BY CRYSTAL WONG
The Ching Ming Festival, also known as “Tomb Sweeping Day”, is a practice by the Chinese to visit and clean their ancestors’ graves every year. It will last for 20 days — 10 days before April 4, and 10 days after.
Ching Ming is not only celebrated in China but also in various countries throughout Southeast Asia. It has been observed for over 2,500 years. Large crowds would throng the cemeteries to remember their deceased loved ones and pay their respects with offerings.
How did this practice come about? There are many stories passed down from generations to generations. One that made the most sense is about a Chinese emperor named Liu Bang.
After raising a rebellion against the Qin Empire in the late Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang conquered the territories and defeated rival armies to emerge as the emperor of the Han Empire.
Liu Bang decided to return to his hometown, Fenyu Village, to visit his parents’ grave.
Unfortunately, due to of years of war, the graves were covered with weeds. The tombstones were toppled, some were broken, making it impossible to identify the words on them.
Liu Bang then assembled his soldiers to search for his parents’ gravestone. Until sunset, there was still no sign of his parents’ grave.
Liu Bang then took out a piece of paper, shredded it, and prayed to God: “My father and mother are alive in the skies, and now the wind is blowing.
“I will throw these small pieces of paper into the air. If the pieces of paper falls onto one place and no matter how much the wind blows, if it doesn’t budge it will be where my parents lie.”
Finally, a piece of paper landed on a gravestone, and Liu Bang took a closer look.
He saw the names of his parents engraved on it. He ordered carpenters to rebuild the tombstone.
This is a well-known practice where the deceased’s family members will place a few hell notes (paper money) under a rock to symbolise that the grave has been visited and cleaned.
Customs and Traditions
The tradition of the Ching Ming Festival is that family members of the deceased will bring fruits, vegetables and wine to offer to the deceased’s spirit.
After the ritual, which is mainly by bowing and kneeling, some family members will bring the food back home and consume it themselves.
Another custom is paper gifts. There are various material goods, including hell notes, cars, houses and also servants.
These gifts are burnt, supposedly these offerings would ensure the ancestors’ material wellbeing in the afterworld.
Ching Ming translates to “clear and bring festival” because the fogs will slowly disappear during this period in China. The environment will become clearer and brighter; hence it is how it got its name. It also resembles “All Souls Day”, which is widely celebrated the world over.
Although there is a pandemic, families will still perform these rituals at the cemeteries during Ching Ming. They are advised to continue following Covid-19 standard operating procedure guidelines.
