| Qing Ming, which means clear and bright in Chinese,
falls on April 5th this year. It is both the fifth term
in the traditional lunar calendar and a festival to hold
memorial ceremony for the dead. It is a time to express
one's grief for his lost relatives. An ancient elegiac
poem, which described a grievous woman, was read that
vines tangled in vain and weeds crept in the graveyard,
and her husband slept there lonely. It was so difficult
to endure for her as if summer in the day and winter at
night. And her only wish was to reunite with him after
death.
People often go to sweep and weed graves with whole
family and take a walk in the countryside as well. In
Tang Dynasty, the habit of taking an excursion on this
day was developed. At this time, spring returns and
dominates the earth again. The feel of growing life
is in the air, with sap ascending in trees and buds
bursting. And the willow branches inserted on each gate
add vigor and vitality to the surroundings. But it actually
means more than that. This custom can be traced back
to over one thousand years ago.
During the Period of Spring and Autumn in the Jin Kingdom,
one of the King's sons was called Chong Er. Jealous
of his talent, a concubine falsely accused him of rebellion
to make her son the crown prince. He had no choice but
to flee and with him were some officials. They hid themselves
in a mountain and went hungry for quite some time. An
official named Jie Zitui took great pain to cut some
flesh from his thigh and cooked it for Chong Er. When
the fact was known the young master was moved to tears
and knelt down in gratitude. And Jie replied his best
repayment should be a just king. They lived a life of
hunger and cold for three years until the evil concubine
died. Many soldiers were sent to look for him and to
escort him back home. Going into the carriage, he saw
an official packed an old mat onto a horse, he said
laughingly, 'What on earth is the use of that? Throw
it away!' Jie Zitui heard it and sighed, 'It is hardship
that can be shared with his majesty but not prosperity.'
So he went away quietly and lived in seclusion with
his old mother.
As Chong Er became king, he rewarded many people but
he forgot Jie Zitui. He did not realize it until was
reminded. However his invitation was refused and he
flared up. Soldiers were ordered to burn up the mountain
to force Jie to come out. Finally they found Jie and
his mother scorched under a willow. He would rather
die than yield to the power. Chong Er was so overwhelmed
with regret that he ordered people hold memorial ceremony
for Jie. So every year on that day folks mourned for
him and the day before ate cold meals, which avoided
making fire. Later the custom of inserting willow branches
on gates was also added
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