Legend of Tomb-Sweeping Day (short story)

1. It is said that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhong Er, the son of the Jin Dynasty, went into exile to escape persecution. On the way to exile, in a desolate place, Zhong Er lost his strength and could no longer stand up. He followed the priest to a secluded place, cut a piece of meat from his leg and made a bowl of broth for Zhong Er. After Zhong Er drank it, his strength increased.

19 years later, Zhong Er became the monarch, rewarded his exiled hero, and forgot meson push. Some people advised mesons to put a reward on the army. He despises such people the most. He packed his bags and ran quietly up the hill with him.

When Zhong Er heard this, he wanted to push the meson down the mountain, but there were too many trees on the mountain to walk, so Zhong Er wanted to smoke him down. As a result, the meson was pushed to death, leaving a bloody book: "Hope Master Ming."

So this day is Tomb-Sweeping Day.

There is a legend about Tomb-Sweeping Day in my hometown. It is said that during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, a prince fled with him during his exile, and most courtiers parted ways. Only a few loyal people stayed and followed him. One of them is called meson push. Once, the prince fainted from hunger. In order to save the prince, Jiezitui cut a piece of meat from his leg and cooked it with fire for him to eat. Nineteen years later, the prince returned to China and became a monarch. Later, someone said that Jin Wengong.

After Jin Wengong came to power, in addition to meson push, he offered many rewards to courtiers who shared his joys and sorrows. Someone defended meson in front of Jin Wengong. Jin Wengong remembered the past and felt guilty. Jin Wengong went to invite him himself. However, when Jin Wengong came to the meson pusher's house, he saw that the door was closed. Jiezitui didn't want to see him and hid in the mountains behind his mother's back. Jin Wengong asked his body guard to search the mountain, but he couldn't find it. So, someone had an idea, saying, it is better to let Yamakaji go, set fire on three sides, and keep one side, hoping that the meson will come out by himself after the fire. Jin Wengong ordered the promotion of Yamakaji. Unexpectedly, the fire burned for three days and nights. After the fire was put out, the meson was not pushed out after all. Looking up the mountain, the mother and son were holding a charred willow tree and were dead.

On the day of Tomb-Sweeping Day in the second year, Jin Wengong led the ministers to the Miao Jie Temple at the foot of the mountain to pay homage to Jiexiu, and saw the burning willow on the burning forest slope come back from the dead. Jin Wengong thought that willow was transformed from mesons, so he named it Qingming Willow. People in the state of Jin want to hang willow branches at home, plant willows at graves and go hiking in the mountains.

Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as the outing festival, is one of the traditional festivals in China, and it is also one of the most important sacrificial festivals. It is at the turn of mid-spring and late spring, that is, 104 days after the winter solstice. This is the day to worship ancestors and sweep graves.

The traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day of the Han nationality in China began in the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. Influenced by the Han culture, 24 ethnic minorities in China, such as Manchu, Hezhe, Zhuang, Oroqen, Dong, Tujia, Miao, Yao, Li, Shui, Jing and Qiang, also have the customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day. Although customs vary from place to place, grave-sweeping and outing are the basic themes.

Tomb-Sweeping Day originally meant grave-sweeping day, and the government of the Republic of China designated 15 days after the vernal equinox in 935 as a national holiday, also known as the national grave-sweeping day. On May 20th, 2006, with the approval of the State Council, Tomb-Sweeping Day was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage.