The origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day

"It rains in the Qingming period, and pedestrians on the road want to break their souls. Ask local people where to buy wine? The shepherd boy pointed to Xinghua Village. " When it comes to Qingming, people will naturally think of this poem by Du Mu, a poet in the Tang Dynasty. Nowadays, Tomb-Sweeping Day is a festival to sweep graves and worship ancestors. Do you know its origin?

The origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day Qingming was originally just the name of a solar term. It became a festival to commemorate ancestors and was related to the Cold Food Festival. The legend of the Cold Food Festival was established in the Spring and Autumn Period to commemorate Jiexiu, a loyal minister of the State of Jin.

According to legend, Jin Xiangong's concubine planned a poisonous plot to let her son inherit the throne and killed Prince Shen Sheng. Shen Sheng's younger brother Zhong Er went into exile to escape the scourge. One of the courtiers who went out with him was called meson tui. On one occasion, Zhong Er fainted from hunger. In order to save Zhong Er, Jiezitui cut a piece of meat from his leg and roasted it for Zhong Er. Ten years later, Zhong Er returned to China to become a monarch, namely Jin Wengong, one of the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period.

After Jin Wengong came to power, he raised many awards for courtiers who shared his joys and sorrows, except for Jie Zitui. Someone defended meson in front of Jin Wengong. Jin Wengong recalled the past, feeling deeply guilty, and immediately sent someone to ask meson to be rewarded as an official in the imperial court. However, after several trips, the meson could not be pushed. Jin Wengong had to please. When Jin Wengong came to the meson pusher's house, he saw the door closed. Jiezitui doesn't want to see him, and has been hiding behind his mother's back in Mianshan. Jin Wengong asked his body guard to search the mountain, but he couldn't find it.

Therefore, some people suggest that it is best to release Yamakaji and set fire on three sides, leaving only one side, so that when the fire burns, the meson thrust will come out by itself. Unexpectedly, the fire burned for three days and nights, and the meson was not pushed out. Looking up the mountain, the mother and son were holding a charred willow tree and were dead. Jin Wengong looked at meson push's body and suddenly began to cry. When I buried the body, I found a willow hole blocked by mesons. There was a skirt in the hole, and a bloody poem was written on the skirt: "I hope your master will always be clear." It is better to be a ghost than to accompany you as an exhorter. If your master has me in his heart, remember that I often reflect. I have a clear conscience in Jiuquan, and I am diligent and honest. "

Jin Wengong buried meson tui and his mother under the charred willow tree. Build an ancestral temple on the mountain, and designate the day when Yamakaji is unsealed as the Cold Food Festival, and tell the people all over the country that it is forbidden to set off fireworks and firecrackers on this day every year, and only eat cold food. The following year, Jin Wengong led his ministers to hike in plain clothes to show their respect and condolences. Walking to the grave, I saw the dead old willow come back to life, with thousands of green branches dancing in the wind. Jin Wengong looked at the resurrected old willow, as if he saw the promotion of mesons. After the sacrifice, Jin Wengong named the resurrected old willow "Qingming Willow" and named this day Tomb-Sweeping Day.

The custom of Tomb-Sweeping Day

1 outing

This seasonal folk activity of outing has a long history in China, and its source is the ancient custom of agricultural sacrifice to welcome the Spring Festival. It is an outing in spring, also known as "spring outing", which generally refers to walking in the suburbs in early spring. Qingming Festival is a good time for hiking, so it has become an important part of Tomb-Sweeping Day customs.

2. Tug of War

It was called "tug of war" in the early days and "tug of war" in the Tang Dynasty. It was invented in the late Spring and Autumn Period, and became popular in the army, and later spread among the people. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, a large tug-of-war was held in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Since then, tug-of-war has become a part of the Qingming custom.

Step 3 plant trees

Before and after Qingming Festival, the spring sun shone brightly and the spring rain rained, and seedlings with high survival rate and fast growth were planted. Therefore, China has the habit of planting trees in Tomb-Sweeping Day since ancient times, and some people even call Tomb-Sweeping Day "Arbor Day", and the custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day.

Step 4 insert willow

Tomb-Sweeping Day is the time when willows sprout and smoke green. There are folk customs of folding willow, piercing willow and inserting willow. When people go for an outing, they can easily break a few willow branches to play in their hands, weave hats and wear them on their heads, or take them home and put them on lintels and eaves. It is said that the custom of inserting willows is related to avoiding epidemics. The Tang people thought that wearing willow branches when offering sacrifices by the river could get rid of the harm of poisonous insects.

This is the story of Tomb-Sweeping Day. Friends, do you understand?