Did you know that in China there's a special day to remember the dead, commonly known as Tomb Sweeping Day?

你们知道在中国有一个纪念逝者的特殊节日吗？我们一般把它叫做清明节。

Hello and welcome to World History Encyclopedia.

大家好，欢迎来到世界历史百科全书。

My name is Kelly and in honor of the Qingming Festival which will take place on the 4th of April, we're going to explore the legendary history of the festival and how it is celebrated today.

我是凯莉，为了纪念4月4日即将到来的清明节，我们将探索这个节日的传说以及现代的纪念仪式。

The Qingming Festival is held 104 days after the winter solstice and is known as the Purebright Festival, Tombsweeping Day and Ancestors Day.

清明节是冬至后的第104天，也被称为清明净节、扫墓节和祭祖节。

For over 2,500 years this festival is a day for Chinese people to visit the tombs of their ancestors and care for and clean them, which can involve literally or figuratively sweeping them.

2500多年来，在清明节这天，中国人会去祖先的坟墓祭拜，对坟墓进行管理和清洁，这包括字面上或象征意义上的打扫。

Both the young and the old kneel down and offer prayers to their ancestors.

年轻人和老年人都跪下来对他们的祖先祈祷。

People offer tea, wine, food, chopsticks or libations in honour of their ancestors and to show respect.

人们用茶、酒、食物、筷子或祭品来祭拜祖先，并表示尊敬。

Stories are told of those who have passed while people make new memories with their friends and families.

人们一边讲述着逝者的过去，一边与自己家人朋友留下新的回忆。

In the past, people would wear soft willow branches around their necks or hang them on gates and doors in the belief that it would ward off evil wandering spirits during the Qingming Festival.

在过去，人们会把柔软的柳枝挂在脖子上或门上，他们相信这样可以在清明节期间赶走游荡的邪灵。

It was a time for people to start going outside and enjoying the greenery and early blossoms of spring.

清明节也是人们开始外出踏青，享受春暖花开的节日。

And one of the most important customs apart from the tomb-sweeping is kite-flying, a tradition that continues to be observed.

除了扫墓，还有一个最重要的风俗就是放风筝，这个传统一直延续至今。

Both children and adults fly kites during the day and at night as well.

孩子和大人们在白天和夜晚都会放风筝。

They attach lanterns either to the kites or to the strings, which in the night sky would look like shimmering stars.

人们把灯笼系在风筝或风筝线上，这样在夜空中看起来就像闪烁的星星。

The kites are said to be both symbolic of good fortune and to cure and prevent disease.

据说，风筝既象征着好运，又能治疗和预防疾病。

The festival throughout time has merged with the cold food day which was initially the day before.

清明节融合了最初在它前一天的寒食节的习俗。

Essentially fires were not allowed and only cold food was allowed to be eaten.

寒食节原则上不允许生火做饭，只能吃冷的食物。

In some places, this custom is still in place.

在一些地方，这种习俗仍然存在。

The traditions of Qingming including cold food are derived from the legendary history of the day which took place over 2,500 years ago.

清明节的传统包括寒食，都源于2500多年前这一天的传说。

According to Chinese Folklore, sometime between 700 and 500 BCE, there was a Prince in exile, Prince Chonger with his defender Jie Zitu.

根据中国民间传说，大约在公元前700年到500年之间，公子重耳和他的随从介子推从晋国逃亡。

One night Chonger was about to die of starvation so Jie Zitu made a stew with flesh from his own leg, and the meal saved the Prince.

一天晚上，重耳快要饿死了，介子推就用自己腿上的肉炖了一锅汤，救了重耳一命。

Nineteen years later, the Prince returned to his kingdom and assumed his place as the Duke Wen of Jin.

19年后，公子重耳回到晋国，继位成为晋文公。

And when he rewarded his followers, he forgot to reward the man who had saved his life.

当他奖赏他的随从时，却忘了那个救过他一命的人。

When the Duke was reminded of Jie Zitu, he felt deep shame that he had forgotten him.

等到晋文公想起介子推，他很惭愧自己竟然忘了恩人。

So he decided to visit in person to reward and honor him.

所以晋文公决定亲自去拜访介子推，以表示奖赏和尊敬。

Jie Zitu heard the news of the Duke coming but he did not want the honour.

介子推听说了晋文公要来的消息，却不想接受这份荣誉。

So he fled with his elderly mother into a mountain and refused to see the Duke.

于是他带着年迈的母亲逃到山上，拒绝见晋文公。

The Duke couldn't find Jie Zitu's hiding spot and so he had the most excellent and logical idea to have the mountain be set on fire to force him out.

晋文公找不到介子推的藏身之处，于是他想出了一个绝妙而又合乎逻辑的主意：放火烧山，把介子推逼出来。

Jie Zitu didn't want a title or honours.

而介子推并不想要封赏。

He just wanted to keep the Prince alive and see him become the Duke and so he didn't leave the mountain.

他只是想让公子重耳活下来，见证他成为晋文公，所以他没有从山里出来。

After three days the Duke found the bodies of Jie Zitu and his mother in a cave in the mountains under a willow tree.

三天后，晋文公在山中一棵柳树下的山洞里发现了介子推及其母亲的遗体。

In honor of the man who sought no honour or reward, the Duke held a memorial and buried the mother and son respectfully.

为了纪念这位不追求荣誉和奖赏的臣子，晋文公举行了追悼仪式，并恭敬地埋葬了这对母子。

And he requested that no food be prepared with fire that day and to only eat cold food as a sign of respect, mourning and remembrance.

于是晋文公下令那一天不能生火做饭，只能吃冷食，以示尊敬、哀悼和怀念。

The next year the Duke returned to commemorate Jie Zitu and he saw that the willow that had been burnt the year before was now alive and lush.

第二年，晋文公回山中祭奠介子推，看到一年前被烧毁的那棵柳树现在又活了过来，并且枝繁叶茂。

The Duke swept the tomb and then declared the beginning of the Cold Food Festival, which has become synonymous with the Qingming Festival.

晋文公扫完墓后，宣布设立寒食节，现在寒食节已成为清明节的同义词。

Remembrance of the dead and honoring one's ancestors is an important cultural value in China.

在中国，追思逝者与祭奠祖先是一种重要的文化价值。

It is believed that you can and almost certainly will be haunted if you fail to remember and honor your family members who have passed on.

人们相信，如果你不记住和尊重已经去世的家人，那你肯定会被鬼魂困扰。

Tomb Sweeping Day provides people with a reminder to visit and care for the graves of family and friends, and in recent years even beloved pets.

清明节提醒人们去拜访和打扫家人和朋友的坟墓，近年来甚至还有心爱的宠物之墓。

The festival encourages people to tell stories of their loved ones, keeping the memory of those who have passed alive in the present, and maintaining a family's history and traditions.

这个节日鼓励人们讲述所爱之人的故事，保留对逝者的记忆，并保持一个家族的历史和传统。

出处：见配图水印