Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a all principality, he invited his faithl follower to join him. Howr, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.(绿叶鸟网) Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in ry home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.www.lvyeniao.cn The "cold food" festival occurs on the of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. Whatr practice is observed,the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit n meaningl, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Zhui who choose death over capitulation.
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