The origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day
During the Spring and Autumn Period, civil strife occurred in the State of Jin. Jin Xiangong was partial, wanted to abolish the Prince and made his son the Prince, which triggered a series of struggles.
Prince Shen Sheng was framed to death by Li Ji; Fearing to flee, the son Yi Wuhe took refuge in Zhai, accompanied by many wise men, mainly five people, namely: Hu Yan, Zhao Shuai, Wei Gui, Si and Jie Zitui. Meson Tui fled with Zhong Er 19 years. Sleeping in the wind, hungry and cold, be prepared for "difficulties and hardships." Zhong Er was finally able to return to the State of Jin and become the king of the State of Jin. Meson did his best.
Zhong Er died at an early age, and his father Jin Xiangong succeeded to his throne, and then his brother Jin Gonghui succeeded to his throne. Zhong Er is often hungry and naked. One year, when he fled to Weiguo, an attendant named Clue stole all the supplies and food of Zhong Er and fled to the mountains. Hunger is unbearable without food in Zhong Er. When Zhong Er asked the farmers for food, he didn't want to come to dinner, but the farmers joked that they would use mud as food. Later, Zhong Er almost fainted from hunger. In order to keep Zhong Er alive, meson pushed him into the ravine, cut a piece of meat on his leg and cooked it with the picked wild vegetables for Zhong Er to eat. Zhong Er licked his mouth after drinking the soup, and even said it was delicious. Soon, he slowly recovered his strength and continued on his way. At this time, Zhong Er found Jie Zhitui limping and puzzled. After several questions, he didn't understand the truth. Zhong Er was very moved and claimed that one day he would become king, and he would repay Jiexiu and reward Jiexiu. It is really commendable that meson tui was so loyal when Zhong Er suffered a disaster.
After the end of 19 years' escape, Zhong Er suddenly changed from a fugitive to Jin Wengong, which happened to be the indoor chaos of the King of Zhou. Jin Wengong sent troops to Qin Wang to successfully quell the civil strife, and Jin Wengong gradually became one of the famous five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period. After Jin Wengong succeeded, he rewarded those who fled with him at that time, but somehow, he just forgot to introduce him. In this regard, meson push did not take the initiative to ask for a reward like Hu Yan and Hu Shu. He said that Jin Wengong's return to China was an act of God. Jie Zitui thinks that the behavior of Zhongjun is natural and does not need to be rewarded. It is shameful to accept the reward. Hu Yan and others think that they have credit, are thieves who steal other people's property, and are difficult to get along with. Jie Zitui has no resentment towards Jin Wengong, nor is he greedy for fame and fortune. Some despise Hu Yan and Uncle Hu's pursuit of wealth. For example, some people who didn't run away with Jin Wengong had to say some ugly words in exchange for petty gain. Jiezitui was very angry about this, and then lived in Mianshan, becoming a hermit who didn't eat Lu Jun.
Jiezitui refused to be rewarded, and once wrote a poem, "There are dragonflies in the world. Five snakes follow it, Tamenojo assists. The dragon betrayed his hometown and got his place. Four snakes followed around and got the rain and dew of the dragon. A snake died of shame in nakano. " The neighbor explained Zhang's grievance, wrote a letter and hung it on the city gate at night.
After seeing this poem, Jin Wengong regretted his ingratitude, and quickly sent someone to ask meson to push it to seal it, only to know that he had disappeared in Mianshan. Jin Wengong personally took all the horses to visit Mianshan. Who knows Mianshan winds for dozens of miles, and the mountains are deep in forests, but they can't be found. Jin Wengong, eager for help, listened to the villain and ordered the mountain to be burned on three sides. Unexpectedly, the fire burned for three days, and there was no shadow of meson push. Jin Wengong had people set fires in front of and behind the mountain, which lasted for several miles in Fiona Fang. The fire didn't go out for three days, and the meson push didn't come out after all.
Later, the bones of mother and son were found under a withered willow tree. Jin Wengong was very sad. He cried and worshipped in front of meson's body for a while, and then buried the body. He found that the back of meson push was blocked by a willow hole, and there seemed to be something in the hole. I took it out and saw that it was a skirt with a bloody poem engraved on it: "May my Lord be clear forever." It is better to be a ghost than to accompany you as an exhorter. If your master has me in his heart, remember that I often reflect. I have a clear conscience in Jiuquan, diligent and honest. "
At this time, Jin Wengong was very sad to express his sadness. Immediately stipulate this day as the Cold Food Festival. In order to punish their mistakes, the whole country is ordered not to light a fire and eat cold food on this day every year.
Jin Wengong took a charred wicker back to the palace and made a pair of clogs. He looked at it every day and sighed, "What a pity." Since then, "the first step" has become a title of mutual respect between subordinates and superiors or peers, which is said to come from this.
On this day in the second year, Jin Wengong went up to the mountain to offer sacrifices to Jiexiu, and found that the charred willow was revived. A fresh and tender green bud was sent out, and it was immediately designated as Qingming Willow, and this day was designated as Tomb-Sweeping Day, which was intended to commemorate meson Tui and warn himself to be clear at all times.
This festival spread for a long time, and later evolved into a sacrificial activity to commemorate ancestors. So far, Tomb-Sweeping Day has been designated as a legal holiday. This is not only a respect for ancestors, but also a good opportunity for busy people to relax and go for an outing!
The custom of Tomb-Sweeping Day
1, sweeping the grave:
In fact, grave-sweeping existed before the Qin Dynasty, but not necessarily during the Qingming period, but after the Qin Dynasty. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that it became popular.
