating Tomb-Sweeping Day. Although customs vary from region to region, the basic themes are tomb-sweeping, ancestor worship, and outings. Influenced by Han culture, 24 ethnic minorities in China, including the Manchu, Hezhe, Zhuang, Oroqen, Dong, Tujia, Miao, Yao, Li, Shui, Jing and Qiang, also have the custom of celebrating Tomb-Sweeping Day.

In terms of food during the Qingming Festival, there are different festival foods in different places. Because the Cold Food Festival and Qingming Festival are combined into one, some places still retain the habit of eating cold food during the Qingming Festival. In Shandong, people eat eggs and cold steamed buns, and in Laiyang, Zhaoyuan, and Changdao, they eat eggs and cold sorghum rice. It is said that if you don't do this, you will suffer from hail. Tai'an eats cold pancakes rolled with raw bitter herbs and is said to have bright eyes after eating them. Jinzhong area still retains the custom of banning fire on the day before Qingming Festival.

Greater China

Hebei In Hebei, the tradition of burning paper money at graves is "early in the Qingming Festival and late at the eleventh day (the Lunar Ghost Festival)". Tomb-sweeping and paper-burning began a week before the Qingming Festival, and few people went to the tomb-sweeping day on the Qingming Festival.

In southern Hebei, people choose to sweep graves on the Cold Food Festival, the day before Qingming Festival. Alluring men and women go out for an outing in the suburbs, looking at flowers, picking vegetables, and hairpins. There is a proverb: "If you don't wear a willow during the Qingming Festival, a beauty will turn into a bright head." Shanghai The main Qingming Festival activities in Shanghai are tomb sweeping and outing. Every year, there are nearly 10 million people visiting the Qingming Festival before and after the Qingming Festival. Since reform and opening up promoted the rise of cemeteries, the relevant sites were mainly located in Suzhou, Jiaxing and other places in other provinces. Therefore, more than one million people visit the above areas, which often causes traffic congestion outside the province in the days before and after Tomb Sweeping Day.

Combine the brome grass juice and glutinous rice together to make the green juice and rice flour blend with each other, then wrap it with fillings such as bean paste and date paste, put it on the bottom with reed leaves, and put it in a steamer. The steamed green dumplings are bright green in color and fragrant. They are the most distinctive seasonal food during the local Qingming Festival. Some people in Shanghai also like to eat peach blossom porridge during Qingming Festival, and use saury at tomb sweeping and family banquets. For Shanghainese, Qingtuan is an indispensable offering when worshiping ancestors during the Qingming Festival.

Wenzhou

In this area of ​​Wenzhou, it is the custom to eat Miancai pancakes. Miancai pancakes, as the name suggests, are made from Miancai. Some people also call them Qingming pancakes. Miancai pancakes are made according to Wenzhou dialect. Translated, it turns out that its scientific name is Squirrel Grass, and it only appears during the Qingming Festival. Making squid cakes is very particular. You must first pick squid from the field (sweeping lettuce is not grown, it will grow on its own every time during the Qingming Festival), then wash it, dry it, and put it in the oven. Put it into a mortar, (the mortar is a tool made of stone, they used to pound rice cakes in the past) and mash it, then add rice flour (usually eight pounds of white rice flour, two pounds of glutinous rice flour) and then add an appropriate amount of water, just blend all the miancai evenly into the rice noodles. After pouring, prepare the filling. The filling is also an important process. The most common ones here are fresh bamboo shoots, tofu, pork, Pickles (or shredded radish), cut them out and wrap them when the stuffing is cold. After wrapping the pickles, be sure to put a grapefruit leaf underneath. First, to avoid sticking to the pan. Second, and most importantly, Because after adding grapefruit, there will be an extra fragrance of grapefruit in this squid pancake, which makes it taste much better. Wrap it up and put it in a steamer to steam for 25 minutes.

In many places, after completing the sacrificial ceremony, the sacrificial food is shared. When people in southern Shanxi celebrate the Qingming Festival, they are accustomed to steaming big steamed buns with white flour, sandwiching walnuts, dates, and beans in the middle. The outside is coiled into a dragon shape, and an egg is stuck in the middle of the dragon body, which is called "Zifu". Steam a big "Zifu" to symbolize the family's reunion and happiness. When visiting the grave, the total "zifu" is dedicated to the ancestral spirit, and the whole family eats it after sweeping the grave. According to an old custom in Shanghai, the steamed cake balls used in sacrifices are pierced with wickers, dried and stored. On the day of the Beginning of Summer, they are fried and given to children. It is said that after eating them, they will not suffer from summer diseases.

