A Brief History of Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival, also known as Pure Brightness Festival, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China and a key solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar, with a history of more than 2,000 years. It was originally a seasonal marker guiding agricultural activities, but later integrated the customs of the Cold Food Festival and the Shangsi Festival, gradually evolving into a special occasion for both tomb-sweeping to honor ancestors and spring outings to enjoy nature.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Wen of Jin established the Cold Food Festival to commemorate his loyal official Jie Zitui. On this day, people stopped using fire, ate cold food, and visited graves to pay respect to the deceased. During the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court officially recognized tomb-sweeping on Cold Food Day as a formal ritual. As time went by, the Cold Food Festival and Qingming Festival gradually merged, making Qingming a significant day for ancestor worship.

Apart from remembering ancestors, Qingming also includes traditions like spring outings, planting willows, and flying kites. After sweeping tombs, people often go to the countryside to embrace the warmth of spring, showing respect for the past while cherishing the present life.

Today, Qingming Festival remains a time for family reunion and remembrance. It carries the traditional Chinese virtues of respecting ancestors and valuing life. In 2006, it was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, continuing to pass on the profound culture and moral values of the Chinese nation.