Tomb-Sweeping Day's grave-sweeping, for ancestors, is called "respecting the time". Therefore, people should bring food, wine, fruit, paper money and other items to the cemetery, offer food to the graves of their loved ones, then burn the paper money, cultivate new soil for the graves, fold a few fresh green branches and insert them in the graves, then kowtow, and finally go home after eating the food.
2. Go for an outing:
Hiking is also called spring outing. It was called Tanchun and Xunchun in ancient times. March is clear, spring returns to the earth, and nature is full of vitality everywhere, which is a good time to go for an outing. The folk in our country have long maintained the habit of enjoying flowers on sunny days. In ancient times, many people traveled together on a huge scale. Nowadays, family or friends are basically traveling together to enjoy the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers and rural scenery.
Step 3 swing:
In ancient times, Tomb-Sweeping Day had the custom of swinging. Swing, there is the word "skin" next to the ancient word, and the thousand-character script also takes the word away, which means pulling the leather rope to move. As early as ancient times, people created the activity of swinging in climbing in order to get food from high places. It was originally called "Qian Qiu". Legend has it that it was created by Shanrong people in the north during the Spring and Autumn Period. At first, it was just a rope, swinging around with both hands grasping the rope. Later, Qi Huangong levied northern army and brought "Qian Qiu" into the Central Plains. In the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the word "Qian Qiu" was used in the palace as a birthday greeting, meaning "Qian Qiu will live forever". Later, in order to avoid taboos, the word "Qian Qiu" was reversed to "swing". Later it gradually evolved into a swing with two ropes and pedals. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, swinging became a light and agile game for women to practice. When playing on the swing, people swing around in the air and fly freely, which is very interesting. Because Tomb-Sweeping Day swings everywhere, some people call it "Swing Festival".
4. Cuju:
Bow is a rubber ball, the skin of which is made of leather, and the ball is stuffed with wool. Cuju is kicking the ball with your feet. This is a popular game in ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day.
It originated from Linzi, the ancient capital of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Most emperors in the Tang and Song Dynasties attached importance to cuju, a military training method, and watched it in person when they met. There are good things in the world, but there are bad things in the world Widely carried out, there are often scenes of "the ball will not drop for a day" and "the ball will not leave the foot, the foot will not leave the ball, and the Huating will watch the battle and thousands of people will pay tribute".
China's traditional culture with Confucianism as its core emphasizes harmony and moderation, while social and cultural psychology emphasizes "cultural governance" and ignores "martial morality" in most cases. People admire the gentleness of a modest gentleman, but despise Confucius' aggressive spirit and martial arts. In this social and cultural background, Cuju gradually evolved from an antagonistic competition to a performance competition.
Some people say that it was invented by the Yellow Emperor, and its original purpose was to train warriors.
5. Planting trees:
Before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, the spring was bright and the spring rain was falling, and the survival rate of planted seedlings was high and the growth was fast. Therefore, China has the habit of planting trees in Qingming since ancient times. Some people even call Tomb-Sweeping Day Arbor Day. The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. 1979, the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) stipulated March 12 every year as China's Arbor Day. This is of great significance to mobilize people of all ethnic groups in China to actively carry out activities to green the motherland.
6. Fly a kite:
Flying kites is also the most popular activity in Tomb-Sweeping Day. During their stay in Tomb-Sweeping Day, people not only wore it during the day, but also at night. At night, a string of colorful lanterns, like twinkling stars, is hung under the kite or on the stay wire, which is called "magic lamp". Someone used to put kites in the blue sky, then cut the strings and let the breeze send them to the ends of the earth. It is said that this can eliminate diseases and disasters and bring good luck to yourself.
7. Willow in Liu Dai:
Tomb-Sweeping Day has beautiful spring breeze and trees. People go hiking, sweeping graves and going to graves on this day. Everyone should wear willow, and willow branches should be inserted at the door of every household. Where did this custom come from? Legend has something to do with Liu Yong, a great poet in the Song Dynasty. It is said that Liu Yong lives a dissolute life and often travels between Huajie Liuxiang. Geisha at that time loved their talents and were proud of being favored by Liu Yong. However, Liu Yong was not allowed to have a career because of his bad life. Although he passed the Jinshi, he died in poverty in Xiangyang. His funeral expenses were all raised by singers who admired him. Every year in Tomb-Sweeping Day, the singer will plant willow branches in front of his grave as a souvenir. It has become a custom to plant willow branches on Qingming Festival. In fact, this custom existed as early as the Tang Dynasty. People in the Tang Dynasty believed that wearing willow branches when offering sacrifices by the river on March 3 could get rid of the harm of poisonous insects. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the custom of inserting willows in Tomb-Sweeping Day was very popular. When people come back from an outing, they stay at home to avoid insects. Whether recorded in folklore or historical records, planting willows in Tomb-Sweeping Day is always related to avoiding diseases and epidemics. During the Spring Festival, the climate gets warmer, and all kinds of germs begin to multiply in large numbers. People can only hope to shake willows and branches in the case of poor medical conditions.
There is another saying in Tomb-Sweeping Day: It turns out that China people regard Tomb-Sweeping Day, July 30th and the first day of October as the three major ghost festivals, which are the time for ghosts to haunt and ask for help. People stick around to prevent ghosts from harassing and persecuting. Willow has the function of ward off evil spirits in people's minds. Influenced by Buddhism, people think that willows can exorcise ghosts and call them "ghost trees". Guanyin dipped willow branches in water to help all beings. In fact, Liu can have many symbolic meanings. The ancients endowed Liu with various feelings, so it is reasonable to borrow Liu to send feelings.
In a word, Tomb-Sweeping Day has two meanings: nature and humanity. One of the 24 solar terms is also a traditional festival to worship ancestors. "Twenty-four solar terms" is the product of ancient farming civilization, which is related to the time of gossip and has a long history.