The fifth of April arrived so soon
after I left China, I acknowledge this in haste. Today, throngs of
people will visit cemeteries to honour their ancestors. The customs
include sweeping and tidying the plot, if there is one. Descendants
will make offerings of food and flowers, burning incense and paper
money at the memorial. This is only one part of the annual QingmingFestival.
The deceased in urban China are always
cremated now, so visits are made to the memorial walls. Only in
preservation for historical purposes and rural parts of the country
did we encounter actual burial plots.
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| Monuments to Buddhist monks, Shaolin Temple near Zhengzhou |
We were aware of Qingming's imminence
while there. Besides, one cannot miss the signs of regard that the
Chinese have for their ancestors. Practices and observances are
cultural, rather than religious. At any time of the year messages
offering and seeking happiness (colour red) are posted to ancestors.
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| Burial site at a farm near Guilin |
It is somehow comforting to know that
such traditions honouring the dead are observed in so many widely
different areas and cultures of the world.
1 comment:
You must have had a super trip to China! Great photos. It is so interesting seeing different traditions from different countries! Thanks for sharing!
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