What are the origins and customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day?

Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as the Walking Festival, is at the turn of mid-spring and late spring, that is, the first 108 day from winter to the future. It is a traditional festival in China, and it is also one of the most important festivals to worship ancestors and sweep graves. The traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day of the Han nationality in China began in the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. Influenced by the Han culture, 24 ethnic minorities in China, such as Manchu, Hezhe, Zhuang, Oroqen, Dong, Tujia, Miao, Yao, Li, Shui, Jing and Qiang, also have the customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day. Grave sweeping, ancestor worship and outing are the basic themes.

Qingming was just the name of a solar term at first, and later became a festival to commemorate ancestors, which was related to the Cold Food Festival. Jin Wengong designated the second day of the Cold Food Festival as Tomb-Sweeping Day. In most parts of Shanxi, the day before Tomb-Sweeping Day was the Cold Food Festival. Tomb-Sweeping Day in Yushe County and other places celebrated the Cold Food Festival two days ago; Yuanqu County also pays attention to Tomb-Sweeping Day's Cold Food Festival the day before, and the light cold food the day before.

Tomb-Sweeping Day is one of the important "eight festivals a year" in China. Generally, it is around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar, and the festival is very long. There are two sayings: 8 days before 10 and 10 days before 10, and these 20 days belong to Tomb-Sweeping Day. Tomb-Sweeping Day originally meant grave-sweeping day, and the government of the Republic of China designated 15 days after the vernal equinox in 935 as a national holiday, also known as the national grave-sweeping day.

"Almanac": "On the fifteenth day after the vernal equinox, the bucket refers to Ding, which is used for Qingming, when everything is clean and bright, and when it is covered, everything is clean and bright, hence the name." As soon as Qingming arrives, the temperature rises, which is a good time for spring ploughing. Therefore, there is a saying that "before and after the Qingming Festival, melons, fruits and beans are planted".

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. On May 20th, 2006, with the approval of the State Council, Tomb-Sweeping Day announced by the Ministry of Culture of China was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.

Tomb-Sweeping Day and Tomb-Sweeping Day.

The name of Tomb-Sweeping Day is related to the weather and climate characteristics at this time. The Western Han Dynasty's "Huainanzi Astronomical Training" said: "On the fifteenth day after the vernal equinox, the bucket refers to B, and the Qingming wind is coming." "Qingming Wind" is a refreshing and clear wind. "When I was in 100 questions" said, "Everything grows at this time, clean and bright. So it is called Qingming. " Although Qingming, as a festival, was only formed in the Tang Dynasty, Tomb-Sweeping Day Qi, as a symbol of time sequence, has long been known by the ancients and clearly recorded in the Han Dynasty.

Twenty-four solar terms are the climatic laws summed up by astronomers and people in ancient China in their life and production practice, which appropriately reflect the changes of temperature, phenology and rainfall throughout the year, and have indispensable guiding significance for people to arrange farming and sericulture activities on time. By Qingming, the temperature is getting warmer and the rainfall is increasing, which is a good season for spring ploughing and spring planting. Therefore, Qingming is an important solar term in ancient agricultural production. The farmer's proverb says, "Before and after Qingming Festival, point melons to plant beans" and "Planting trees is nothing more than Qingming Festival", which is precisely the truth. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cui Mang's Moon Order for Four recorded: "Tomb-Sweeping Day ordered a silkworm concubine to stay in the silkworm room ..." It is said that it was at this time that he began to prepare for sericulture. "Tomb-Sweeping Day" is just a solar term, not a festival.

Tomb-Sweeping Day Qi provides important conditions for the formation of Tomb-Sweeping Day customs in terms of time and weather, and this solar term is considered as one of the origins of Tomb-Sweeping Day.

Social customs and habits

traditional custom

In Tomb-Sweeping Day, besides paying attention to the prohibition of fire to sweep graves, there are a series of customary sports activities such as hiking, swinging, cuju, polo and willow insertion. According to legend, this is because it is forbidden to eat cold food during the Cold Food Festival. In order to prevent the harm of cold food and cold meal to people, everyone comes to participate in some sports activities to exercise. In Tomb-Sweeping Day, people avoid injections and washing clothes, and women in most areas avoid walking. Before evening, a gray line should be spread in front of the gate, which is said to prevent ghosts from entering the house. Therefore, this festival is a unique festival, which has both sad and sour tears for sweeping graves and laughter for an outing.

play on the swing

This is the custom of ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day in China. Wang Renyu's "Kaiyuan Tianbao Legacy" in the Five Dynasties recorded that "the Tianbao Palace Mid-solstice Cold Food Festival actually erected a swing, which made the wives and concubines in the palace laugh and thought it was a feast. The emperor called it a semi-fairy play, so the scholars in the capital called it. " Wen Yanbo, the prime minister of the Song Dynasty, wrote the poem "Cold Food Day Crossing the Dragon Gate", which is described as "the willow on the bridge hangs on a line and hangs more colorful ropes." 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.

