·The origin, time and customs of Qingming

The Qingming Festival was also called the March Festival in ancient times. It falls around April 5th in the Gregorian calendar and is one of the twenty-four solar terms. Among the twenty-four solar terms, only Qingming is both a solar term and a festival.

When it comes to Qingming Festival, anyone with some historical knowledge will think of the historical figure Jie Zitui. According to historical records, during the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,000 years ago, Prince Chong'er of the Jin Kingdom was on the run and living a hard life. Jie Zitui, who followed him, did not hesitate to cut a piece of meat from his own leg to satisfy his hunger. Later, Chong'er returned to Jin and became the king (i.e. Duke Wen of Jin, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period). He rewarded all the followers who followed him in exile. Only Jie Zitui refused to accept the reward. He took his mother to live in seclusion in Mianshan, refusing to accept the reward.

Jin Wengong had no choice but to set fire to the mountain. He thought that if Jie Zitui was filial to his mother, he would definitely bring his mother out. Unexpectedly, the fire burned Jie Zitui, his mother and son to death. Therefore, Duke Wen of Jin ordered that on this day every year, it is forbidden to light fires, and every household can only eat raw and cold food. This is the origin of the Cold Food Festival.

The Cold Food Festival is the day before the Qingming Festival. The ancients often called the Cold Food Festival. The activities continued into the Qingming Festival, and over time, people combined the Cold Food Festival with the Qingming Festival. Now, the Qingming Festival has replaced the Cold Food Festival, and the custom of worshiping Jie Zitui has also become the custom of sweeping tombs during the Qingming Festival.

There is another saying:

The ancients had the custom of welcoming spring. The weather in early March of the lunar calendar happens to be a time of spring, which is suitable for people to carry out various activities, including outings and even "wild parties", so The most important festival in spring is also at this time. Zhu Xuqiang believes that the early Qingming Festival did not have the function of sweeping, and the activities of Qingming Festival were the same as other festivals in early March.

We know that Qingming Festival. It is one of the twenty-four solar terms. The twenty-four solar terms are based on the solar calendar. It is not a festival in itself. Qingming happens to be in the early March of the lunar calendar. It coincides with the ancient spring festivals Shangsi Festival and Cold Food Festival. Over time, Qingming also became a festival. Part of the spring festival.

Today, Shangsi Festival has disappeared from the Chinese festival spectrum, but in the past it was one of the most important festivals of the year and was held in early March before the Han Dynasty. Si Day, later fixed as the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar. According to records, the Shangsi Festival has become popular in the Spring and Autumn Period. The Analects of Confucius said: "In late spring, spring clothes are ready, five or six people with crowns, and six or seven boys take a bath." "Over Qiyi, the wind is dancing with the urns, chanting and returning" is written about the situation at that time.

In the earliest days, on the day of Shangsi Festival, people would go for outings and bathe by the river. In addition, on this day there were also The function of "exorcising evil spirits" was called "exorcism bathing" by the ancients. In ancient times, the function of festivals was to exorcise evil spirits and avoid disasters, such as "climbing high on the Double Ninth Festival". The actual reason was to avoid the plague at the foot of the mountain. "This is also true. Zhu Xuqiang explained that the actual reason is that the river water is too cold in winter, and the water temperature in early March is just right. People are eager to take their first bath after overwintering.

As we said before, Shangsi Festivals also have the function of courtship and mating. The "Book of Songs" said that "a warrior and a girl tease each other and give them peony as a gift" also happened during this period. This tradition has continued to influence the Tang and Song Dynasties. Du Fu's "Beauty's Journey" There is a sentence in it: "The weather is new on March 3rd, and there are many beautiful people by the water in Chang'an." However, as society became more civilized, the theme of Yehe was replaced by asking for children, and the Shangsi Festival later formed a temple to commemorate Nuwa. The custom of praying for a child by the river

In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the scholar-bureaucrats also had the custom of "March 3". "Qingshui Shang" was a common way of leisure for people at that time. This is what we have. I have read it all in Wang Xizhi's "Lanting Preface".

As for the custom of worshiping ancestors during the Qingming Festival, there is a theory that it is related to the Cold Food Festival in the third month of the lunar calendar. The legend of the Cold Food Festival was established by Duke Wen of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period to commemorate minister Jie Zitui. Zhu Xuqiang believes that this is actually a saying that later generations will follow, just like bringing the Dragon Boat Festival and Qu Yuan together. The origin of the Cold Food Festival is related to the difficulty of making fire in ancient times. Once fire is obtained, it must be kept for a long time. Today, some ethnic minority areas still retain the custom of setting up fire pits in houses.

The Cold Food Festival is the annual "fire change" day. During these days, people have to replace the fire with new ones, so they can only eat cold food. Therefore, the Cold Food Festival itself has nothing to do with the festival.

[Edit this paragraph] Customs of Qingming Festival

The customs of Qingming Festival are rich and interesting. In addition to banning fires and sweeping tombs, there are also outings, swings, Cuju, and polo. , willow planting and a series of custom sports activities. According to legend, this is because cold food and fire are forbidden during the Qingming Festival. In order to prevent cold food and cold meals from harming the body, everyone comes to participate in some sports activities to exercise. Therefore, in this festival, there are both the sadness and tears of paying respects to new graves and the laughter of outings. It is a unique festival.

