Qingming, which means clear and bright in Chinese, falls on April 5th this year. It is both the fifth term in the traditional lunar calendar and a festival to hold memorial ceremonies for the dead. It is a time to express one's grief for lost relatives. An ancient elegiac poem described a grievous woman. It read that vines were tangled in vain and weeds crept in the graveyard, and her husband slept there lonely. It was so difficult for her to endure and her only wish was to reunite with him after death.
People often go to sweep and weed graves with the entire family and take a walks in the countryside. Therefore, in Tang Dynasty, the habit of taking an excursion on this day was developed. At this time, spring returns and dominates the earth again. The feel of growing life is in the air, with sap ascending in trees and buds bursting. The willow branches inserted on each gate add vigor and vitality to the surroundings, but it actually means more than that. This custom can be traced back to over one thousand years ago.
During the Period of spring and autumn in the Jin Kingdom, one of the King's sons was called Chong Er. Jealous of his talent, a concubine falsely accused him of rebellion to make her son the crown prince. As a result, he had no choice but to flee with several officials. They hid themselves in a mountain and went hungry for quite some time. An official named Jie Zitui took great pain to cut some flesh from his thigh and cooked it for Chong Er. When the fact was known the young master was moved to tears and knelt down in gratitude. Jie replied his best repayment should be a just king. They lived a cold life of starvation for three years until the evil concubine died. Many soldiers were sent to look for him and to escort him back home. Going into the carriage, he saw an official packed an old mat onto a horse, he said laughingly, 'what on earth is the use of that? Throw it away!' Jie Zitui heard it and sighed, 'It is hardship that can be shared with his majesty but not prosperity.' As a result, he went away quietly and lived in seclusion with his old mother.
As Chong Er became king, he rewarded many people but he forgot Jie Zitui. He did not realize it until he was reminded. However, his invitation was refused and he became angry. Soldiers were ordered to burn up the mountain to force Jie to come out. Finally they found Jie and his mother scorched under a willow. He would rather die than yield to power. Chong Er was so overwhelmed with regret that he ordered people to hold memorial ceremony for Jie. Therefore, in memory of Jie, every year on that day people mourned for him and ate cold meals the day before. Later the custom of inserting willow branches on gates was also added.
http://fdesf333.blogspot.com/
http://54g6fds96r.blogspot.com/
http://fd35435d.blogspot.com/
2008年4月10日星期四
Tong an
Tong an
Tong'an was an old-line county with a history of 1,700 years before it became an administrative district of Xiamen in 1997. Tongan is endowed with natural beauty and productive of outstanding people, with a lot of places of interests and historical sites. Tong'an Tourist Area is generally divided into three parts: I. Dalun Culture Tourist Area. The main tourist spots include: Brahma Temple, Brahman Pagoda, Su Song's former residence, Tong'an Confucian Temple, Zhu Xi's Epigraph and Stone Inscription, Twelve-Dragon Pool, Wuxian Holiday Recreation Place, etc. II. Tingxi Hotspring Holiday Recreation Place. The main tourist spots include: Tingxi Reservoir, Hotspring Swimming Pool, Song's Porcelain Kiln. III. Dadeng Tri-islet Tourist Area where one can fully enjoy the landscape of the island fishing village and overlook the Quemoy or Jinmen Island of Taiwan not far away, or just have a fun swimming on the beach. The Former Residence of Su Song By visiting the former residence of Su Song, one can be acquainted with historic sites and cultural relics relating to Su Song. Acting as an upright and hardworking prime minister for nearly 60 years for the Song Dynasty, Su Song had
made many contributions and left behind a lot of scientific writings. Lu Shan Hall, the former residence of Su Song, lies in Yongfen Village in the northwest corner of Tong'an and covers an area of 1,700 square metres. Today, many Song families' offsprings in Taiwan, Hongkong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand still find their roots here. The existent Lu Shan Hall was rebuilt in the first year of the Republic of China. The hall houses the sitting stature of Su Song, Song family tree book and the portraits of eight celebrities of the Song family. The new-built Su Song Science and Technology Exhibition Hall shows more achievement made by Su Song as a politician, diplomat, astronomer, pharmacologist, litterateur and historian. A model of the world's first astronomical clock tower invented by Su Song is also exhibited here. Tong'an Confucian Temple The temple is located by a stream in the eastern suburb of Tong'an. It was first set up in the Five Dynasties. Dacheng Hall, the existent construction, was rebuilt during Emperor Qianlong's reign of Qing Dynasty. Today, the Confucian Temple has been turned into Tong'an Musuem in which historical records and cultural relics of Tong'an dated back to as early as the Western Han Dynasty were exhibited. On the north side of the temple, there is a ground setting in order over 200 pieces of stone carvings and steles collected from different areas of Tong'an. With different bearings and so true to life, these sculptures are called "terracotta warriors and horses of Tong'an". Tingxi Reservoir Rebuilt in 1956 at the foot of Tingxi Mountain of Tong'an, Tingxi Reservoir has a water capacity of 48 million square metres. Depending on the mountain terrain, the vast water winds its way to the far. The lake is so clear and water and mountain seem to blend into each other. Boating on the green water and among the green mountains is really carefree and joyous. Twelve-Dragon Pool The pool is among stones and rocks on the north hill of Tong'an. A current of spring water falls from a hundred-metre high rocky cliff. Passing by many steps and holes on different height, the water fall creats 12 water ponds holding limpid water. Thus the sight is names "Twelve-Dragon Pool".
