中國傳統文化 第20期:清明節

China’s Tomb Sweeping Day

清明節

April the fourth or fifth of the solar year (according to the Gregorian calendar) is a traditional day for the Chinese people to show respect for their ancestors.

每年公曆4月4日（或5日）的清明節，是中國人傳統的掃墓祭祖、哀悼先人的紀念日。

On this day, people sweep their ancestors’ tombs and burn paper money to wish their ancestors good luck.

每到了這一天，人們紛紛來到祖先的墓地，焚化紙錢，拜祭先人。

There is a legend related to this tradition.

清明節這一習俗源於晉文公重耳悼念介之推的。

According to the legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period, a person named Jie Zhitui followed his master Chong’er, the prince of Jin, and stayed with him during all the 19 years when the prince was in exile.

傳說：相傳春秋時期，晉國的介之推跟隨晉公子重耳逃亡國外19年，忠心耿耿。

Jie Zhitui was so loyal to his master that once when the prince was starved to death, Jie cut one piece of flesh from his leg to feed his master so as to save his life.

一次重耳在魏國被困，幾天吃不上飯，介之推就偷偷割下自己腿上的肉來給他吃。

However, when the prince ascended the throne and became king of the Jin state, he forgot about Jie Zhitui completely. He awarded all his other followers except Jie.

後來，重耳回國登上王位，成了晉文公，對跟隨他逃亡的大臣論功行賞，卻偏偏忘了介之推。

Jie, on his part, left his master with his old mother without even one word of complaint.

介之推也沒有爭功，自己一個人背起老母悄然離去。

The local people were very indignant about this and they compiled a rhyme to satirize the king.

晉國的老百姓很替介之推鳴不平，就編了一首歌謠諷刺晉文公。

The king learned about this and in order not to ruin his reputation, he ordered his men to go to Jie’s home to bring him back，yet they failed to find Jie.

晉文公得知後，立即派人去介之推家裏找他，卻沒找到。

The king then learned that Jie had hidden in the Mian Mountain, so he ordered his men to search the mountain，again, they failed to find Jie.

後來聽說介之推去了綿山，又派人去找，也沒找到。

The king knew that Jie was a filial son, so he thought if he set the mountain on fire, Jie，for his mother’s sake，would definately come out.

晉文公知道介之推很孝順，就想在綿山上放一把火，逼迫介之推自己揹着母親跑出來。

The fire lasted three whole days and nights,

綿山一場大火燒了三天三夜。

In the end，Jie and his mother’s burned bodies were found beside a tree.

當晉文公派人去看時，介之推母子已抱着一棵枯柳被燒死了。

That was the 103rd day after the Winter Solstice.

這一天正好是冬至後的103天。

The local people admired Jie Zhitui for his moral integrity.

老百姓很敬佩介之推的骨氣，

To commemorate him, they ate cold food and restrained from making fire on that day and the following two days.

後來每到了這一天，人們就不忍心生火做飯，連續3天只吃冷食，以紀念介之推。

Due to the fact that Cold Food Day and Pure Brightness often fall on the same day, the two are combined to form a comprehensive folk festival, during which time people go for outings, play kites, and sweep their ancestors’tombs.

因爲寒食節和清明節在日期上經常是在同一天，久而久之，人們 便將寒食與清明融合在一起，逐漸形成了祭祖、掃墓、踏青、放風箏等習俗，從而使 清明、寒食融爲一體，成爲一個綜合性的民俗節日。

注：寒食節是每年冬至後的103天，也就是次年的4月4日（如果2 月是29天，則爲4月3日），而清明一般是每年的4月4日或5日，所以經常是在同一天的。