Sacrificing ancestors in solar terms

Mourning day, drizzle like tears; Pedestrians on the road want to die. Excuse me, where is the restaurant? The shepherd boy points to Xinghua Village. (Du Mu) Tomb-Sweeping Day is an important traditional folk festival in China, and it is also one of the important "Eight Festivals" (Shangyuan (Lantern Festival), Qingming, Long Summer, Dragon Boat Festival, Central Plains, Mid-Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice and New Year's Eve). Generally speaking, it is on April 5 in the solar calendar, but its festival is very long. There are two kinds of sayings: eight days before the tenth day and ten days after the tenth day, and these 20 days belong to Tomb-Sweeping Day. It is said that the origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day began with the "grave-sweeping" ceremony of ancient emperors and generals. Later, people followed suit, and it became a fixed custom of the Chinese nation to worship ancestors and sweep graves on this day.

The traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day in China began in the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. Tomb-Sweeping Day was a very important solar term from the beginning. As soon as Tomb-Sweeping Day arrives, the temperature rises, which is a good season for spring ploughing and planting. Therefore, there is a saying that "melons and beans are planted before and after the Qingming Festival". Agricultural proverb "Planting trees is not as clear as Qingming". Later, due to the Qing Dynasty

The day of cold food in Ming and Qing dynasties is approaching, and cold food is the day when people ban fire and sweep graves. Gradually, cold food and Qingming are combined, and cold food has become another name of Qingming and a custom of Qingming. Qingming does not move fireworks, but only eats cold food.

It is one of the traditional festivals of the Han nationality in China and one of the twenty-four solar terms in China, and the time is around April 5th in the solar calendar every year. After Tomb-Sweeping Day, the rain increased, and the land showed a scene of spring and tranquility. At this time, everything, whether it is the vegetation in nature or the human body in natural places, has changed the filth in winter, ushered in the breath of spring and realized the transformation from yin to yang.

In ancient times, it was said that the day before Tomb-Sweeping Day was the "Cold Food Festival". According to legend, it began in the Spring and Autumn Period when Jin Wengong mourned the event of "cutting stocks to satisfy hunger", and then gradually the Qingming cold food became one. The date of grave sweeping in the Tang Dynasty was generally on the Cold Food Festival, and it was moved to Qingming after the Song Dynasty. Legend has it that the origin of "Cold Food Festival" is Jiexiu in central Shanxi. Jiexiu's origin is to commemorate Jiexiu's "cutting stocks to satisfy hunger" without asking for gratitude, and finally he died here in Yamakaji. Mianshan was originally named "Ding Yang", and was later renamed "Jiexiu" by Jin Wengong, which means Jiexiu. Mianshan Mountain has been developed into a famous tourist attraction by local people, one of which is the tall stone statue of Jiexiu's mother and son. Xietui became a representative of the local people loyal to both sides.

According to legend, after Dayu's flood control, people used the language of "Qingming" to celebrate that the flood had been eliminated and the world was at peace. At this time, spring blossoms, everything recovers, and the sky is clear and bright, which is a good season for spring outing. Going for an outing began as early as the Tang Dynasty and has become a habit throughout the ages. In addition to enjoying the beautiful lakes, mountains and spring scenery, we also carry out various entertainment activities to increase the interest of life.

Grave-sweeping is very popular in Tomb-Sweeping Day. In fact, sweeping graves is the content of Tomb-Sweeping Day's Cold Food Festival the day before. It is said that cold food originated in Jin Wengong to mourn Jiexiu. During the twenty years of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, he ordered the world to "eat cold food in the ground". Because cold food is associated with Qingming, it gradually spread to sweeping graves in Qingming. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, grave sweeping became more popular. In ancient times, children often flew kites when sweeping graves. Some kites are equipped with bamboo flutes, which can make a sound when the wind blows, just like the sound of kites. It is said that this is the reason why kites get their names.