Huzhou

In Huzhou, Zhejiang, every family wraps rice dumplings during the Qingming Festival, which can be used as offerings at graves or as dry food for outings. As the saying goes: "The Qingming rice dumplings are firm and firm." Before and after the Qingming Festival, the snails are fat and strong. As the saying goes: "To eat snails during the Qingming Festival, race a goose." Farmers have the habit of eating snails during the Qingming Festival. On this day, they use a needle to pick out the snail meat and cook it, which is called "picking greens." After eating, throw the snail shells on the roof. It is said that the rolling sound on the roof tiles can scare away mice, which is beneficial to silkworm rearing after the Qingming Festival. On Qingming Festival, there will also be a social reception. Families from the same ancestral hall gather together for dinner. For families without ancestral halls, the grandsons from each house of the same great ancestor usually gather together for dinner. The main dishes of Shejiu are fish, tofu and vegetables, and the main wine is home-made sweet liquor. There is a saying in Heshan Town, Tongxiang, Zhejiang that "Qingming Festival is as big as the New Year". On Qingming Eve, the whole family is reunited for dinner. The following traditional dishes are indispensable on the dinner table: fried snails, glutinous rice with lotus root, sprouted beans, malan head, etc. These dishes are all related to sericulture. Throw the leftover snail shells into the house. It is said that the sound can scare away mice, and the caterpillars will burrow into the shells to make nests and no longer come out to harass the silkworms. Eating lotus root is a wish for silkworms to spin long and good silk. Eating sprouted beans is a win-win for "getting rich". To eat Malantou's first-class fresh vegetables, the word "green" is chosen to match the "green" of "Qingming".

Fujian

Fujian and southern Fujian do not necessarily only sweep tombs during the Qingming Festival. There are generally two dates for tomb-sweeping. The custom in Quanzhou is a few days before and after Qingming Festival. In Zhangzhou, some people choose to sweep tombs near the Shangsi Festival on the third day of March. For Hakkas, it is usually after the Spring Festival. The method is that after cleaning up the tomb environment (such as weeds and trees), worship the land god first, and then worship the ancestors. After the worship, a small stone is used to press "tomb paper" on the tomb, which means that the tomb has been repaired. On the Qingming Festival, people generally do not cook food and only eat cold cakes. This is a custom originating from the Cold Food Festival.

Sichuan

Dujiangyan Water Release Festival Sacrifice Ceremony in Sichuan, honoring Li Bing and his son at the Qingming Festival (Erwang Temple Temple Fair) (Dujiangyan, Chengdu).

Shanxi

When visiting graves during the Qingming Festival, most places in southern Shanxi do not burn incense or melt paper, but hang money and other objects on the graves. There is a saying that "the graves are all white during the Qingming Festival." The reason is that it is customary to prohibit fire during the Cold Food Festival, and Qingming Festival falls during the Cold Food Festival. In most places in northern Shanxi, all money and other items must be burned. The reason is that if they are not burned, they will not be transferred to the ancestors. Datong also had the habit of visiting graves during the day and burning money and silk at home at night. In places such as Hequ in northwest Shanxi, it is an old custom to bring wine and food to the graves. After worshiping the ancestors, they will eat and drink in the graveyard, which means drinking and eating together with the ancestors. In places such as Wenxi in southern Shanxi, people use date cakes to roll around on the grave when visiting the grave. Legend has it that it is to scratch the itch of the dead old man.

In places such as Jiexiu in central Jin Dynasty, when visiting graves, offerings are flour cakes shaped like coiled snakes. After returning home, put the flour cake in the yard and let it dry in the sun before eating. The old people attach great importance to curing diseases, which stems from the prohibition of cold food and fire.

After visiting the tomb in southern Shanxi, people should pull up some wheat seedlings when they return home and insert pine branches, cypress leaves or willow sticks on the door to ward off evil spirits. In northern Shanxi, wicker is often planted. In other places, some willow sticks are also inserted on the graves.

People in southern Shanxi make steamed steamed buns with walnuts, red dates, beans and the like inside, which is called Zifu. It means that your descendants will be blessed, all thanks to the blessings of your ancestors. Every family also makes black bean jelly, cuts it into thin pieces and pours it into soup. Shoveling withered grass and rubbing it on the kang mat is called driving away scorpions. In the southeastern part of Shanxi, people wear willow branches and dead leaves on their heads. Women should use gold-painted Caisheng (headdress) on their temples. In the northern Shanxi region, it is customary to raw black bean sprouts and eat them with corn bread and black bean sprout stuffing. In the northwestern part of Shanxi, millet flour is used to make cakes, which is commonly known as "tanhuang'er". In the Luliang area, on the day after the Qingming Festival, people have to pick up their daughters and invite their sons-in-law, which is commonly known as "fresh fire".

