The Origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day's Custom Poems

The customs in Tomb-Sweeping Day are as follows:

1. Swing

This is the custom of ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day in 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 plays were popular in the Southern and Northern Dynasties.

Shoot willow trees

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.

Tomb-Sweeping Day's ancient poems are as follows:

The wind is loose, listen to the wind and rain? Song Dynasty: Wu Wenying

Listen to the wind and rain. Worried about grass and flowers. In front of the building is a dark road with a touch of willow and an inch of tenderness. In the cold spring, I was drinking wine, and I dreamed of singing warblers. ?

Xiyuan sweeps the forest pavilion every day. Still enjoying the new sunshine. The wasp frequently pounces on the Xiang Qiu rope. It has both time and delicate hands. I can't spend my honeymoon with melancholy. The secluded steps are covered with moss all night.

Translation:

Listening to the wind and rain, a person lives a clear and lonely life. Flowers buried everywhere, I am full of sadness to draft the inscription of buried flowers. The place where I said goodbye in front of the building is now a dense shade. Every wisp of willow has tenderness. It's chilly in spring, and I'm drinking alone, trying to reunite with the beauty through my dream, but I'm awakened by Yingying's song.

I send people to clean the pavilions and Woods in the West Garden every day, but I still come here to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the new sunny day. Bees often pounce on the swings and ropes you swing on, and the fragrance you leave in your hands. How sad I am, there is always no news of your beautiful image. On the lonely and empty steps, the moss grown overnight has turned green.

The origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day is as follows:

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.

Originally, the Cold Food Festival and Tomb-Sweeping Day were two different festivals. In the Tang Dynasty, the day of sweeping graves was designated as the Cold Food Festival. The correct date of the Cold Food Festival is from winter to the future 105, around Tomb-Sweeping Day. Because the two dates are similar, Tomb-Sweeping Day and Cold Food merged into one day.