Tomb-Sweeping Day's customs are rich and interesting. In addition to paying attention to the prohibition of fire to sweep graves, there are a series of customs and sports activities such as jogging, swinging, cuju, playing polo and inserting willows. According to legend, this is because Tomb-Sweeping Day wants to ban cold food and fire. In order to prevent the harm of cold food and cold meal to people, we all take part in some sports activities to exercise. Therefore, this festival is a distinctive festival, with both sad tears to sweep graves and laughter for an outing.
[sweeping the grave] Qingming sweeping the grave is called "respect for missing time" for ancestors. Its customs have a long history. In the Ming Dynasty's "A Brief Introduction to the Scenery of the Imperial Capital", it was written: "On the Qingming Festival in March, men and women visited graves and paid tribute to them, and gold ingots were hung behind sedan chairs, making noise all over the street. Worshipers, mourners, weeping, weeding, adding soil to graves, burning ingots several times, and buying graves with paper money. If you can't see the paper money, it will be a lonely grave. After crying, don't go back, go to the fragrant tree, choose the garden, and sit down and get drunk. " 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. Qing thomas lee said, "On New Year's Eve, the Cold Food Festival and the First Frost Festival, you should offer sacrifices to sweep the graves. During the period, I will serve my bed with vegetarian food, use wine and tools for cutting vegetation, seal trees in the middle of the week, and break Cao Jing, so it is called sweeping the grave. " And spread to this day.
According to time-honored customs and habits, in the old days, Beijingers mostly visited graves on Qingming Day, but the grave-sweeping ceremony was not held on Qingming Day, but on Singles Day near Qingming Day. It is said that only monks offer sacrifices to sweep graves in Tomb-Sweeping Day.
Tomb-Sweeping Day's sweeping ceremony was supposed to be held in person, but because of the different economic conditions of each family, the way of sweeping was different.
"Burning a bundle" is the main form of paying homage to ancestors. The so-called "baggage", also known as "parcel", refers to the postal parcel that Xiao sent from Shi Yang to the underworld. In the past, Nanzhi store sold the so-called "wrapped skin", that is, a big bag was pasted with white paper. There are two forms: one is a woodcut version with Sanskrit transliteration of "Death Mantra" printed around it, and a lotus memorial tablet printed in the middle with the name of the deceased who received the money, such as "The late Zhang Fujun was afraid of the boss in Yunshan", which is both a package and a memorial tablet. The other is plain foreskin, which does not print any patterns. Just put a blue sign in the middle and write down the name of the deceased. Also used as a master card.
There are many kinds of money in the bag. First burn paper, nine k white paper, and smash four rows of round money, five for each row; Second, Mingbi, which is copied after foreign currency tickets are available in the world, is written with the words "Paradise Bank", "Ghost Bank" and "Hell Bank", with a pattern of □ capital, mostly with a huge face value, and a Buddhist "death curse" printed on the back; 3. Fake foreign currency, with cardboard as the core and wrapped in silver foil, suppressing the same pattern as the prevailing silver dollar at that time; Fourth, the "death curse" printed in red on yellow paper is round money, so it is also called "death money"; Five, with gold foil and silver foil stacked ingots, hammers, and some string into a string, with a colored paper ear at the bottom.
In the old society, no matter rich or poor, there was a burning burden. On that day, a confession case was set up in the ancestral hall or the main room of the family house, with the luggage in the middle. In front of it, there are offerings such as jiaozi, cakes and fruits, burning incense and holding candles. After the whole family salutes according to their generations, they can be incinerated outside the door. When incinerating, draw a big circle and leave a gap in the direction of the cemetery. Burning three or five pieces of paper outside the circle is called "special delivery."
Some rich people want to take their families and their families to the grave to pay homage. At this time, it is necessary to repair the grave, or symbolically add soil to the grave and put some paper money on it to let others see and know that there are descendants in this grave. After the sacrifice, some people sat around to eat and drink; Others fly kites and even compete with each other for entertainment. Women and children will also fold some Yang Liuzhi nearby and put on steamed food with wicker. Others put wicker into reeds and put them on their heads, saying, "If you don't wear willow in Qingming Festival, you will become a yellow dog in the afterlife." This is a grave-sweeping and an outing. You can't go home until you are happy.
According to legend, the custom of inserting willows is also to commemorate Shennong, the ancestor of farming who taught people to cultivate crops. In some places, people put willow branches under the eaves to forecast the weather. There is an old saying that "the willow branches are green and the rain is raining;" The saying that there is another village. During the period of Huang Chao, it was stipulated that "Qingming lasts for a period, and Liu Dai is the number". After the failure of the uprising, the custom of wearing willow was gradually eliminated, and only willow was popular. Willow has a strong vitality, as the saying goes: "If you plant flowers with your heart, you will plant willows without your heart. "Wicker lives when it is planted in the soil, and it lives where it is planted. When it is planted year after year, it becomes gloomy everywhere.