There are many lost customs in Tomb-Sweeping Day, such as wearing willow, shooting willow and swinging. It has been circulating for a long time in ancient times. According to records, Tomb-Sweeping Day was the most important custom in the Liao Dynasty. From the imperial court down to the common people, people liked to swing, and ladies gathered, and the wind of outing was extremely prosperous.

It is said that the custom of inserting willows is also to commemorate Shennong, the ancestor of farming, who taught the people to cultivate crops. In some places, people put willow branches under the eaves to forecast the weather. There is an old saying called "willow branches and green rain; The saying that there is another village. During the period of Huang Chao, it was stipulated that "Qingming lasts for a period, and Liu Dai is the number". After the failure of the uprising, the custom of wearing willow was gradually eliminated, and only willow was popular. Willow has a strong vitality, as the saying goes: "If you plant flowers with your heart, you will plant willows without your heart. "Wicker lives when it is planted in the soil, and it lives where it is planted. When it is planted year after year, it becomes gloomy everywhere. There is another saying in Tomb-Sweeping Day: It turns out that China people regard Tomb-Sweeping Day, July 30th and the first day of October as the three major ghost festivals, which are the time for ghosts to haunt and ask for help. In order to prevent the harassment and persecution of ghosts, people put willows and put them on. Willow has the function of ward off evil spirits in people's minds. Influenced by Buddhism, people think that willows can exorcise ghosts and call them "ghost trees". Guanyin dipped willow branches in water to help all beings. Jia Sixie of the Northern Wei Dynasty said in the Book of Qi Yao Min: "Put a willow branch on the house, and a hundred ghosts will not enter the house. "Tomb-Sweeping Day is Halloween. When wicker sprouted, people naturally inserted willows to ward off evil spirits. The Han people have the custom of "folding willows to bid farewell": Baqiao is in Chang 'an East, crossing the water is the bridge, and the Han people send guests to this bridge and fold willows to bid farewell. Li Bai has a saying: "Willow falls every year, Lingling hurts." In ancient times, on both sides of Chang 'an Baqiao, the embankment was ten miles long, one step at a time. Many people who walk from Chang 'an East come here to bid farewell to their loved ones and fold willow branches to bid farewell to their loved ones, because "willow" is homophonic with "stay" to show the meaning of retaining. This custom originated from the book of songs, Xiaoya Cai Wei, which said, "I was away yesterday, Liu Yiyi." Send a willow tree as a parting gift to express feelings that are inseparable and reluctant to part. Willow is a symbol of spring. Willow swaying in spring always gives people a feeling of prosperity. "Farewell to the Willows" contains the wish that "spring is always there". The ancients sawed off the willows and sent them to each other, which also meant that their relatives, such as willow branches, left their hometown. I hope that when they arrive in a new place, they can take root and sprout quickly, as if willow branches can grow everywhere. It's a good wish for friends. There are also many references to folding willows to give people away in ancient poems. Quan Deyu's poem in Tang Dynasty: "Give me new knowledge", Song Dynasty's poem: "There are no green willows on the other side of the road, don't worry", and Ming Dynasty's poem: "Give someone away when you are old, and the willows on the edge of the city will be folded." Chen Weisong's Ci in Qing Dynasty: "How many border crossings are left? Want a discount. " People will not only feel sad when they see willow trees, but also touch their mood when they hear the song "Breaking Willow". Li Bai's "Smelling the flute in Los Angeles on a Spring Night": "Everyone can't stand the homesickness." In fact, Liu can have many symbolic meanings. The ancients endowed Liu with various feelings, so it is reasonable to borrow Liu to send feelings.

A few days before Qingming? There are several versions. According to the Chronicle of Jingchu in Liang Zonggu of the Southern Dynasties, the105th day after the winter solstice is called the Cold Food Festival, which happens to be the first two days in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Yuan Zhen's poem in Tang Dynasty said that "the first time I ate cold food was 160". He thinks that the day before Tomb-Sweeping Day is the Cold Food Festival, and there is a day difference between Tomb-Sweeping Day and Japan in winter. Because cold food is similar to the Qingming day, and the activities of cold food in the ancients often continued until Qingming. Over time, there is no strict distinction between cold food and Qingming.

