Solar Term - Qingming

Qingming is one of the 24 solar terms of China.

Qing(清) means clear. Ming(明) means bright. As the name goes, this day is featured by a clear and bright feeling, when all the plants thrive.

In my hometown, people will go tomb sweeping on the day, to get rid of the thriving grasses around that could destroy the tombs if left unattended. A mysterious thing is that it often rains on the day, as if the sky is also sorry to see the heartbroken tomb sweepers who have lost their family. That’s how one of the most renowned poems come into being——

Over the time of Qingming
it rains and rains
On the roads are people
heartbroken and grieved all the way