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. In order to prevent the harassment and persecution of ghosts, people put willows and put them on. 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. Jia Sixie of the Northern Wei Dynasty said in the Book of Qi Yao Min: "Take a willow branch and put it on the house, and a hundred ghosts will not enter the house." Tomb-Sweeping Day is a ghost festival. When wicker sprouted, people naturally inserted willows to ward off evil spirits.
The Han people have the custom of "folding willows to bid farewell": Baqiao is in Chang 'an East, crossing the water is the bridge, and the Han people send guests to this bridge and fold willows to bid farewell. Li Bai has a saying: "Willow falls every year, Lingling hurts." In ancient times, on both sides of Chang 'an Baqiao, the embankment was ten miles long, one step at a time. Many people who walk from Chang 'an East come here to bid farewell to their loved ones and fold willow branches to bid farewell to their loved ones, because "willow" is homophonic with "stay" to show the meaning of retaining. This custom originated from the Book of Songs. Xiaoya. "I have been there, Yangliuyiyi" in "Picking Wei". Send a willow tree as a parting gift to express feelings that are inseparable and reluctant to part. Willow is a symbol of spring. Willow swaying in spring always gives people a feeling of prosperity. "Farewell to the Willows" contains the wish that "spring is always there". The ancients sawed off the willows and sent them to each other, which also meant that their relatives, such as willow branches, left their hometown. I hope that when they arrive in a new place, they can take root and sprout quickly, as if willow branches can grow everywhere. It's a good wish for friends. There are also many references to folding willows to give people away in ancient poems. Quan Deyu's poem in Tang Dynasty: "Give me new knowledge", Song Dynasty's poem: "There are no green willows on the other side of the road, don't worry", and Ming Dynasty's poem: "Give someone away when you are old, and the willows on the edge of the city will be folded." Chen Weisong's Ci in Qing Dynasty: "How many border crossings are left? Want a discount. " People will not only feel sad when they see willow trees, but also touch their mood when they hear the song "Breaking Willow". Li Bai's "Smelling the flute in Los Angeles on a Spring Night": "Everyone can't stand the homesickness." 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.
[Liu Dai] In the Qingming Festival, some people put willow branches around their heads, some people scrape tender willow branches into flowers and put them in the bun, and some people put willow branches directly in the bun. Notes on Tian Rucheng's West Lake Tour in Ming Dynasty: Qingming, "Every willow is green and lovely, and can be worn by men and women."
Modern Wuhu ancient and modern: Qingming, "In the morning, the market sells willows, and every family breaks a willow dipped in clear water and inserts it into the lintel, and women wear willow balls on their temples."
At present, I heard that wicker is sold along the street. When I met my sister next door, a plant was planted obliquely in Lv Yun. "There is a folk proverb that says," If you don't wear willow in Qingming Festival, a beauty will have bright eyes. ""Qingming doesn't wear willow, it turns yellow after death. " "Qingming does not wear willow, and the afterlife becomes a pig and dog. "This shows that Liu Dai has the function of exorcism. The custom of wearing willow is everywhere in Tomb-Sweeping Day.
"Huai 'an County Records" in the second year of Guangxu in Qing Dynasty: Qingming, "Put willow in the door, and men and women also wear it. As the saying goes,' Qingming does not wear a willow, and a beauty returns to a bald head'. In the Qing Dynasty, willows were inserted in most parts of China to ward off evil spirits, but some places had the meaning of "Jinianhua", saying, "If you don't wear willows in Qingming Festival, a beautiful woman will become a head". This custom is the remains of the "cold food" crown ceremony in Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, the time for male and female adults to perform the coronation ceremony was unified in the "Cold Food Festival", regardless of the date of birth. "All officials and people, regardless of family size and children, will be crowned on this day." (Meng Liang Lu) is a symbol of adulthood. Based on this, later generations have the legacy of "Ji Nianhua", which has evolved into the custom of women wearing willow balls in their temples to pray for the beauty to stay forever. Here, green willows symbolize youth. Women wear willows in spring, which is a treasure and nostalgia for youth.
[Swing] There was a custom of swinging in ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day. 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, in order to get food from high places, people created the activity of swinging in climbing. 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, Duke Heng of Qi levied Northern Mountain Rong and brought "Qian Qiu" to 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. "The Legacy of Kaiyuan Tianbao" records: "From the palace to the Cold Food Festival, a swing was set up, which made the ladies-in-waiting laugh and think it was a feast. The emperor called it a half-fairy play."
It has a very long history. It was originally called Qian Qiu, but later it was changed into a swing to avoid taboos. In ancient times, swings were made of branches and tied with ribbons. Later, it gradually developed into two ropes, a pedal swing. Playing swing can not only improve health, but also cultivate courage, which is deeply loved by people, especially children.
[Flying a kite] Flying a kite is also Tomb-Sweeping Day's favorite activity. During their stay in Tomb-Sweeping Day, people not only wore it during the day, but also at night. At night, a string of colored lanterns is hung under the kite or on the wind-stabilizing stay, like twinkling stars, 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. Some people write all their troubles on paper when flying a kite, and let it fly into the blue sky with the kite, thinking that all their troubles will go with the wind.