There are many traditional customs and activities around Tomb-Sweeping Day. Such as lighting a fire with cold food, sweeping graves in Tomb-Sweeping Day, hiking, playing polo, flying kites, swinging, cockfighting and tug-of-war. These activities have changed with the passage of time and social evolution. Some customs have been abolished, while others have been preserved and given new contents. Bai Juyi's poem "Cold Food and Wild Hope" describes the tomb sacrifice at that time:

Cold food and unrealistic hopes

The crow makes the trees faint, and the Qingming cold food cries.

The wind blows the paper money in the wilderness, and the spring grass in the tomb is green.

Pear blossoms reflect poplar trees, full of parting places.

The customs in Tomb-Sweeping Day and Tomb-Sweeping Day are rich and interesting. In addition to prohibiting fire from sweeping graves, there are a series of customs and sports activities such as hiking, swinging, cuju, polo and willow insertion. According to legend, this is because Tomb-Sweeping Day wants to ban cold food and fire. In order to prevent the harm of cold food and cold meal to people, we all take part in some sports activities to exercise. Therefore, this festival is a distinctive festival, with both sad tears to sweep graves and laughter for an outing.

Swing is a custom in ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day, China. Swing, that is, lift the rope, move. It has a very long history. It was originally called Qian Qiu, but later it was changed into a swing to avoid taboos. In ancient times, swings were made of branches and tied with ribbons. Later, it gradually developed into two ropes, a pedal swing. Swing can not only improve health, but also cultivate courage, which is deeply loved by people, especially children.

Cujuju is a rubber ball, the skin of which is made of leather, and the ball is filled with wool. Cuju is kicking the ball with your feet. This is a popular game in ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day. According to legend, it was invented by the Yellow Emperor with the original purpose of training warriors.

Hiking is also called spring outing. It was called Tanchun and Xunchun in ancient times. March is clear, spring returns to the earth, and nature is full of vitality everywhere, which is a good time to go for an outing. China folks have always maintained the habit of going for an outing in Tomb-Sweeping Day.

Before and after planting trees, it is clear, the spring is bright, the spring rain is flying, and the survival rate of seedlings is high and the growth is fast. Therefore, China has the habit of planting trees in Qingming since ancient times. Some people even call Tomb-Sweeping Day Arbor Day. The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. 1979, the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) stipulated March 12 every year as China Arbor Day. This is of great significance to mobilize people of all ethnic groups in China to actively carry out activities to green the motherland.

Flying kites is also the most popular activity in Tomb-Sweeping Day. During their stay in Tomb-Sweeping Day, people not only wore it during the day, but also at night. At night, a string of colored lanterns is hung under the kite or on the wind-stabilizing stay, like twinkling stars, which is called "magic lamp". Someone used to put kites in the blue sky, then cut the strings and let the breeze send them to the ends of the earth. It is said that this can eliminate diseases and disasters and bring good luck to yourself.

Going to the river to sweep the grave on Qingming Festival is called "respecting time" for ancestors. Its customs have a long history. In the Ming Dynasty's "A Brief Introduction to the Scenery of the Imperial Capital", it was written: "On the Qingming Festival in March, men and women went to the grave to pay their respects, and the gold ingot was hung on the back of the sedan chair, and the road was full of embarrassment. Worshipers, mourners, weeping, weeding, adding soil to graves, burning ingots several times, and buying graves with paper money. If you can't see the paper money, it will be a lonely grave. After crying, don't go back, go to the fragrant tree, choose the garden, and sit down and get drunk. " In fact, grave-sweeping existed before the Qin Dynasty, but not necessarily during the Qingming period, but after the Qin Dynasty. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that it became popular. Qing thomas lee said, "On New Year's Eve, the Cold Food Festival and the First Frost Festival, you should offer sacrifices to sweep the graves. During the period, I will serve my bed with vegetarian food, use wine and tools for cutting vegetation, seal trees in the middle of the week, and break Cao Jing, so it is called sweeping the grave. " And spread to this day. Ghost springs cry but don't smell, and people return home in the rustling rain.