Origins

It is said that the Qingming Festival was originally held to commemorate a loyal man living in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC), named Jie Zitui who cut a piece of meat from his own leg in order to save his hungry lord who was forced to go into exile when the crown was in jeopardy.

The lord came back to his position nineteen years later, and forgot Jie Zitui but later felt ashamed and decided to reward him.

However, Jie hid in a mountain with his mother. In order to find Jie, the lord ordered the mountain set on fire. Jie was later found dead with his mother.

The second year, when the lord went to the mountain to pay sacrifice to Jie, he found the willows revived, so he gave instructions that the day after Hanshi Festival was to be Qingming Festival. Later, the two festivals became combined as one - Qingming Festival.

Poem

Qingming was frequently mentioned in Chinese literature. Among these, the most famous one is probably Du Mu's poem (simply titled “Qingming”).

清明时节雨纷纷，

A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;

路上行人欲断魂。

The mourner's heart is breaking on his way.

借问酒家何处有

Where can a winehouse be found to drown his sadness?

牧童遥指杏花村

A cowherd points to Almond Flower (Xing Hua) Village in the distance.

                  Eating Cold Food

The Hanshi (Cold Food) Festival is usually one day before Qingming Festival. People don’t cook on this day and only cold food is served. As our ancestors often extended the day to Qingming, they were later combined.

                    Tomb Sweeping

Tomb sweeping during the Qingming Festival shows respect and offers sacrifice to ancestors at grave sites. According to the custom, when sweeping tombs, people offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, joss paper accessories, and libations to their ancestors, adding fresh soil to the grave, and sticking willow branches on the tomb. Kowtow is also an indispensable part of the custom.

Putting Willow Branches on Gates

During the Tomb Sweeping Festival, people wear soft willow branches and place the branches on gates and front doors in the belief that this will ward off wandering evil spirits during Qingming.