[Walking] is also called a 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 kept the custom of Tomb-Sweeping Day's outing for a long time. According to the "History of Song Dynasty", "Ten days before and after the Qingming Festival, women and men in the city were adorned with colorful gold ornaments, singing and dancing side by side, and painting boats, playing flutes and drums all day long." People come to the countryside with food and throw themselves into nature. The wind of going for an outing in the Song Dynasty prevailed, and the famous painter Zhang Zeduan's genre painting The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival vividly depicts the lively scene of people going for an outing in Kyoto during the Qingming Festival in the Song Dynasty.
[Tree Planting] Before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, the spring is bright, the spring is bright, and the spring rain is flying. The planted seedlings have high survival rate and fast growth. 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.
[Cuju] "Ju" is a kind of ball. Cuju was a favorite game of kicking the ball with feet in ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day. According to Shuo Yuan, it is said that it was invented by the Yellow Emperor to train warriors.
"Ju" became popular in the Warring States Period. At that time, the bow was "skin for it, hair for it" In the Tang Dynasty, the bladder of an animal was used as the bladder, and it was inflated to increase the elasticity of the ball, so it could be punched and kicked.
About the Han dynasty, there was a monograph "Cuju Jing". During the Tang and Song Dynasties, a special club named "Round Club" for Cuju appeared. Du Fu's poem "Cuju will be rewarded in ten years, and Wan Li's swinging customs are the same", which shows that Cuju was very prosperous in the Tang Dynasty.
The Tang Dynasty described the scene of a football match in Balloon Ode, which was "cold food, beautiful scenery, competition, sudden noise, or marbling, and the tomb was as empty as a full moon". At that time, there were two people "playing in vain" in the ball game, that is, the outcome was determined by the pattern and number of kicks; There are also three actors in officialdom. In the Song Dynasty, the goal began to be used, and at the same time, there were referees to judge the outcome, which was the predecessor of modern football. Cuju is very popular not only among the people, but also in the palace. Wei Zhuang said in Tomb-Sweeping Day in Chang 'an: "At the beginning of the inner palace, the Qingming fire was given, and the upper phase was free of money. "Wang Jian also said in" Gong Ci ":"On the two floors in front of the temple, the cold-eating palace ladies play ball. "
Wei's poem "Playing Cuju with Drums in the Army" in "A Cold Food in the North Building" shows that in addition to expanding troops among the people and the palace, football activities are also carried out in the army.
It is said that Tang Xizong likes playing football very much. He once boasted about Xi You's wild boar: "If you enter the Jinshi, you will be the champion." . Song Huizong also likes cuju very much. The reason why Gao Qiu wins Hui Zong's favor is that he plays well.
[Cockfighting] As a recreational activity, cockfighting was quite popular as early as the Spring and Autumn Period. It spread to the Tang Dynasty and became all the rage. The custom of cockfighting was mainly formed in the Qingming period.
Tang Xuanzong loved cockfighting very much before he ascended the throne. After he ascended the throne, he specially built a henhouse in the palace, selected and raised more than 1000 cocks with "golden hair and iron distance, high crown and high tail" and sent 500 children to take charge of training. The emperor was like this, and the powerful rushed to follow suit. Many people have spent a lot of money on this, or even lost all their money. Because of the popularity of cockfighting, both men and women in the city fight cocks, and the poor have no money to buy chickens, so they take pleasure in playing fake chickens.
Legend has it that during a trip, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty met Jia Chang, a child playing with wooden chickens. Xuanzong summoned the children to the palace to train the roosters in the henhouse. Because Jia Chang was well-trained and deeply appreciated by Xuanzong, he "gave gold and silk and will come to his home in the future." At that time, Jia Chang was called the "God Chicken Boy" and his social status changed day by day. When his father died, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ordered "the county magistrate to bury the car for the burial device". At that time, there was a poem that ironically said, "When a child is born, he doesn't need to read, and cockfighting is better than reading. The Jia family is thirteen years old, and its wealth and splendor are not as good as that generation. "
Early records of cockfighting can be found in Qi Ce, Zuo Zhuan and Historical Records. "Three Auxiliary Huang Tu" records that there was a cockfighting platform in Changle Palace in Han Dynasty. There are common cockfighting pictures in stone reliefs and brick reliefs in Han Dynasty. Tang described the scene of chicken fighting incisively and vividly in "Ode to Cold Food and Chicken Fighting Should Be taught by the King of Qin": "Cold food in the eastern suburbs leads to competition. At the beginning of the corolla, mustard plumes blow. Take into account the enemy's mind and courage, and be heroic first. Long warping frequency scanning array, claws repeatedly. Flying hair is full of green fields, and blood is sprinkled on the fragrant bushes. Although it is victorious, it will be self-defeating. "