play football

Bow is a rubber ball, the skin of which is made of leather, and the ball is stuffed 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. Playing polo is also one of the ways to play the Dragon Boat Festival. Polo is riding a horse and hitting with a stick. In ancient times, it was called bowing. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there is a saying in Cao Zhiming's name that "there is a sentence in a row". In Chang 'an in the Tang Dynasty, there was a wide stadium, and emperors such as Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Jing Zong all liked polo. Ma Qiutu, in the tomb of Prince Zhang Huai, depicts the prosperity of polo in the Tang Dynasty: more than 20 horses galloped at high speed and their ponytails were tied up. Players are wearing shawls, boots and sticks, hitting each other one by one. Analysis of Golden Branches records the traditional custom of polo as a festival in Liao country, and polo is played on Dragon Boat Festival and Double Ninth Festival. Li Shizhi also recorded that Jin people hit the ball during the Dragon Boat Festival. In the Song Dynasty, there was a "Ball Play Music" dance team. In the Ming Dynasty, polo was still popular. According to the general examination of continued literature, Ming Chengzu hit the ball and shot the willow many times in Dongyuan. In the Ming Dynasty's "Music Map of Xuanzong", there are scenes of Xuanzong enjoying polo. At that time, Wang Zhi, an official, wrote a poem about watching the game in the afternoon: "Jade is like a golden horse, carved with seven treasures." When you fly, you will be shocked and feel the stars. The incitement page has become three wins, and joy is the first. Qingyun follows the footsteps and winds in the eastern end of the temple. "In front of the Baiyun Temple in Beijing, there are also rules for the masses to ride horses and hit the ball. There were polo in the Temple of Heaven in Qing Dynasty, and polo didn't disappear until the middle of Qing Dynasty. Since 1965, antique polo has appeared in Xi 'an, making this ancient sport reappear in China after many years of extinction.

spring outing

Also called spring outing. It was called Tanchun and Xunchun in ancient times. Qingming in April, spring returns to the earth, and nature presents a vibrant scene everywhere, which is a good time for an outing. China folks have always maintained the habit of going for an outing in Tomb-Sweeping Day.

plant trees

Before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, the spring was bright and the spring rain was falling, and the survival rate of planted seedlings was high and the growth was 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. The custom of planting trees in Tomb-Sweeping Day originated from Tomb-Sweeping Day. There are three legends about Tomb-Sweeping Day. The oldest legend is to commemorate Shennong, the ancestor of farming, and later developed the meaning of praying for longevity. Later legends are all related to meson push. It is said that when Jin Wengong led the minister to climb a mountain to pay homage to Jiexiu, he found that the old willow tree on which Jiexiu once lived came back from the dead and gave it the title of "Qingming Willow". Later, it was said that Emperor Taizong gave a wicker ring to the minister as a blessing to drive away the epidemic.

fly a kite

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.

Pay tribute to the dead at their graves.

Sweeping graves on Qingming Festival is called "respecting thinking about 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. And spread to this day. Tomb-Sweeping Day's sweeping ceremony was supposed to be held in person, but because of the different economic conditions of each family, the way of sweeping was different. "Burning a bundle" is the main form of paying homage to ancestors. The so-called "baggage", also known as "parcel", refers to the postal parcel that Xiao sent from Shi Yang to the underworld. In the past, Nanzhi store sold the so-called "wrapped skin", that is, a big bag was pasted with white paper. There are two forms: one is a woodcut version with Sanskrit transliteration of "Death Mantra" printed around it, and a lotus tablet printed in the middle to write down the name of the deceased in the area code, such as "The late Zhang Fujun was afraid of the boss in Yunshan", which is both a package and a tablet. The other is plain foreskin, which does not print any patterns. Just put a blue sign in the middle and write down the name of the deceased. Also used as a master card. There are many kinds of money in the bag.

Chuanliuzhi

Tomb-Sweeping Day and China have the folk custom of inserting willows. According to experts, there are three theories about the origin of the custom of inserting willows in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Zhao Zhi Heng, director of the Tianjin Astronomical Society, said that it is said that the custom of inserting willows is to

In memory of Shennong, the founder of agriculture, who taught people to grow crops. In some places, people put willow branches under the eaves to forecast the weather. There is an old saying that "the willow branches are green and the rain is raining;" The saying that there is another village. 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 inserted in the soil, where it is inserted, where it is inserted every year, and the shade is everywhere.

