Traditional Culture | How Much Do You Know About Qingming Customs?

The Book of Almanacs says: 'Fifteen days after the Spring Equinox, when the Dipper points to Ding, it is Qingming. At this time, all things are pure and bright, for the air is clear and the scenery luminous, and everything becomes visible—hence the name.'

Qingming Festival, also known as Outing Festival or Ancestor Worship Festival, is said to have originated from the 'tomb sacrifice' rites of ancient emperors and nobles. Later, common folk followed suit, visiting ancestral graves and sweeping tombs on this day. Passed down through generations, it became a fixed traditional custom of the Chinese nation. Falling between mid-spring and late spring, the festival stems from ancient ancestor beliefs and spring sacrificial rituals, embodying both natural and cultural significance.

Qingming is one of the 'Twenty-Four Solar Terms' and also a traditional day for honoring ancestors. The Twenty-Four Solar Terms, a product of ancient agricultural civilization, are tied to the sexagenary cycle and the Eight Trigrams, with a long historical lineage.

Beyond ancestor remembrance, Qingming arrives as spring returns to the earth, painting nature in vibrant scenes—a perfect time for outings. People seize the opportunity to enjoy countryside fun with the whole family after tomb sweeping.

Outing, a seasonal activity, has a long history in China. According to the Book of Jin, every spring, people would gather to travel to the outskirts and enjoy the scenery. The custom flourished especially in the Tang and Song dynasties. The Old Book of Tang records: 'On the second day of the second month in the second year of Dali, the emperor went to Kunming Pool for an outing.' Its roots lie in the ancient agricultural greeting of spring rites, which profoundly influenced later generations.

Flying kites is another major Qingming custom. During the festival, people fly kites not only during the day but also at night. At night, strings of colorful little lanterns are hung from the kite or its tether, twinkling like bright stars and called 'sacred lamps.' In the past, some would cut the string after launching the kite into the blue sky, letting the breeze carry it to the ends of the earth.