Chapter I. Introduction

Qingming Festival, as an important festival in Chinese traditional culture, carries profound cultural connotation and humanistic spirit. It has a long history dating back to ancient times and has now become a common cultural memory of the Chinese nation. On this special day, people express their admiration and remembrance of their ancestors through ancestor worship, trekking and other activities, and also reflect the respect and value of life . Qingming Festival is not only a folk festival, but also an important carrier to unite national emotions and pass on history and culture .

In today's society, the study of the cultural heritage of Qingming Festival has far-reaching significance. On the one hand, through the study of Qingming Festival, we can better understand the history and culture of the Chinese nation, further promote the national spirit and enhance national cohesion. On the other hand, the inheritance and innovation of Qingming Festival is also an important way to promote cultural development. On the basis of preserving the cultural essence of traditional festivals and combining with the characteristics and needs of modern society, we can inject new contemporary connotations into the Qingming Festival to make it better adapt to the development of modern society .

This report aims to explore the important role and value of Qingming Festival in cultural inheritance through in-depth study of its cultural background, traditional customs, as well as inheritance and innovation in modern society. At the same time, this report will also pay attention to the development status and challenges of Qingming Festival in contemporary society, with a view to providing useful reference and learning for the inheritance and development of traditional festival culture . During the research process, we will comprehensively utilize literature analysis, field survey and other methods, and strive to comprehensively and deeply reveal the cultural connotation and inheritance value of Qingming Festival.

Chapter II Historical Origins of Qingming Festival

2.1 Origins and Circulation

Qingming Festival, as a traditional festival of the Chinese nation, has a history of more than 2,000 years, and it represents the unending civilization of the Chinese nation. The festival originated from the ancient farming culture and is closely related to the worship of ancestors. In the long river of history, Qingming Festival has gradually evolved and passed down to the present day, which not only carries the fine virtue of honoring ancestors and thinking of filial piety, but also embodies the deep cultural feelings of the children of the Yellow Emperor towards their motherland .

The origins of the Qingming Festival can be traced back to ancient times, when people would perform rituals sometime in the spring to honor their ancestors. This ritual not only remembers the deceased relatives, but also honors the ancestors and passes on the tradition. As time went by, this ritual was gradually fixed at the Qingming Festival, thus forming the Qingming Festival that we know today.

In the process of circulation, the Qingming Festival has gradually incorporated more cultural connotations and customs. For example, in addition to worshipping ancestors, people will also go trekking, planting willows and flying kites during the Qingming Festival, which not only enriches the form of the festival, but also makes the Qingming Festival a festival full of vigor and vitality .

The Qingming Festival also carries the role of educating future generations. Through the festival, family members can learn about their family history, family customs and family mottos, and so on, thus cultivating the qualities of filial piety and gratitude. This educational role is still important in modern society .

Under the impact of modern civilization, the Qingming Festival is also facing some challenges. For example, with the accelerated pace of life, people may not be able to return to their hometowns to perform rituals; at the same time, some traditional ways of worship may be restricted for reasons such as environmental protection. Therefore, how to pass on and carry forward the traditional culture of Qingming Festival in modern society has become an issue worth thinking about .

The Qingming Festival still attracts people's attention with its unique cultural connotations and customs. In both urban and rural areas, people carry out a variety of celebrations and commemorative activities during the Qingming Festival as a way of showing their respect for their ancestors and honoring their traditions. These activities not only help to enhance the sense of national identity and cohesion, but also inject the vitality of traditional culture into modern society .

As a traditional festival of the Chinese nation, Qingming Festival not only carries rich cultural connotations and customs, but also embodies the Chinese people's fine character of honoring ancestors and thinking of filial piety. In the long river of history passed down to the present Qingming Festival, still with its unique charm to attract people's attention and participation, become an important part of the cultural heritage of the Chinese nation .

2.2 Significance of traditional festivals

As a traditional Chinese festival, Qingming Festival carries profound cultural connotations and important social functions. This festival not only embodies the important drive of the Chinese nation for tenacious survival and the pursuit of happiness, but also highlights a unique form of expression of national cultural identity and historical inheritance .

With regard to cultural connotations, the Qingming Festival, with the spiritual purpose of "pursuing the end of life with care and respect, and returning the people to virtue", carries forward the traditional virtue of honoring ancestors and respecting the ancestors. On this day, people express their remembrance of and respect for their ancestors by sweeping tombs and paying homage to their ancestors, reflecting the resilience of the Chinese people and their drive to pursue happiness. At the same time, the Qingming Festival is also a blend of natural rhythms and humanistic emotions, as people enjoy the gifts of nature by trekking and playing in the bright spring season, which is a way of cherishing life as well as a love of life .

With regard to social functions, the Qingming Festival plays an important role in enhancing national cohesion and promoting social harmony. Ancestor worship strengthens the blood ties among family members, stimulates people's feelings of family and country, and helps to strengthen the sense of national identity. In addition, the Qingming Festival also provides a way for people to vent their emotions. By remembering their ancestors and sending their condolences, it can relieve the pressure of life and promote mental health. In modern society, the cultural significance and social function of Qingming Festival is more prominent, it is not only an important carrier of traditional culture, but also an important cultural resource for building a harmonious society .

The cultural connotations and social functions of the Qingming Festival are not static, but are constantly enriched and expanded with the development of the times. Nowadays, the Qingming Festival has gone beyond the single significance of ancestor worship and has been endowed with more diversified functions such as educating future generations and passing on culture. For example, some regions organize young people to carry out tree-planting and environmental protection volunteer activities during the Qingming Festival, aiming to cultivate their environmental awareness and sense of social responsibility. These innovative practices have not only enriched the cultural connotation of the Qingming Festival, but also injected new vitality into the play of its social functions .