There is another saying: China people regard Tomb-Sweeping Day, July 30th and the first day of October as the three major ghost festivals. Tomb-Sweeping Day is a season of frequent ghost haunts and great demand. Influenced by Buddhism, Guanyin Bodhisattva held willow branches in her hands and dipped them in water, so many people think that willow branches have the function of exorcising ghosts and evil spirits, calling them "ghost trees". Jia Sixie of the Northern Wei Dynasty wrote in the Book of Qi Yao Min: "Take Yang Liuzhi to the mansion, and a hundred ghosts will not enter the mansion." Because Tomb-Sweeping Day is a Ghost Festival, people insert willows and wear willows to ward off evil spirits in the season when wicker sprouts.

Another way of saying it is that this custom is to commemorate meson push. Jietui set himself on fire under the willow tree to keep the festival, which made Jin Wengong, his ministers and people feel sad. The next year, when Jin Wengong personally led the ministers to climb the mountain to worship Jiexiu, he found that the old willow trees that had been burned in those years had actually come back from the dead. Jin Wengong named the old willow in front of him "Qingming Willow", and on the spot, he broke off a few branches and put them on his head to show his memory. Since then, officials and people have followed suit and followed suit. It has become a symbol to commemorate meson push.

Liu She

Shooting willow is a game to practice archery. According to the records of the Ming Dynasty, pigeons were placed in gourds, then the gourds were hung high on willow trees, and the gourds and pigeons flew out with bows, and the victory or defeat was judged by the height of the flying pigeons.

gamecock

In ancient times, cockfighting competitions prevailed in Qingming, which began in Qingming and lasted until the summer solstice. The earliest record of cockfighting in China can be found in Zuo Zhuan. In the Tang dynasty, cockfighting became a common practice, not only among the people, but also the emperor. For example, Tang Xuanzong likes cockfighting best.

Canhuahui

"Silkworm Flower Festival" is a unique folk culture in Silkworm Township. During the past period in Tomb-Sweeping Day, this folk activity was held in Wu Tong, Wuzhen, Chongfu and Zhouquan. Among them, A?vagho?a Temple in Zhouquan and Double Temple in Qingshi are the most spectacular. A?vagho?a Temple, located in the west of Zhouquan Town, is known locally as "the king of temples". Every year, there are many activities, such as welcoming the silkworm god, rocking the clippers, making trouble in Taiwan Pavilion, worshiping incense benches, boxing, playing dragon lanterns, lifting poles and singing operas. Some of these activities are carried out on shore, and most of them are carried out on ships, which is very characteristic of water towns.

Seasonal food is combined with Tomb-Sweeping Day due to the Cold Food Festival, and some places still maintain the habit of eating cold food in Tomb-Sweeping Day.

In Shandong, Jimo eats eggs and cool cakes, while Laiyang, Zhaoyuan and Long Island eat eggs and cool sorghum rice. It is said that if not, there will be hail. Taian eats cold pancakes and rolls bitter vegetables. It is said that his eyes are bright. Jinzhong area still retains the habit of banning fire the day before Qingming.

In many places, after the sacrificial ceremony is completed, food will be sacrificed. When people in southern Shanxi crossed Tomb-Sweeping Day, they used to steam big steamed buns with white flour, with walnuts, dates and beans in the middle, coiled into dragons outside, and an egg tied in the middle of the dragon's body, named "Zifu". It is necessary to steam a big "blessing" to symbolize family reunion and happiness. When going to the grave, the "Zifu" is usually dedicated to the ancestors and shared by the whole family after sweeping the grave.

According to the old custom in Shanghai, steamed cakes for sacrifice should be put on wicker and dried and stored. When they come in the long summer, they will be fried and given to the children. It is said that eating it in summer won't make you sick.

Tomb-Sweeping Day has the custom of eating dumplings. Mix Bromus inermis juice with glutinous rice to make the green juice and rice flour blend with each other, then wrap it with stuffing such as bean paste and jujube paste, and put it in a steamer with reed leaves as the bottom. Steamed balls are green in color and fragrant, which is the most distinctive seasonal food in Tomb-Sweeping Day. There are also some people in Shanghai, Tomb-Sweeping Day, who love to eat peach blossom porridge and fish with knives when sweeping graves and having family dinners.

In Huzhou, Zhejiang, every family in Tomb-Sweeping Day makes zongzi, which can be used as a grave-sweeping sacrifice or as dry food for hiking. As the saying goes: "Qingming Zongzi is real." Before and after Qingming, snails were fat and strong. As the saying goes: "Qingming snail, a goose." Farmers have the habit of eating snails in Qingming. On this day, they use needles to pick out snail meat for cooking, which is called "picking green". After eating, throw the snail shell on the roof. It is said that the rolling acoustic energy emitted by roof tiles scares away mice, which is beneficial to sericulture after Qingming Festival. On this day in Tomb-Sweeping Day, there will be club wine. Have dinner with people from the same ancestral temple. People who don't have ancestral temples usually have dinner with the grandchildren of their great-grandfathers. The dishes of Shejiu are mainly fish, tofu and vegetables, as well as homemade sweet white wine.

