As mid-spring brightens China, the country embraces an awakening of the natural world through Qingming festival. Falling on April 5 this year, Qingming symbolizes a treasured new beginning.

Chinese traditionally inherit the belief that the human body follows certain patterns of nature’s path. Hence we believe the body awakens in the spring. Eyes wide-open, heavy clothes off - there are many ways to celebrate the vitality of spring.

In spring, we also remember those who have passed away. The season reflects a unique mirror on death and birth. Rituals we inherit from our ancestors mark the chance for replacement or a start for something new.

From solar term to event

Emerging from one of the 24 solar terms, Qingming grew into a major festival after ancient Chinese combined several traditional events into one. What we celebrate as Qingming festival today used to be separated into Qingming, Shangsi and Hanshi.

Qingming is the fifth solar term in spring. “All the matters become clean and clear now,” so it was described in “Lunar calendar’s 72 Pentads” written by Wu Cheng from the Yuan Dynasty. Qingming is the time when flowers bloom and trees flourish.

The roots of the Shangsi festival lie in the Qin Dynasty. It fell on the third day in the third month in the lunar calendar. Ancient Chinese carried out a ritual called Fuxi to exterminate haunting bad luck, to wash away negativity and pray for goodness. It was a superstitious ritual, always carried out alongside water since Chinese traditionally believe water is the gateway to the afterworld.

During the Fuxi ritual, by summoning those who have passed away and mourning deepest grief, people stepped closer to death, recognized the passing of the physical body and in turn were encouraged to look into the continuation and development of life. Fuxi also allowed youngsters to express their love.

The ritual and spirituality floated away over time, but the habit of celebrating and chilling out by water lived on.

Hanshi began in the pre-Qin era. More tradition than festival, cold food was eaten and cooking on an open fire banned. The habit was maintained by Chinese ancestors for over 2,000 years.

Though origin stories and legends abound, the academic view is that Hanshi signals the changing season. People wait for “the change of fire”, since varied woods were used in different seasons to feed fire. Chinese anthropology scholar Li Yiyuan believes from “forbidding fire” to “obtaining new fire”, the evolution from rawness to civilization is embraced.

From grief to cheer

Qingming embodies the conflicts between life and death. The traditions we mentioned earlier sat side by side in the calendar, so people worshiped their ancestors before hanging out in the spring breeze. However, many in old China thought it was disrespectful to the dead to celebrate right after grieving. Orders were issued to forbid joyful celebration, but many thought it foolish to allow sadness to linger in such a beautiful time.

"生年不满百 常怀千岁忧"

Life barely makes itself to a hundred years, while mind always bears gloom ruminated throughout a thousand years

An ancient Chinese sentiment: if life is so short and time goes so fast, why must we fall into remorse rather than fly into ecstasy while living? The meditation upon life is based on an acceptance of death. Edification and rites taught Chinese to respect the power of nature, to keep humble and respectful to the laws of the planet. While the belief in circulation, Yin and Yang as well as that all opposite things drive upon one another allow Chinese to live with a more optimistic philosophical mindset.

Civilians disobeyed the orders and even developed many ways to share good cheer, with traditional activities like Cuju (old Chinese football), swings, kite-flying and tug-of-war, all of which encapsulated the thriving and robust elements of mortal life.

The inspiration of many poets derives from their comprehension of death and birth during Qingming. A window is opened into the lives of our ancestors during the fast-shifting times and seasons, and the contradictory feelings people have at this time of year. Sadness and hope collide in the rhymes, creating sentiments that continue to resonate through the time-honored works of literature.

From old to young

Death is often a taboo topic in China. As parents take children to visit the departed during Qingming, it is a chance to educate the younger generation about mortality.

Chinese believe life is a form in the circulation of everything, hence death is in-between the end and the beginning. The sadness of death reminds us to cherish the time we have together, while the way we live as we journey towards death should encourage us all to keep positive and open-minded.

Over the last 50 years, developed countries and regions have launched education about life and death. In the 1970s, over 1,500 primary and secondary schools in the US taught death education. But in China, the subject is rarely broached.

“Life-and-death education is a cross-field of medical science, psychology, educational science, ethics and many other theories,” says Professor Zou Yuhua from Guangdong Pharmaceutical University. Zou is a community medicine researcher and a supporter of Mortuary House public day events. He has advocated for life-and-death education since 2005.

“It should be a part of liberal education rather than an event or course specifically limited to certain careers or fields,” Zou said. Starting in 2008, Zou himself taught a public elective course on life and death.

Life-and-death education is indeed a critical part of learning for youngsters who are about to make their way in the world, discovering both life itself and themselves. The curious minds in front of death should learn that it can be both inspiring and relieving to know that life comes to an end eventually.

Chinese philosophical theory values life and respects death. Xun Zi (Xun Kuang), a Chinese Confucian philosopher depicted the funeral as a “worshiping ceremony”, when “the living recall the stories of the departed one.”

"事死如生，事亡如存"‍——《荀子·礼论》

Treat death as it lives, treat the past as it remains.

If it finally comes back to none, what is life for? You learn to let go when you accept death.

If it finally comes back to none, why is it we learn countless stories from the departed ones? You become more optimistic and pursue more when you learn that life is such a precious gift.

What can death teach you?