QING MING JIE£¨ÇåÃ÷½Ú£©
Qing Ming Jie is a period to remember, honour and pay respect to one's deceased ancestors
and family members. It reinforces filial piety in the Chinese community by letting
them make special effort to visit the grave, columbarium or temple to pay their respects.
Qing
Ming literally meaning clear and bright, falls in early spring (106th day after the winter
solstice). To be practical, this occasion is extended 10 days before and after the
actual day. Among some dialect groups, one month is allocated.
ORIGIN
In
600 B.C. in Shanxi province, lived a man by the name of Jie Zi Dui. He saved his
lord's life by serving him with a piece of flesh from his own leg. Later the lord
became the ruler of a small principality, he invited Jie to follow him. However, Jie
declined, preferring to lead a seculded life with his mother in the mountains.
The lord
thought that maybe by burning the mountain could force Jie out. Hence he ordered his
men to set fire. To his consternation, Jie remained there and was burnt to
death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires to be put out on Jie's death
anniversary. Therfore began the "cold food feast" because no food could be
cook since no fire could be lit.
The
"cold food" festival takes place on the eve of Qing Ming and is considered part
of the festival. However, Singaporeans do not practice putting out the fire.
OBSERVATION
1. Visiting the graveyard to
clean up the gravesite which includes trimming and cleaning. Food and
flowers are
brought along to serve as offerings.
2. Due to the popularity of
cremation, people are visiting the columbarium instead of the cemetary.
3. Singaporeans are also adopting
the practice of placing ancestral tablets in temples. Hence to
pay respects
to ancestors also means visiting the temples.
4. For Singaporeans who are
neither Buddhist nor Taoists, it is suggested to observe a moment of
silence as a
mark of respect when visiting graves, cloumbarium or temples.