Shandong

In Zhaoyuan, Jimo, Linqu, Linqing and other places, when sweeping tombs during the Qingming Festival, new soil must be added to the tombs. It is said that this is to build the house for the ancestors to avoid leakage in summer. In Weihai, Qixia, Huangxian and other places, after the whole clan pays homage to their ancestors' graves, they eat the steamed buns and other dishes together, which is called "Fang Shi" or "祊社". The northern Shandong area also retains the custom of "cockfighting" from the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Children in Bin County beat each other with boiled eggs on this day. Whoever's egg breaks first loses. In Qishan, Boshan and other places, a pot of dry millet rice is cooked for cattle to have a full meal during the Qingming Festival, which is called "rice cattle". There is a proverb that goes: "A thousand scoldings and beatings only take one meal during the Qingming Festival."

Henan

On the Qingming Festival in Gong County, the son-in-law also pays homage to the ancestral graves of the Yue family. People offer sacrifices to the gods of Qingmiao, Ox King and Hongshan. In Mengjin County, green seedlings are planted in the wheat fields during the Qingming Festival.

Shaanxi

During the Qingming Festival in Xingping County, in-laws give each other paper money as gifts and pay homage to each other’s graves. Every household in Fuping County invites spring water from famous mountains to worship a god during the Qingming Festival. Preparing animal sacrifices to pray for a good harvest is called "swimming in the water". After the Qingming Festival in Tongzhou County, willow branches are broken and inserted into the door; paper money is attached to the tree trunk. It is said that this can prevent insects and ants. Steamed steamed buns are eaten during the Qingming Festival in Luochuan County, and the buns are decorated in the shape of birds and snakes around them. It is said that birds and snakes protected Jie Zitu when he climbed Mianshan Mountain, so this is used as a commemoration.

Jiangsu

Farmers in Taizhou hold a rowing competition during the Qingming Festival, which is called "boat racing". People in Zhenjiang make tea from seven willow leaves. It is said that drinking it can improve eyesight. The villagers near Mianshan in Dantu County still retain the old custom of "Wang Mian" (Mianshan) in the cold.

Anhui

Huizhou Prefecture makes wine in Taoxinquan during Qingming Festival. During the Qingming Festival in Guichi County, women make rice cocoons to offer sacrifices to silkworms and pray for a good sericulture harvest. Jingxian County calls Qingming Festival "Willow-Putting Festival". During the Spring Festival and Qingming Festival, every family will plant willows and hang paper money on the tomb tree, which is called "wild ghost".

Hunan

Changsha Mansion plants willows during the Qingming Festival, which is called "Remembering the Years". Yongzhou Prefecture collects water in the early morning of Qingming Festival. The taste and color do not change after several months, so it is especially good for making wine. A farmer's proverb in Xintian County goes: "On clear days and clear days, all things come together."

Sichuan

In places such as Chongqing and Wanxian in eastern Sichuan, there was an old custom of "Using wild graves". Around the Qingming Festival, three or two women go to the countryside for a picnic with wine and food. Men, whether they are acquaintances or not, can sit down and have fun together. In Shifang and other places, women dip shepherd's purse flowers in oil and then put them into the water to predict good or bad fortune based on the patterns on the water, which is called "oil divination". In Chengdu, fried rice dumplings are sold, which are dotted with colors and strung together with threads. They are called "Happy Rice Dumplings".

Guangxi

Hengzhou villagers take willow leaves and snails soaked in water to wash their eyes during Qingming Festival, which is said to make their eyes bright. After the tomb is swept in Xingren County, a long streamer made of white paper is hung on the head of the tomb, which is called "marking the tomb" or "hanging green". When sweeping tombs in Kaiyang County, the officiating priest prepares wine and food to offer sacrifices. After the sacrifice, relatives and friends gather nearby to have a feast, which is called a "picnic".

Jiangxi

In Xinjian County, during the Qingming Festival, spring cakes are used as an example. Tomb-sweeping in Yongfeng County lasts three days before and seven days after Qingming Festival. In addition to the routine animal sacrifices, rice flour is also used as fruit, called cocoon fruit, or glutinous rice is pressed into cakes and poured with sugar juice, called rice fruit. There is still a legacy of cold food. Only men perform the Qingming Festival in Anyi County, and women do not participate.

Folklore

Jie Zitui

There is such a legend about cold food:

It is said that during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Li, the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin, In order to let her son Xi Qi succeed to the throne, Ji set up a poisonous plot to kill the prince Shen Sheng, who was forced to commit suicide. Shen Sheng's younger brother Chong'er fled into exile in order to avoid the disaster. During his exile, Chong'er suffered a lot of humiliation. Most of the ministers who originally ran away with him went their separate ways one after another. There are only a few loyal people left who have been following him. One of them is called Jie Zitui. Once, Chong'er fainted from hunger. In order to save Chong'er, Jie Zitui cut a piece of meat from his thigh, roasted it over fire and gave it to Chong'er to eat. Nineteen years later, Chong'er returned to his country and became the king. This was Duke Wen of Jin, one of the famous Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period.

