by Liana A tradition dating back thousands of years, the Qingming festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, is observed by people of Chinese ancestry across the world. Formerly celebrated every April 5th in Taiwan to align with the anniversary of Chiang Kai Shek’s death, Qingming now marks a public holiday in Taiwan on either April 4th, 5th, or 6th in accordance with the 15th day following the spring equinox on the lunar calendar. Qingming (清明) literally translates to clear and bright, which also reflects the changing weather that comes with the arrival of spring. While the traditional practices of honoring ancestors during Qingming persist for many families, others have adapted their approaches to reflect the changing realities of modern Taiwanese society. The practice of sweeping deceased relatives’ tombs is undoubtedly the most important facet of the Qingming festival. The process starts with clearing any weeds or overgrowth around the grave, as well as physically cleaning the tombstone from any dirt or dust that has accumulated. After the tomb has been swept, the family can then begin putting out offerings of food and flowers, both to the ancestors and to other deities that they would like to honor. Aside from the typical foods that are offered, some foods specific to Qingming include qingtuan, or sweet green rice balls. Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, are also a popular choice due to their portability. The family can then light incense for the ancestors and burn joss paper, which is believed to reach the deceased as money in the afterlife. After finishing the tomb sweeping, some families will also enjoy the arrival of spring by flying kites or having a picnic in green spaces.
The primary purpose of Qingming is predicated on one thing— there should be a tomb to sweep. So what happens when there isn’t? As times change, recent generations have redefined what Qingming looks like in the modern age. For decades, countries in East and Southeast Asia have pushed to move away from gravesites and transition to cremation, even destroying previously established gravesites. With the proliferation of cities, the simple fact is that there is not enough space for every person to have a traditional grave on a small plot of land. In tandem, the prices of those plots of land have skyrocketed to a point where it is barely an option for those under a certain income level. Many Taiwanese have now transitioned to choosing the comparatively cheaper cremation instead, where their remains will rest with thousands of other urns in a columbarium. The extensive process of a traditional Qingming tomb sweeping is significantly shortened in a columbarium— without being exposed to the elements, nothing much needs to be swept. In addition, the offering of food, incense, and joss paper that is traditionally done outside can pose more challenges in the quiet indoors of a columbarium setting, leading many families to reduce the scale of their Qingming practices in comparison to a larger scale for a grave. While cremation remains the more affordable option, burial and cremation are both so costly that those seeking the services are a target for scams. In 2021, columbariums in Taipei reached 90% capacity, with a wait time of up to one year for interment of the deceased. With the added concern of environmentalism, many are looking towards newer solutions that would seem inconceivable to the culture of a century ago. Taipei City Mortuary Services Office offers environmentally friendly burials such as scattering one’s cremated remains with a tree in a designated forest or out on the sea off the coast of Keelung. With the presently prominent concerns of air pollution due to burning joss paper and incense, the compounded environmental cost of cremation and air pollution, or burial in a coffin that will take centuries to decompose, may be a considering factor for younger generations. By offering a financial incentive of NT$10,000-20,000, the Taipei City Mortuary Services Office recorded 6,275 environmental burials in 2021, making up a total of 36% of Taipei funerary arrangements. While the number is yet to rise, it is clear that the Taipei government, among many others, hopes to incentivize nontraditional burials in a move that makes Qingming festivals in future generations even more of a nebulous concept to imagine. If a relative’s ashes are scattered in the sea, where would their family go to share offerings with them on Qingming, if at all? Younger generations are already shifting away from offering the traditional labor-intensive foods that their parents and grandparents offered ancestors in the past, bringing store-prepared variations or even packaged snacks and fast food. Part of this is due to the lack of space; it is much easier to bring one or two smaller items into a columbarium rather than an entire spread. However, this also indicates a larger shift in the priorities of modern society and the difficulty of maintaining the routines and recipes of generations past. With developments as unconventional as online ceremonies for Qingming during the pandemic lockdown, the exact nature of Qingming in the future is impossible to predict beyond the certainty of its change. a
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May 2024
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