Qingming is the fifth solar term in the twenty-four solar cycle, usually occurring on April 4th or 5th annually. At this time, the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 15°, the climate turns warm, vegetation sprouts, and the world appears clean and bright, hence the name "Qingming." It marks the transition from mid-spring to late spring, as nature enters a vibrant phase of "clear air and bright scenery, all things fully manifest." In terms of phenology, Qingming presents dynamic changes described as "paulownias bloom, field mice transform into quails, and rainbows appear." In traditional agrarian civilization, this solar term signals an ideal period for spring plowing and sowing, as the farming proverb states: "Before and after Qingming, plant melons and sow beans," emphasizing the critical timing for seeding and transplanting.
Historically, Qingming gradually merged with the adjacent Cold Food Festival and Shangsi Festival, incorporating both tomb-sweeping and spring outing traditions. Tomb-sweeping and ancestor worship is the core custom: people tidy the tombs, present sacrifices, and burn paper money to express remembrance and respect for their ancestors. Concurrently, activities such as spring outings, wearing willow branches, flying kites, and swinging on swings became widespread, reflecting the spirit of following Qingming's energy, embracing nature, and renewing life. Additionally, seasonal foods like sweet green rice balls and fried dough twists carry wishes for health and safety. These customs blend solemn mourning with joyful spring celebration, embodying the unique Chinese perspective on life, death, and the passage of time.
By Yuan Ruichen
