In Asian beliefs, it is believed to always tie loose ends with a person before their deaths. Being in debt with the dead would only bring misfortune to an individual throughout the rest of their lives until the debt is fulfilled or repaid. Qingming creates a method for the Chinese to bring a closure to all their loose ends while paying their respects to their ancestors.
In China, Qingming, or Tomb Sweeping Day in English, is a day dedicated to paying one’s respects to their family’s ancestors. The origin of Qingming begins with Jie Zitui, who had loyally followed Chong’er, Duke Wen of Jin. However, when Chong’er became duke, he repaid all those who supported him graciously, but skipped over Jie. When Duke Wen attempted to find Jie for repayment, he never found him. Jie had moved into the forests with his mother, so Duke Wen ordered his troops to set the forest on fire. Accidentally killing Jie and his mother, Duke Wen ordered three days without fire to honor Jie’s memory. A year later, the duke returned to the grave to find a willow tree in blossom. The lost forest is still called Jiexiu, meaning “Jie’s rest.”
Honoring the dead, just like Duke Chong’er did, provided a sense of closure from remorse and allowed the living to say thank you to the dead. In the film The Nightingale, Zhu Zhi Gen travels across China to pay his respects to his late wife’s grave, as well to fulfill his promise. Qingming provides a way to honor one’s ancestors at their grave sites by sweeping their tombs, offering them tea, wine, chopsticks, and/or libations. Zhu Zhi Gen brings a nightingale to his former wife and said one last goodbye to her, and releasing it for one last flight.
The purpose of Qingming is to honor one’s ancestors and hope for fortune from them. So this year’s Qingming on April 4th, visit your ancestor’s graves and tie up any loose ends. Remember your ancestors’ legacy, enjoy their lives as well as your own, and wish for the best.
