Legendary stories of Qingming Festival include Duke Wen of Jin forgetting his favor Jie Zi Pui and Liu Bang sacrificing his ancestors.

1, the Duke of Jin Wendong forgetting the kindness of Jie Zi Pui

According to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period, the Duke of Jin, Chong Er, went into exile to escape persecution. On the way to exile, in a deserted place, tired and hungry, no longer able to stand up. After half a day of searching, the ministers couldn't find anything to eat. When everyone was very anxious, the minister Jie Zi Tui went to a secluded place, cut a piece of meat from his own thigh, and cooked a bowl of broth for the duke to drink, which gradually restored the spirit of Chong Er, who was moved to tears when he realized that the meat had been cut by Jie Zi Tui from his own thigh.

Nineteen years later, Chong Er became the king of the country, the historical Duke Wen of Jin. He rewarded all the ministers who had accompanied him into exile, but forgot about Jie Zitui. Many people were angry with Jie Zi Tui and urged him to face the king to ask for rewards, but Jie Zi Tui despised those who competed for rewards. He packed his clothes and went to Mianshan Mountain with his mother to live quietly.

When Duke Wen of Jin heard about this, he was so ashamed that he went to ask Jie Zi push in person, but Jie Zi push had already left home and went to Mianshan Mountain. Mianshan Mountain is high and dangerous, dense trees, it is not easy to find the two people, some people suggested a plan, from three sides of the fire Mianshan, forcing out Jie Zi push. The fire burned all over the Mianshan Mountain, but did not see the figure of meson push, the fire went out, people realized that the back of his mother's meson push has been sitting under an old willow tree died.

Duke Wen of Jin saw the situation, weeping. When he was putting on the coffin, he found a piece of lapel from the hole of the tree, on which was written: "Cutting flesh to serve the king's danxin heart, but I hope that the lord is always clear." In order to honor Jie Zi Tui, Duke Wen of Jin ordered that this day be designated as the Cold Food Festival.

The next year, Duke Wen of Jin led his ministers on a mountain hike to pay homage to Jie Zi Tui and found that the old willow tree had risen from the dead, so he gave the old willow tree the name of "Qingming Willow", and announced to the world that the day after the Cold Food Festival should be designated as the Qingming Festival.

2. Liu Bang's Ancestral Worship

At the end of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang finally defeated the king and won the world. When Liu Bang returned to his hometown, he wanted to go to the graves of his parents to pay his respects, but because of the years of war, which made a grave full of weeds, he was unable to find his parents' graves. Liu Bang was very sad, although his subordinates also helped him to turn over all the tombstones, but still could not find his parents' graves until dusk.

Finally, Liu Bang took out the paper from his sleeve, tore it into many small pieces, pinched it tightly in his hand, and then prayed to the heavens, saying, "My parents are alive in heaven, I will take these pieces of paper and throw them into the air, and if the pieces of paper fall in a place where the wind does not move them, it is the graves of my parents."

After Liu Bang threw the pieces of paper into the air, a piece of paper fell on a tomb, no matter how the wind blew not to blow, Liu Bang ran over to take a closer look at the fuzzy tombstone, and saw that his parents' names were carved on it.

Later, the people, like Liu Bang, visited their ancestors' graves on the Ching Ming Festival every year and pressed a few pieces of paper onto the graves with a small piece of earth to show that the graves had been cleaned.

Customs of the Qingming Festival

1. Sweeping Tomb for Ancestors

The most important activity of the Qingming Festival is sweeping tomb for ancestors. People will go to the graves of their ancestors, organize the graves, burn paper money, offer flowers and food, and pay tribute to their deceased relatives and ancestors. It is also a way to show respect and gratitude.

2, trekking and enjoying flowers

Spring is the season when everything revives, and the Qingming Festival is just the beginning of spring, so people also go out to trekking and enjoying flowers at this time. In some places, a variety of temple fairs and folk activities are also held.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Qingming Festival

Reference: Shangguan News - The origin and customs of the Qingming Festival

Reference: Phoenix.com - The story of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, and the Qingming Festival, and how the festival became a custom