Tong'an was an old-line county with a history of 1,700 years before it became an administrative district of Xiamen in 1997. Tongan is endowed with natural beauty and productive of outstanding people, with a lot of places of interests and historical sites. Tong'an Tourist Area is generally divided into three parts: I. Dalun Culture Tourist Area. The main tourist spots include: Brahma Temple, Brahman Pagoda, Su Song's former residence, Tong'an Confucian Temple, Zhu Xi's Epigraph and Stone Inscription, Twelve-Dragon Pool, Wuxian Holiday Recreation Place, etc. II. Tingxi Hotspring Holiday Recreation Place. The main tourist spots include: Tingxi Reservoir, Hotspring Swimming Pool, Song's Porcelain Kiln. III. Dadeng Tri-islet Tourist Area where one can fully enjoy the landscape of the island fishing village and overlook the Quemoy or Jinmen Island of Taiwan not far away, or just have a fun swimming on the beach. The Former Residence of Su Song By visiting the former residence of Su Song, one can be acquainted with historic sites and cultural relics relating to Su Song. Acting as an upright and hardworking prime minister for nearly 60 years for the Song Dynasty, Su Song had
made many contributions and left behind a lot of scientific writings. Lu Shan Hall, the former residence of Su Song, lies in Yongfen Village in the northwest corner of Tong'an and covers an area of 1,700 square metres. Today, many Song families' offsprings in Taiwan, Hongkong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand still find their roots here. The existent Lu Shan Hall was rebuilt in the first year of the Republic of China. The hall houses the sitting stature of Su Song, Song family tree book and the portraits of eight celebrities of the Song family. The new-built Su Song Science and Technology Exhibition Hall shows more achievement made by Su Song as a politician, diplomat, astronomer, pharmacologist, litterateur and historian. A model of the world's first astronomical clock tower invented by Su Song is also exhibited here. Tong'an Confucian Temple The temple is located by a stream in the eastern suburb of Tong'an. It was first set up in the Five Dynasties. Dacheng Hall, the existent construction, was rebuilt during Emperor Qianlong's reign of Qing Dynasty. Today, the Confucian Temple has been turned into Tong'an Musuem in which historical records and cultural relics of Tong'an dated back to as early as the Western Han Dynasty were exhibited. On the north side of the temple, there is a ground setting in order over 200 pieces of stone carvings and steles collected from different areas of Tong'an. With different bearings and so true to life, these sculptures are called "terracotta warriors and horses of Tong'an". Tingxi Reservoir Rebuilt in 1956 at the foot of Tingxi Mountain of Tong'an, Tingxi Reservoir has a water capacity of 48 million square metres. Depending on the mountain terrain, the vast water winds its way to the far. The lake is so clear and water and mountain seem to blend into each other. Boating on the green water and among the green mountains is really carefree and joyous. Twelve-Dragon Pool The pool is among stones and rocks on the north hill of Tong'an. A current of spring water falls from a hundred-metre high rocky cliff. Passing by many steps and holes on different height, the water fall creats 12 water ponds holding limpid water. Thus the sight is names "Twelve-Dragon Pool".
订阅：
博文 (Atom)