The Qingming or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is a traditional Chinese festival on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This makes it the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, either 4 or 5 April in a given year.
Qingming has been regularly observed as a statutory public holiday in China. It became a public holiday in China in 2008.
The holiday is associated with the consumption of qingtuan, green dumplings made of glutinous rice and barley grass.
Origin of the Qingming Festival:
The festival originated from the Cold Food Festival ("Hanshi Festival"), established by Chong"er, Duke Wen of Jin, during the Spring and Autumn period. The festival was a memorial for his retainer Jie Zitui,who had loyally followed him during his years of exile. Supposedly, heonce even cut meat from his own thigh to provide Chong"er with soup.Once Chong"er was enthroned as duke, however, Jie considered hisservices no longer required and resigned. Although Duke Wen was generousin rewarding those who had helped him in his time of need, he longpassed over Jie, who had moved into the forest with his mother. Duke Wenwent to the forest in 636 BCbut could not find them. He then ordered his men to set fire to theforest in order to force Jie out. When Jie and his mother were killedinstead, the duke was overcome with remorse and ordered three dayswithout fire to honor Jie"s memory. The city erected over the formerforest is still called Jiexiu (lit. "Jie"s rest").
The Qingming Festival in literature:
Qingming was frequently mentioned in Chinese literature. Among these, the most famous one is probably Du Mu"s poem (simply titled "Qingming"):
中國清明節的英文介紹：
Brief introduction to the Qingming Festival:
The Qingming or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is a traditional Chinese festival on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This makes it the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, either 4 or 5 April in a given year.
Qingming has been regularly observed as a statutory public holiday in China. It became a public holiday in China in 2008.
The holiday is associated with the consumption of qingtuan, green dumplings made of glutinous rice and barley grass.
Origin of the Qingming Festival:
The festival originated from the Cold Food Festival ("Hanshi Festival"), established by Chong"er, Duke Wen of Jin, during the Spring and Autumn period. The festival was a memorial for his retainer Jie Zitui,who had loyally followed him during his years of exile. Supposedly, heonce even cut meat from his own thigh to provide Chong"er with soup.Once Chong"er was enthroned as duke, however, Jie considered hisservices no longer required and resigned. Although Duke Wen was generousin rewarding those who had helped him in his time of need, he longpassed over Jie, who had moved into the forest with his mother. Duke Wenwent to the forest in 636 BCbut could not find them. He then ordered his men to set fire to theforest in order to force Jie out. When Jie and his mother were killedinstead, the duke was overcome with remorse and ordered three dayswithout fire to honor Jie"s memory. The city erected over the formerforest is still called Jiexiu (lit. "Jie"s rest").
The Qingming Festival in literature:
Qingming was frequently mentioned in Chinese literature. Among these, the most famous one is probably Du Mu"s poem (simply titled "Qingming"):