After Jin Wen Gong came to power, he greatly rewarded those ministers who shared the same hardships with him, but he forgot about Jie Zitui. Someone cried out for Jie Zitui in front of Duke Wen of Jin. Duke Wen of Jin suddenly recalled the old events and felt guilty, so he immediately sent someone to invite Jie Zitui to go to court to receive a reward and an official title. However, after sending people several times, Jie Zitu could not come. Duke Wen of Jin had no choice but to invite him in person. However, when Duke Wen of Jin came to Jie Zitui's house, he saw that the door was closed.

Jie Zitui didn't want to see him, so he hid in Mianshan (today's southeast of Jiexiu City, Shanxi) with his mother on his back. Duke Wen of Jin asked his imperial guards to search Mianshan Mountain, but they couldn't find it. So, someone came up with an idea and said that it would be better to set fire to the mountain, light fires on three sides and leave one side alone. When the fire breaks out, Jie Zitui will come out on his own. Duke Wen of Jin ordered a fire to be set on the mountain. Unexpectedly, the fire burned for three days and three nights. After the fire was extinguished, the meson was not pushed out after all. When he went up the mountain, he saw that Jie Zitui, mother and son, were already dead holding a large burnt willow tree. Duke Wen of Jin looked at Jie Zitui's body and cried for a while, then buried the body. He found that Jie Zitui's back was blocking a willow tree hole, and there seemed to be something in the hole. I took it out and saw that it was a piece of clothing with a bloody poem written on it:

I will sacrifice my flesh to you, but I hope my master will always be clear.

It is better to act as a ghost under the willow and disappear, than to accompany the king as an admonition minister.

If the Lord has me in your heart, remember me and always reflect on yourself.

I have a clear conscience in Jiuquan, and I work diligently to keep the Qingming and the Qingming.

Jin Wen Gong hid the blood book in his sleeve. Then Jie Zitui and his mother were buried under the big burnt willow tree. In order to commemorate Jie Zitui, Duke Wen of Jin ordered to change Mianshan Mountain to "Jie Mountain", build an ancestral hall on the mountain, and designated the day when the mountain was set on fire as the Cold Food Festival. He told the whole country that fireworks were forbidden and only cold food was eaten on this day every year.

When he left, he cut down a section of burnt willow and went to the palace to make a pair of wooden clogs. He looked at it every day and sighed: "What a sad step." The mutual respect between the two people is said to come from this.

The next year, Duke Wen of Jin led his ministers to hike up the mountain in plain clothes to express their condolences. When I walked to the grave, I saw that the dead old willow tree had come back to life, with thousands of green branches fluttering in the wind. Duke Wen of Jin looked at the resurrected old willow tree as if he had seen Jie Zitui. He walked up to it respectfully, pinched off a branch with great care, made a loop and put it on his head. After the memorial ceremony, Duke Wen of Jin named the resurrected old willow tree "Qingming Willow" and designated this day as Qingming Festival.

From then on, Duke Wen of Jin often kept the blood letter on his sleeve as a motto to spur him to govern. He was diligent, clear-minded, and worked hard to govern the country well.

After that, the people of the Jin State were able to live and work in peace and contentment, and they missed Jie Zitui very much, who did not live up to his merits and did not seek wealth. On the day of his death, fireworks are banned to commemorate him. He also mixed flour with jujube paste, shaped it into the shape of a swallow, strung it with willow sticks, and inserted it on the top of the door to summon his soul. This thing is called "Zhitui Yan" (Jie Zitui is also called Jie Zitui). Since then, Hanshi and Qingming have become grand festivals for people across the country. During the cold food season, people do not light a fire to cook, but only eat cold food. In the north, people only eat pre-prepared cold foods such as date cakes and wheat cakes; in the south, they mostly eat green dumplings and glutinous rice with candied lotus roots. Every Qingming Festival, people weave wicker into a circle and wear it on their heads, and stick wicker branches in front of and behind their houses to show their memory.

Wearing willows and planting willows

The custom of planting trees during the Qingming Festival originated from the custom of wearing willows and planting willows during the Qingming Festival. What is the reason that makes ordinary wicker have such extraordinary value? There are three legends. The oldest legend is that it was to commemorate Shennong, the ancestor who taught people how to farm. Later, it developed the meaning of praying for longevity. A later legend is related to Jie Zitui. It is said that when Duke Wen of Jin led his ministers to climb a mountain to pay homage to Jie Zitui, they found that the old willow tree that Jie Zitui had leaned on before his death came back to life, so he gave the old willow tree the name "Qingming Willow". A later legend is that Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty gave willow rings to ministers as a blessing to drive away epidemics. These three views have one thing in common, that is, they all believe that willow branches have spirituality and can ward off evil spirits.