English Original
The Qingming Festival is popularly associated with Jie Zitui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined, preferring a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.
Believing he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all household fires to be extinguished on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "Cold Food Feast," a day when no food could be cooked as no fire could be lit.
The "Cold Food" festival occurs on the eve of Qingming and is often considered part of it. Over time, the Qingming Festival replaced the "Cold Food" festival.
Whatever specific practices are observed, the core observance of Qingming is to honor one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes, or ancestral tablets. To make the visit more meaningful, time should be spent informing the younger generation about their ancestors' struggles and contributions, and the story of Jie Zitui, who chose death over capitulation.
中文翻译
清明节普遍与介子推相关联，他生活在公元前600年的山西。传说介子推曾割下自己腿上的肉，救了他饥饿的君主一命。当这位君主成功成为一个小诸侯国的统治者后，他邀请他忠实的追随者加入。然而，介子推拒绝了，他更愿意与母亲在山中过着隐士的生活。
君主认为可以通过烧山迫使介子推出来，便下令放火烧林。令他惊愕的是，介子推选择留在山中，被烧死了。为了纪念介子推，君主下令在介子推的忌日，每家每户都必须熄灭所有火种。由此开始了“寒食节”，这一天因为不能生火，所以无法烹煮食物。
“寒食”节在清明节前夕，常被视为清明节的一部分。随着时间的推移，清明节取代了“寒食”节。
无论遵循何种具体习俗，清明节的核心仪式是通过特意扫墓、祭拜骨灰或祖先牌位来缅怀先人。为了让祭扫更有意义，应该花时间让家族中的年轻一代了解祖先过去的奋斗与贡献，以及介子推宁死不屈的故事。