The Qingming Festival, as a traditional festival, is profoundly rich in cultural connotations and has diverse and important social functions. We should deeply excavate and inherit the valuable cultural resources of this festival, so that it can play a more positive role in contemporary society. By promoting the traditional culture of Qingming Festival, we can better enhance national self-confidence and cohesion, and promote the prosperity and development of socialist culture .

Chapter 3 Customs and Rituals of Qingming Festival

3.1 Tomb-sweeping and Ancestral Worship

Sweeping tombs and paying homage to ancestors is the most central and important custom of the Qingming Festival. This traditional custom contains deep cultural traditions and people's psychological aspirations. On this special day, people go to the graves of their ancestors and express their nostalgia and respect for them by sweeping their tombs and offering sacrifices.

Tomb-sweeping, or cleaning the graves, is a way of honoring and remembering the deceased. On the day of Ching Ming Festival, people will bring their tools and go to the resting place of their ancestors to carefully clean the weeds around the graveyard and refurbish the graves, which is not only a sign of respect for the deceased, but also a manifestation of family responsibility. By sweeping the graves, family members can learn about their family history and develop the qualities of filial piety and gratitude.

Ancestor worship, on the other hand, is a ritual to show respect and gratitude to ancestors. During the Qingming Festival, people make offerings, such as food and wine, in front of tombs as a way of paying tribute to their ancestors. This custom embodies the Chinese people's vital drive for resilient survival and the pursuit of happiness, and is also an expression of the nation's cultural identity and historical legacy. Ancestor worship is not an act of superstition, but an expression in an emotional and moral sense.

The cultural traditions behind the customs of tomb-sweeping and ancestor worship have a long history, dating back to ancient times. In ancient societies, ancestor worship was a common phenomenon and it was believed that the spirits of ancestors could bless future generations. Therefore, ancestor worship became an important religious ceremony and social custom. Over time, this custom gradually evolved into a way of passing on culture and morals.

From the perspective of psychological appeal, tomb-sweeping and ancestor worship also satisfy people's need for a sense of belonging and identity. By participating in these activities, people can feel their connection with their ancestors, thus strengthening their identification with their personal identity and family belonging. At the same time, it is also a form of emotional support and expression, giving people the opportunity to express their nostalgia for the departed and to gain spiritual solace.

In modern society, the significance of tomb-sweeping and ancestor-worship has gone beyond religious ceremonies, and is more of a cultural and moral heritage, as well as a respect for history and family memory. Through these activities, family members can learn about their family history and cultural traditions and cultivate virtues such as filial piety and gratitude. At the same time, it is also a way of honoring and remembering life, so that people will cherish the present life and the people around them more.

In general, the customs of sweeping tombs and paying homage to ancestors on the Qingming Festival are not only a way of remembering and honoring the deceased, but also a way of passing on and embodying cultural traditions and family responsibilities. These customs contain deep cultural connotations and people's psychological aspirations, and have become an important part of Chinese culture. In today's fast-paced era, we should continue to pass on and promote these excellent traditional cultures, so that they can take on a new vitality in modern society.

3.2 Trekking and willow planting

Qingming Festival, also known as Treading Green Festival, is one of the major traditional Chinese festivals. On this day, in addition to sweeping tombs and paying homage to ancestors, people also engage in activities such as trekking and planting willows. These customs are not only rich in deep cultural connotations, but also embody unique humanistic values.

Trekking, or spring excursion, is a favorite activity during the Qingming Festival. In ancient times, trekking was regarded as a way to welcome spring and pray for a good harvest. Nowadays, with the development of the times, trekking has gradually evolved into a leisure and entertainment activity, but the cultural significance behind it is still far-reaching. Through trekking, people can feel the breath of spring and appreciate the beauty of nature, thus cultivating their sentiment and temperament. At the same time, trekking is also a good time for people to get together with friends and relatives, which helps to enhance family and friendship and strengthen interpersonal communication.

Willow planting is another characteristic custom of the Qingming Festival. During the Qingming Festival, people will put young green willow branches in front of their doors or under the eaves of their houses to welcome the arrival of spring and pray for peace and prosperity in their homes. Willow branches are light and airy, symbolizing the vitality of life and vitality. The custom of sticking willow embodies people's desire for a better life and their reverence for nature. In addition, willow branches also have a certain practical value. In ancient times, it was believed that willow branches had the function of driving away evil spirits and avoiding epidemics, so the willow planting in Qingming Festival also sent people's wish for a long and healthy life.

The cultural connotations and humanistic values of the Qingming Festival customs of trekking and willow-planting are manifold. First of all, these customs reflect the idea of "unity of heaven and mankind" in traditional Chinese culture. People feel the rhythm of nature through trekking and live in harmony with nature; they express their reverence for life and the pursuit of a better life through willow planting, realizing the harmony and unity of man and nature. Secondly, the customs of trekking and willow planting have inherited the excellent cultural traditions of the Chinese nation and enriched people's spiritual and cultural life. These customs not only have historical value, but also provide valuable cultural resources for modern society. Finally, the customs of trekking in the green and planting willows also play a positive role in enhancing interpersonal communication and promoting social harmony. When people participate in these activities, they can strengthen their ties and communication with each other and enhance mutual understanding and trust, thus helping to build harmonious social relations.

The Qingming Festival customs of trekking and willow-planting contain rich cultural connotations and humanistic values. They are not only an important part of traditional Chinese culture, but also indispensable cultural resources in modern society. We should cherish and pass on these customs, so that they can shine more brilliantly in the new era. At the same time, we should also dig deeper into the deeper meaning behind these customs to provide useful reference and inspiration for the development of modern society. Through activities such as trekking in the green and willow planting, we can better feel the charm of traditional Chinese culture and enhance cultural confidence and national pride.