Introduction
In China, Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, is a traditional holiday on April 4th or 5th. People usually pay respect to their ancestors by visiting their graves, offering flowers, cleaning the tombs, and burning incense. There are some legends and stories related to Qingming Festival that have been passed down from generation to generation. Let's take a look at some of them.
The Legend of Jie Zitui
One of the most famous legends associated with Qingming Festival is the story of Jie Zitui. Jie Zitui was a loyal servant of Duke Wen of Jin, who helped the duke to regain his throne. After Duke Wen became king, he rewarded his other ministers with high positions, except for Jie Zitui, who refused any reward and withdrew to live in seclusion with his mother in the forest. Duke Wen felt guilty and decided to visit Jie Zitui, but Jie Zitui refused to see him. The king then ordered his men to set the forest on fire to force Jie Zitui out. However, Jie Zitui died in the fire while his mother survived. The king felt remorseful and ordered a three-day mourning period, during which no fire was allowed to be lit, and only cold food could be eaten. This custom is still observed during Qingming Festival.
The Story of Mei Lanfang
Mei Lanfang was a famous Peking Opera master in the early twentieth century. He was known for his graceful and delicate performance, especially in female roles. According to the legend, Mei Lanfang's father passed away during the Qingming Festival, and Mei Lanfang was unable to perform his duties of tomb sweeping. He was so upset that he vowed to make up for it by performing a special opera with a tomb sweeping theme. The opera, called \"Han Gong Qiu,\" became one of Mei Lanfang's most famous works. In memory of his father, Mei then established a Mei-style Tomb Sweeping Day ceremony, which has become a tradition among Peking Opera performers.
The Legend of Zongzi
Another interesting custom during Qingming Festival is eating Zongzi, a traditional Chinese food made of glutinous rice wrapped with bamboo leaves, which originated from the story of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a patriotic poet and minister who lived in the state of Chu during the Warring States period of ancient China. After he was slandered and banished by his own king, Qu Yuan wrote many famous poems expressing his patriotism and sorrow. When his state was invaded by the state of Qin, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair. Local people rowed their boats to search for his body but failed. They then scattered rice wrapped in leaves into the river, to prevent fish from eating Qu Yuan's remains. This is said to be the origin of Zongzi. Nowadays, people eat Zongzi during Qingming Festival to commemorate Qu Yuan and show their respect for him.
Conclusion
Qingming Festival is not only a time to pay homage to ancestors, but also a time to cherish traditional culture and recall the historical events and legends. These legends and stories add more richness and meaning to the festival and make it more significant and memorable.
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