Swinging is an ancient Qingming Festival custom in my country. 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. Playing on the swing 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.

Outing is also called spring outing. In ancient times, it was called Tanchun, Xunchun, etc. On the Qingming Festival in March, spring returns to the earth, and nature 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.

Tree planting. Before and after the Qingming Festival, the spring sun shines and the spring rain falls. The survival rate of planted saplings is high and they grow quickly. Therefore, since ancient times, our country has had the habit of planting trees during the Qingming Festival. 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 my country'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 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, strings 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.

Tomb Sweeping

The first person to sweep the tomb during the Qingming Festival: Duke Wen of Jin

The first person to have the tomb swept during the Qingming Festival: Jie Zitui

Sweeping the tomb during the Qingming Festival , which is called "respect for the times" to the 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 pay homage to 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. However, 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 the so-called "furoshiki", which was a large bag made of white paper. There are two forms: one is to use a woodblock board with the Sanskrit transliteration of the "Rebirth Mantra" printed around it, and a rosette tablet printed in the middle, which is used to write the name of the deceased person who received the money, such as: "The late Mr. Zhang's family name" The words "Master Yunshan" 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 ghost money in the baggage.

This custom originated from "The Book of Songs. Xiaoya. Picking Wei" in "In the past, I have gone, and the willows are still there". Use willows as a parting gift to express the inseparability, the inability to bear to see each other, and the reluctance to part. Willows are a symbol of spring. Willows swaying in spring always give people a sense of prosperity. "Breaking willows to say goodbye" contains the wish of "Spring is always here". The ancients broke willows to see each other off, which also means that leaving a loved one in the hometown is like a willow tree that leaves a branch. It is hoped that when he goes to a new place, he can quickly take root and sprout, just like a willow branch that can live anywhere. It is a kind of good wish for friends. Ancient poems also mentioned a lot of breaking willows to say goodbye. Quan Deyu's poem of the Tang Dynasty: "New knowledge breaks willows as gifts"; Jiang Baishi's poem of the Song Dynasty: "I fear there will be no green willow branches on other roads"; Guo Deng's poem of the Ming Dynasty: "I see off travelers every year and break all the willows on the roadside in border towns." Chen Weisong's poem of the Qing Dynasty: "How many wicker sticks are left now? I want to give them away." Not only will people feel sad when they see willows, but they will also be moved when they hear the song "Folding Willows". Li Bai's "Listening to the Flute in Luo City on a Spring Night": "I heard the broken willows in this nocturne, and who can't feel the love for my hometown?" In fact, willows can have many symbolic meanings, and the ancients gave willows various emotions, so it is reasonable to borrow willows to express feelings. Something happened.

Customs of the Ancient Cold Food Festival

Customs of the Cold Food Festival include visiting graves, swimming, fighting cocks, swinging, playing rugs, and pulling hooks (tug of war), etc. Among them, the custom of visiting graves is very ancient. Where there is a tomb, there must be a tomb sacrifice. Later, because it was integrated with the custom of summoning the soul and reviving the spirit in March, it was gradually settled on cold food. "Tang Shu" records: "In the 20th year of Kaiyuan, there was an edict to go to the tomb with cold food. There is no text in the "Book of Rites". It has been passed down in modern times and has become a custom. It is appropriate to go to the tomb and worship together." Songzhuang Jiyu's "Chicken Ribs Pian" Vol. Above: "Cold food is served on the tomb, and no incense is set up. Paper money is hung on the tomb tree. Those who go to the countryside climb mountains to watch the sacrifices. Split the silk in the air, which is called breaking the money. The people from all over the capital are worshiping each other, so they set up a wine book (zhuan) , meals), take the family on a spring outing. ”

Customs of celebrating the Qingming Festival in old Beijing

Another custom of the Qingming Festival in old Beijing is to go to the Chenghuang Temple to burn incense and bow before asking for fortune-telling. I would also like to ask for divination. During the Ming, Qing and Republic of China, there were seven or eight Chenghuang temples in old Beijing, and the incense was at its peak at that time. The "City God" enshrined in the City God's Temple was the most believed-in god and Buddha among the people at that time, besides the Kitchen God and the God of Wealth. This "Master" is actually the "no matter department" minister of a city or a county. When the Town God's Temple is opened every year during the Ghost Festival - Qingming Festival, people go there one after another to make wishes, pray for drought (or clear when it rains), and go out. They prayed for peace, prayed for recovery when sick, prayed for good fortune for the deceased, burned incense and worshiped the gods. At that time, the temple fair was extremely lively inside and outside the temple. There were performances on the stage inside the temple and various merchandise and goods outside the temple. According to the memories of the elderly at home, in the early Republic of China, there was also a tour of the "City God". People used eight-carriage sedans to carry the "City God" made of rattan around the city, and various incense fairs accompanied it. After the competition, Yangko, stilts, five tiger sticks, etc. were performed while walking, attracting crowds of spectators in the markets they passed. There is a miscellaneous chant: "The temple is also divided into an inner and outer city. When spring comes, people will look forward to the Qingming Festival. It also coincides with the beginning of autumn and winter. Men and women burn incense and ask questions about life and death." This is the custom of the Qingming Festival.