Qingming Festival in China (清明節)

Today (April 5, 2019) is the Qingming Festival (清明節), one of the traditional festivals in China. This festival originated from the ancient Chinese kings' tradition of worshipping their ancestors and has become one of the oldest traditions that people continue to practice with care. The name Qingming Festival (清明節) literally means the time when spring brings creatures back to life, with the fullness of sunlight and suitable temperature allowing people to be in harmony with nature. It is one of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar. This period is determined as the most suitable time to visit ancestral graves.

During the most beautiful time when canola flowers bloom, I accompanied my friend from Hanzhong to visit their village and participate in grave visits. The burial site we reached by car in about half an hour was on a small mountain outside the city. Along the way, golden canola spread like carpets over hills and slopes, fresh greenery on plants, glittering white and pink sakura, the statuesque attitude of begonias dressed in red like a Chinese bride, and the shy and quiet blooming of the veil were feasting our eyes. Meanwhile, those winding mountain roads and the layered greenery surrounding the roadsides, with their breathtaking scenery, had also alleviated the sadness that everyone felt when remembering their ancestors. Nowadays, China's funeral customs have started to keep up with the times. Generally, many people's bodies are cremated, and the ashes are placed in collective graves. When people go to visit graves, they bring a bouquet of flowers (usually chrysanthemums or yellow flowers) and spend some time in silent contemplation at the graveside.

The kites we saw gliding in the sky are, according to my friend, a form of worship done during the Qingming Festival (清明節) in China and also an activity to remember and think about deceased ancestors.

I'm very happy to have experienced the traditional Chinese Qingming Festival (清明節) custom by accompanying my friend. After his grandfather died, his family buried him using the most traditional Chinese burial method of interment. They chose the top of a small mountain with its back to the mountain and facing water as the burial site (it is believed that choosing such a place brings good luck to future generations). As the mountain roads narrowed as we approached the cemetery, we had to park the car on the dirt road in the village and walk the rest of the way. At noon, when the sun was at its zenith, the sounds of cicadas and the heat of the dirt road drew us to the sparse shadows of trees falling on the path.

The kites we saw gliding in the sky are, according to my friend, a form of worship done during the Qingming Festival (清明節) in China and also an activity to remember and think about deceased ancestors. The origin and use of kites date back to about two thousand years ago, during the Spring and Autumn Period of China (770 BC - 221 BC). Kites were used as a means of transmitting information (containing different meanings according to color and shape) during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period (420 AD - 589 AD); during the Song Dynasty (960 AD - 1279 AD), it became one of the indispensable activities of the Qingming Festival (清明節) as it was one of the favorite activities of the elite.

After walking for 15-20 minutes, we reached my friend's grandfather's grave. It was the first time I saw a traditional Chinese grave. Its outer structure was made in the form of a small mound in a pyramid style from earth, with large round, oval stone slabs arranged in front, covered with moss, vines, and fallen leaves accumulated over the years. First, we raked the dried leaves off the grave with a bamboo rake and cleaned around and in front of the grave. My friend and his parents lit three incense sticks and a pair of candles in front of the grave, and then placed bread, meat, fruit, and a bottle of drink as offerings. Then they burned a stack of money, each worth a hundred thousand yuan, which they had brought to burn. There were at least a few billion yuan burned there, more than the deceased could spend even if they wanted to.

While burning the papers, I noticed my friend and his family reading something. I didn't understand much of what they said, but the general meaning was for their ancestors to come and collect the money and share it with their friends. At the same time, they made requests for the current and future generations to be healthy, have good jobs, and to rise and become richer. After the paper money was burned, we also set off sparklers and firecrackers, which was for good luck and was also the last activity showing that the ceremony was successfully completed.

In this Chinese traditional worship activity that I experienced with all its traditions, I once again saw that the world has very diverse cultures. I tried to compile this article and share it with you as soon as possible. (Since it is generally not considered appropriate to take photographs of activities such as worship and grave visits in Chinese traditions, I respected their feelings and did not take photographs, instead I am adding a landscape photo.)