It is just not a
cemetery; it is a land that accentuates a forbidden charm that only a few could
value. I am one of the very few who could. Where else in this build up tiny
island could we find dense luscious greenery, dulcet tones of the wild birds
and fragrance of fresh air? We find ourselves tied down in a metropolitan
society that is greatly erected with high rise buildings and interconnected
highways. We do not find the opportunity to take a breather since we are living
in a society that is greatly demanding. Therefore, we need to find means to
escape, and give our mind, body and soul a solace.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
A stroll through Qingming
The Qingming jie also known as a tomb sweeping day, is a festival celebrated for twenty one days, first ten days, actual day, and the latter ten days. Descendants visit burial grounds of ancestors, clean up, sweep the tombstones, place edible offerings, light up candles, offer incense to their ancestors and burn paper offerings. Qingming is a perfect opportunity for living descendants to honour their ancestors and to congregate as a family to intermingle.
There are variant stories to its origin, but sweeping is done particularly due to filial piety and feng-shui reasons. The Chinese believe that the bones of an ancestor and the lives of the living descendants are closely intact. Therefore the fortune of the living depends on the piety towards their ancestors. Since its spring, drainage of tombs are clogged by dried leaves, preventing the flow of water (chi) to the forecourts of the tomb, thus, it becomes an obstruction. Therefore, to maintain an abundance of good chi (positive energy); descendants clean up and honour their ancestors at burial grounds annually during Qingming.
Descendants arrive in vehicles or sometimes as an entourage in a chartered bus, as early as five in the wee hours of the morning. Clean up, wash up, sweep, and weed, ink the inscriptions and perhaps re-paint if necessary. A stack of papers or a stone is kept on the head stone to signify that the dead has not been forgotten and is still remembered. Next colour papers are placed on the hump where the body lies. These are materials that could be used on the other side, its either cloth/fabrics or just plain material goods. At times it’s arranged to resemble a turtle shell, to exalt longevity to the living descendants.
Once completed, first offerings of candles, incense and fruits are placed on the little shrines dedicated to Tu Di Gong, earth deity who guards/takes care of the tombstone. A little offering is then burnt by the side.
Secondly, offerings of tea, fruits, favourite food, and longevity cakes are placed on the tombstone altars. Pair of candles is lit and incense sticks are firstly offered to the long departed ancestors and subsequently to the deceased. Once joss sticks are placed in the urn and sometimes placed around the hump, descendants wait for approval to burn paper offerings. During this time, descendants also offer incense to neighbouring tombs to thank them for keeping their ancestor company – to imitate the kampong spirit.
Once approval has been given, joss paper, paper money, silver paper and gold paper are then burnt for the ancestors. These are burnt along with paper clothing, shoes, jewelleries, accessories and even latest technological gadgets. Sometimes the required items are kept in a paper treasure box, sealed with the deceased’s name and burnt for the deceased exclusively. Finally when it’s done, tea or a form of liquid is poured about the offering to secure the burnt offerings, to avoid invasion by other wandering spirits.
Descendants then linger around awhile more; they consume the edible offerings and perhaps get into a little conversation with fellow family members. I was fortunate to have been greeted by wonderful descendants, who were kind enough to offer me with plenty of information and light refreshments that they had carried with them.
A family was sharing with me how they chatter a bus so that they can get all the younger ones to come together to pay respects to their ancestors and they too anticipate this annual gathering with their cousins.
A seven year old boy was telling me about how he gets excited to visit his great grandfather's tomb, the laying of colour papers and scent of incense.
"it's nice to see efforts being put in to save this place, more youngsters should know about our history and culture, they should be more involved." - Kenny Chan
There are variant stories to its origin, but sweeping is done particularly due to filial piety and feng-shui reasons. The Chinese believe that the bones of an ancestor and the lives of the living descendants are closely intact. Therefore the fortune of the living depends on the piety towards their ancestors. Since its spring, drainage of tombs are clogged by dried leaves, preventing the flow of water (chi) to the forecourts of the tomb, thus, it becomes an obstruction. Therefore, to maintain an abundance of good chi (positive energy); descendants clean up and honour their ancestors at burial grounds annually during Qingming.
Descendants arrive in vehicles or sometimes as an entourage in a chartered bus, as early as five in the wee hours of the morning. Clean up, wash up, sweep, and weed, ink the inscriptions and perhaps re-paint if necessary. A stack of papers or a stone is kept on the head stone to signify that the dead has not been forgotten and is still remembered. Next colour papers are placed on the hump where the body lies. These are materials that could be used on the other side, its either cloth/fabrics or just plain material goods. At times it’s arranged to resemble a turtle shell, to exalt longevity to the living descendants.
Once completed, first offerings of candles, incense and fruits are placed on the little shrines dedicated to Tu Di Gong, earth deity who guards/takes care of the tombstone. A little offering is then burnt by the side.
Secondly, offerings of tea, fruits, favourite food, and longevity cakes are placed on the tombstone altars. Pair of candles is lit and incense sticks are firstly offered to the long departed ancestors and subsequently to the deceased. Once joss sticks are placed in the urn and sometimes placed around the hump, descendants wait for approval to burn paper offerings. During this time, descendants also offer incense to neighbouring tombs to thank them for keeping their ancestor company – to imitate the kampong spirit.
Once approval has been given, joss paper, paper money, silver paper and gold paper are then burnt for the ancestors. These are burnt along with paper clothing, shoes, jewelleries, accessories and even latest technological gadgets. Sometimes the required items are kept in a paper treasure box, sealed with the deceased’s name and burnt for the deceased exclusively. Finally when it’s done, tea or a form of liquid is poured about the offering to secure the burnt offerings, to avoid invasion by other wandering spirits.
Descendants then linger around awhile more; they consume the edible offerings and perhaps get into a little conversation with fellow family members. I was fortunate to have been greeted by wonderful descendants, who were kind enough to offer me with plenty of information and light refreshments that they had carried with them.
A family was sharing with me how they chatter a bus so that they can get all the younger ones to come together to pay respects to their ancestors and they too anticipate this annual gathering with their cousins.
A seven year old boy was telling me about how he gets excited to visit his great grandfather's tomb, the laying of colour papers and scent of incense.
"it's nice to see efforts being put in to save this place, more youngsters should know about our history and culture, they should be more involved." - Kenny Chan
Above is a stone that is placed on the headstone to denote that the deceased is not forgotten and is still remembered by the living descendants.
Likewise colour paper or even flowers could be placed.
First set of offerings for Earth Deity also known as Du Ting Kong - who protects and guards the tombstone
Colour paper arranged on the hump of the tomb
Offerings for candles, incense, fruits and cakes are placed on the altar
Paper money and offerings burnt for the dead in the netherworld
A little documentation done by myself, credits to tomb keepers Ah Chye and Queenie, Danny Chew of the Tan Kheam Hock Family, the Descendants of Ng Family, Kenny Chan and the Pek Family and Seet Family.
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