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Ching Ming, Grave-Sweeping
Day, was observed on April 4, 2000. The date is indicated
on the Chinese calendar with the two characters: ching, meaning
pure or clean, and ming, meaning brightness. Combined together,
Ching Ming means clean and just. This date is also indicated
on traditional Japanese calendars, where their culture has
a similar observance. The Ching Ming observance may have had
its beginnings as the original religion in China. Ancestor
worship is the only native religion to China.
Ching Ming rituals not
only include weeding of the area, cleaning of the headstone,
and replacing the wilted flowers with fresh ones, but also
the lighting of incense and burning of imitation paper money.
The burning of the imitation money is for the deceased to
use in the afterlife. In addition, food is laid out in front
of the headstone as an offering to the spirits of the deceased.
The food may include a steamed whole chicken (including the
head, which is later twisted off), hard boiled eggs cut in
half lengthwise with shell attached, sliced barbecued pork
(cha shiu), cut roast pork with crunchy skin attached, and
dim sum pastries. In addition, three sets of chopsticks and
three Chinese wine cups are arranged above the food and closest
to the headstone.
The head of the household
usually begins by bowing three times with the wine cup in
hand, then pouring the wine on the ground just in front of
the headstone. This procedure is usually repeated three times.
Each member of the family comes in front of the headstone
and bows three times with the right fist held cupped in the
left hand. Some families will then eat the food together there
at the grave site, similar to having a picnic with their deceased
relatives. It is said to bring good luck to eat the food that
was offered to the deceased.
In addition, some families
will begin by setting off firecrackers to scare off evil spirits
and to alert the deceased relatives that they are there to
pay their respects
Submitted by Don S. Gee. http://www.chcp.org/Vchingming.html
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