Both the Cold Food (Hanshi) Festival and the Qingming Festival originate from ancient custom of renewing fire in spring. As the story of selflessness embodied by Jie Zitui spread, these two festivals gradually became festivals held in his memory.

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清明时节雨纷纷
qīngmíng shíjié yŭ fēnfēn    

Qingming refers to the Qingming Festival, also known as Mourning Day, while shijie means “season” or “time.” Yu means “rain.” Fenfen is an adjective describing the flying or fluttering image of such items as snowflakes or willow catkins. Here in this case, it describes the misty rains. This verse, taken literally, means that a drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day.

The poem Mourning Day by Du Mu (803-c.852), where this verse originates, goes “A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day; The mourner’s heart is going to break on his way. Where can a wine shop be found to drown his sad hours? A cowherd points to a cot amid apricot flowers.”

The “drizzling rain falling like tears in early spring” is evocative of the emotions of mourners on their way to sweep the tombs of their family members. One of most well-known poems describing Qingming Festival, this verse is used to describe the rainy season around the festival in early spring.

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日暮汉宫传蜡烛，轻烟散入五侯家。
rìmù hàngōng chuán làzhú, qīngyān sànrù wŭhóujiā

Rimu means “at dusk” while hangong means the imperial palace of Han Dynasty, which is used as an allusion to the palace of the Tang Dynasty. Chuan means “to send” while lazhu means “candles.” Qingyan means “smoke wreath” while sanru means “to spread.” Wuhoujia means “houses of the five lords.” Originating from a poem reflecting on the Hanshi Festival by Han Hong, taken literally, it means that at dusk the imperial palace sent privileged red candles to the five lordly mansions where wreaths of smoke spread.

The use of fire was supposed to be forbidden on the Hanshi Festival, but the influential aristocratic families seemed unrestricted by this custom. These verses were generally considered as satire relating to the hypocrisy of the ruling classes.

 

(edited by CHEN ALONG)