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Qingming Festival originated from Hanshi Day (literally, Day with cold food only), a memorial day for Jie Zitui, a historical character who died in 636 BC in the Spring and Autumn Period.
It is said that in the seventh century BC during the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Xiao was the monarch of the state of Jin. His eldest son, Shen Sheng should have inherited the throne on the death of his father. But Duke Xiao had other plans. He wanted the son of his favorite concubine, Li Ji, to succeed him as the ruler of Jin. Full story
Poetry about Qingming
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A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;
The mourner’s heart is breaking on his way.
Where can a winehouse be found to drown his sadness?
A cowherd boy points to Almond Flower Village in the distance.
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清明时节雨纷纷
路上行人欲断魂
借问酒家何处有
牧童遥指杏花村
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Social discrimination against undertakers still prevalent: green book
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Social discrimination is still serious against undertakers in China who are poorly-paid and suffer heavy work pressure and psychological problems, according to a green book on the country's funeral industry.
"Although undertakers' social status has risen compared with the 1970s and 1980s, discrimination against them is still prevalent," said the green book, jointly published by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think-tank, on Saturday. Full story
Ritual held in E.China's Shandong to commemorate ancient Chinese philosopher
JINAN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A sacrifice ritual of Confucius (551-479 B.C.), the great Chinese philosopher, was held in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, on Sunday, two days before the traditional Tomb Sweeping Day.
The ceremony was held Sunday morning at Nishan of Qufu, which was the birthplace of Confucius. Three hundreds distinguished guests and representatives of Confucius' descendants attended the ceremony amid solemn music. Full story
Chinese turn to greener tomb-sweeping for paying tribute to ancestors
BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- As low-carbon and green concepts become more popular, more Chinese are opting for environment-friendly ways to pay tribute to their ancestors and deceased loved ones.
Zhong Xiaoxing, a 55-year-old resident of Hohhot city in north China, bought silk flowers and would offer to his deceased father on annual Tomb-Sweeping Day, which falls on April 5 this year. Full story
Chinese netizens write own epitaphs before Tomb Sweeping Day
BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Although they will never read what is written on their tombstones after death, many Chinese netizens are composing their own epitaphs to sum up their lives.
Netease, one of China's portal websites, launched an activity on Wednesday, about a week before China's traditional Tomb Sweeping Festival, asking people to leave their own epitaphs on microblogs. Full story
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