Monthly Archives: April 2012
Qing Ming (clear and bright)
Qing Ming (清明节), which means clear and bright in Mandarin, falls on April 4th this year. Qing Ming is also known as the Remembrance of Ancestors Day as well as the Grave Sweeping Day.
The Chinese would go to sweep and weed graves with their family to hold memorial ceremony for the dead on this festival. The ceremony could be carried out 10 days prior to the exact date and 10 days after it.
This custom can be traced back to over 1,000 years ago. In Tang Dynasty, the habit of taking an excursion on this day was developed.
People offer food to deceased relatives and burn incense to express filial piety. It is common to see families holding a picnic at their ancestors graves on this day of reflection and to honour the forefathers.
Share with you the famous poem Qing Ming commonly attributed to Du Mu, a famous Tang poet:
English translation:
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;
The mourner’s heart is breaking on his way.
Where can a winehouse be found to drown his sadness?
A cowherd boy points to Almond Flower (Xing Hua) Village in the distance.
posted by: Admin