Qingming Festival the Tomb Sweeping Day

Qingming, meaning Pure Brightness, is one of the 24 Solar Terms in the Traditional Chinese Calendar, occurring in early April. It signifies clear, warm, and cool weather, marking the commencement of growth in various aspects.

Additionally, it is a festival during which people worship spring, honor ancestors, sweep tombs, and go hiking.

Hence, the Qingming Festival is also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.

Part of the Painting (Qingming Shang He Tu) Along the River During the Qingming Festival of the Song Dynasty

Part of the Painting (Qingming Shang He Tu) Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Artist Zhang Zeduan of the Song Dynasty

Part of the Genre Painting of the Capital City (Bianjing or Kaifeng) of the Song Dynasty by Artist Zhang Zeduan

Along the River During the Qingming Festival or Qingming Shang He Tu, Genre Painting of the Capital City (Bianjing or Kaifeng) of the Song Dynasty by Artist Zhang Zeduan (1085 — 1145) — The Palace Museum

When is the Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival Origin: Hanshi and Shangsi Festivals

Hanshi Festival or Cold Food Festiva

Shangsi Festival or Double Third Festival

Customs, Traditions, and Celebration Activities of Qingming Festival

When is the Qingming Festival

The date of the Qingming Festival varies each year because it is one of the 24 Solar Terms, whose exact dates differ each year.

Nowadays, it usually falls on the 4th, 5th, or 6th of April in the Gregorian Calendar.

Part of Genre Painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" (Qingming Shanghe Tu) by Qiu Ying (about 1498 — 1552) — Liaoning Museum

Qingming Festival Origin: Hanshi and Shangsi Festivals

Qingming, being a solar term, is close to two important ancient festivals: Hanshi Festival and Shangsi Festival, both of which were celebrated in early March in the Traditional Chinese Calendar.

Since the Tang Dynasty (618 — 907), the customs and traditions of Cold Food and the Shangsi Festival merged and formed the Qingming Festival.

Part of the Painting (Qingming Shang He Tu) Along the River During the Qingming Festival, Genre Painting of the Suzhou City of the Ming Dynasty by Artist Qiu Ying (1497 — 1552)

Part of the painting 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival,' a genre painting depicting Suzhou City during the Ming Dynasty by artist Qiu Ying (1497–1552) at the Liaoning Museum.

Cold Food Festival or Hanshi Festival

Since the Neolithic period, people would obtain new fire in the spring for the new year through a grand sacrifice ceremony.

To prevent the risk of wildfires, preceding this elaborate rite, it was imperative to extinguish all fires obtained in the previous year.

In this interval without the warmth of fire, a unique tradition emerged, compelling people to indulge exclusively in cold food.

Hence the Cold Food Festival.

Calligraphy of Famous Scholar Su Shi (1037 — 1101), Named on Cold Food Festival (Han Shi Tie)

Calligraphy of Su Shi (1037 — 1101), Named on Cold Food Festival (Hanshi Tie) — Taipei Palace Museum

Another story, also the most popular origin, associates the tradition of eating cold food on a specific day with Ji Chonger (about 697 BC — 628 BC), the Duke Wen of Jin.

This practice is in memory of Jie Zitui (? — 636 BC), a loyal official who saved Duke Wen of Jin's life.

In his youth, Prince Ji Chonger faced exile orchestrated by his stepmother, enduring years outside his country and constantly evading assassination attempts.

Once, when he ran to a mountain and fainted from starvation, his dedicated follower, Jie, fed him some meat and saved his life; soon, he found that Jie used his flesh to save him.

Years later, after overcoming his enemies and ascending to the throne, Prince Ji Chonger, now Duke Wen of Jin, sought to reward his loyal followers.

Bronze Bottles of the Spring and Autumn Period — Shanxi Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

However, Jie had chosen a life of seclusion by then. Determined to find him, the duke arrived at Mount Mian, where Jie and his old mother resided.

Jie, unwilling to accept any reward, hid in a challenging-to-find location.

At the suggestion of a general, the duke set fire to the mountain, expecting Jie and his mother to emerge. Unfortunately, after the fire subsided, only their lifeless bodies were discovered beneath a giant willow tree.

Overwhelmed with sorrow and guilt, the duke commanded that no fire be used, and everyone should consume only cold food on that day.

Miraculously, the dead willow tree, the site of Jie and his mother's passing, came back to life.

Believing it to be Jie's incarnation, the duke prayed to the tree, took a branch as a memento, and departed.

Since that time, the traditions of eating cold food and snapping willow twigs have become integral activities on this memorial day.

Qingming Festival Customs, Painted by Artist Chun Yang.

Shangsi Festival or Double Third Festival

The Shangsi Festival used to be a crucial occasion for ancient people to bathe in rivers and lakes, sometimes incorporating specific types of herbs, with the belief that the water would cleanse away diseases and bad luck.

Originally observed in early March, the Shangsi Festival was officially designated to fall on the 3rd of March in the Traditional Chinese Calendar after the Han Dynasty (202 BC — 220 AD), hence it is also named the Double Third Festival.

Over time, the act of bathing evolved into a more ceremonial practice.

Shangsi gradually transformed into a popular festival, drawing people together for activities such as hiking, feasting, and banquets around scenic water areas.