There is a saying in Heshan Town, Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province that "Tomb-Sweeping Day is like the New Year". Tomb-Sweeping Day evening, emphasizing family reunion for dinner. There are several traditional dishes on the table: fried snail, glutinous rice with lotus root slices, bean sprouts, Malantou and so on. These dishes are all related to sericulture. Throwing the leftover snail shells into the house, it is said that the sound can scare away the mice, and the caterpillars will get into the shells to nest and stop harassing the silkworms.

Eating lotus root is to wish silkworm babies always spin silk well. Eating sprouted beans is a lottery to win "money". Eating fresh vegetables like Malantou means taking the word "green" to match the "green" of "Qingming".

Appreciation of Qingming Poems

Tomb-Sweeping Day is an important traditional sacrificial festival, and the rain in Tomb-Sweeping Day adds a strong poetic and distant color. Even if the ancients went to Beijing to be an official, Tomb-Sweeping Day would ride a horse to worship his ancestors every time. Literati and men of letters also write freely, depicting the world of a clear grass, a tree, a flower and a world vividly. There are many feelings of mourning for their loved ones, or leisure expressions of Tomb-Sweeping Day's travel. What are Tomb-Sweeping Day's poems? I want to introduce Tomb-Sweeping Day's Poems and appreciate Tomb-Sweeping Day's poems.

1, Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-"Qingming" Du Mu

A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day; The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.

Excuse me, where is the restaurant? The shepherd boy pointed to Xinghua Village.

2, Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-"Cold Food" Han Yi

In late spring, Chang 'an city is full of songs and dances, and countless flowers fall. The east wind of the Cold Food Festival blows on the willow trees in the royal garden.

At dusk, candles were passed in the Han Palace, and light smoke was scattered into the Hall of the Five Emperors.

3. Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-Qingming Wang Yucheng

I have lived in Tomb-Sweeping Day without flowers and wine. Like a monk in a temple, everything is depressing and lonely for me.

Yesterday, I discussed new kindling from my neighbor's house, and early in Tomb-Sweeping Day, I lit in front of the window and sat down to study.

4. Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-"Clothes in the Sky" Liu Xiaofeng

Peach blossom powder apricot blossoms are white, and the rain hits the branches and trees;

Pedestrians quietly descended, and several graves cried.

5, Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-"Su Causeway Qingming is a thing" Wu Weixin

Pears bloom in the light, and wanderers go out of the city in spring.

At dusk, the songs are ready, and the willows belong to a warbler.

6. Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-Qingming.

In Qing E Painting Fan, the trees in spring are golden and red. If you make a mistake, you will wear a weak willow wind.

Horses are arrogant and avoid slogans, and chickens open their cages at the sight of them. Who made this play? The oriole is separated from the Forbidden City.

7. Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-"Qingming is a thing" Meng Haoran

Beijing is the annual Tomb-Sweeping Day, and people naturally begin to feel sad and nostalgic.

The carriage creaked on the road, and the outskirts of Liucheng were lush.

Flowers bloom, grass grows and birds fly in pairs.

Sitting in the empty lobby, reminiscing about the past, drinking tea instead of drinking.

8. Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem "Going to Jiang Huaiyou on Qingming Day" was collected.

Jun and Tiansu are old friends, so I'm going to make friends.

For two years, I have been isolated from the grave and have a sad face all day.

Seagulls seem to be able to keep up with physics, while apricot flowers are suspicious and accompanied by people's worries.

Widows and young children should eat cold food and look at Jiangling with tears.

9. Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-"The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival" Wei

Cold food prescription is sick, and it is awkward to open the chest.

Finally, I miss the county seat, and fireworks filled Qingchuan.

Apricot porridge is still delicious, and elm soup has been slightly fried.

I just hate being a good girl, kissing my face and spending this glorious year.

10, Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-Zhang Ji's Lumen is a Thing

The tiller loves the boat, and the spring grass is green and the fields are vast;

Try going to the Wumen Gate to see the county Guo, there is new smoke in Qingming.

1 1, Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-"Qingjiang River Leads Qingming Day" Wang Pan

Where is the non-smoking section in the west building? Green fields and sunny roads.

In the willows of Ma Si, people laugh and swing, and the sound of warblers always makes Chun drunk.

12, Tomb-Sweeping Day's poem-"Chang 'an Qingming Festival" Wei Zhuang

Fleas are rainy days that hurt spring dreams, but the grass is more sandy.

At the beginning, the official gave me a clear fire, and I was given a free share of the money.

The purple stranger is screaming and screaming, and the green poplar is drawing a swing.

Tourists think of the peace incident and feel glad that the scenery is as good as before.