Qing Ming is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More importantly, it is a time to honour and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival.

Literally meaning "clear" (Qing) and "bright" (Ming), this Chinese festival falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a "spring" festival, and it is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forebears. Chinese being practical people, this sweeping of the graves is given an extended period, that is 10 days before and 10 days after Qing Ming day. Among some dialect groups a whole month is allocated.


Origin

Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Dui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However Jie declined hisinvitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.

Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commerate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.

The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. The association of Jie with Qing Ming persists and the story of Jie Zi Dui who chose death over capitulation is invariably retold at this festival.


Observation

Remembering and honouring the dead at Qing Ming may take many forms:

  1. Visiting the graveyard to spring clean the grave. This normally means trimming and cleaning the gravesite. Food offerings or flowers are usually brought along.
  2. As cremation becomes more widespread, visiting the cemetery will increasingly be replaced by visiting the columbarium.
  3. For those who place ancestral tablets in the temples, paying respects to the dead will then mean visiting these temples.
  4. Remembrance of loved ones is also observed at home on Qing Ming day by those who practise ancestor worship.

Whatever practice is observed, the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets.