Ching Ming usually celebrated 10 days before April 4th, or 10 days after. So the Chinese's have total of 20 days to fulfills their responsibilities, what responsibilities? Filial piety la. Ching Ming is a festival where families gathered at the graveyard, praying to their ancestors, cleaning and repairing ancestors tomb, also known as tomb-sweeping. Well, the reason why I blog on this is because, some of my colleagues and friends from other races asked me many questions regarding this festival, whether on why it was celebrated, items and offerings needed on Ching Ming and the weirdness on certain rituals . And I am lazy to explain it one by one, so this blog is here one for all.
First question that most asked is "Why death people need paper houses, hell's notes, and paper-based groceries items?" Hmmm, I am not very sure about this but I did read this from a book about Chinese culture. Long long time ago, there was a couple make their living on paper-based products. What happen was their business was very slow, so they thinking of ways to make their business grow. One day, their wealthy neighbor fathers-in-law passed away. So this uncle's son goes asks around, since his father is death, how to make sure his father enjoy the same wealth in the after-world? And this couple (curse them, cause makes so many trees gone) suddenly think of the paper money notes. And this couple goes bullshit around to that dumb guy. So this ritual started when the paper-offering items are used for praying. The Tao's not only burns to the death, but also to the God...I wondering aren't God are everything, and why they need such ugly human-made-and-designed cloths and money note
This paper-rituals are only exists in Tao's but not for Buddhist and Christian. Before this, I was not a Buddhist then, and I think that this is cool, because burning such large paper-made items are so much fun (you know la, playing with fire and water is most fun during children time). But after I practiced Buddhism, one abbot explained to us why such burning rituals are useless. The abbot give us an example, many people goes burning paper cars, televisions, radios and now even more advances notebooks, mobile phones and maybe now maybe I-phone and Blacberry's.. = ='
Since they burns these items, then how about the gas stations for the cars, antennas for the TV (no receptions), batteries for notebooks and also chargers? So this is so baseless and unnecessarily rituals. Not only money are wasted and this also contributes to air pollution too. But what can we say more? Since maybe by doing this, family members of the cease one will have some peace on mind. Money wasted.
The second question that most asked is, "Why do they play firecrackers after they prayed?". Well this is also very new and weird in Malaysian's Chinese culture. The reason why Chinese play firecrackers on Chinese New Year was supposing to ward off spirits, bad things and bring lucks. But now, these people go burning the few-feet long firecrackers (show-off) in the graveyard. So I think no matter how grand the offering was offered, those pity souls and spirits sure scared away. More money wasted.
The third question that asked most is, "Why they need feast after the praying?". Hah, this one I know. You see, Ching Ming is the second most important festivals in Chinese's cultures. So when they are out for this tomb-sweeping, relatives from all over the places can gather around (mostly gossiping and more after got home). So it's such an important family gathering to show to their lovely departed one that the family bonding in the family is still strong. Well this is money saving, because those foods that used as offering can be enjoy by all. So its saves you a lunch.
The last of the most asked question is, "Do Chinese pray to the tomb for wealth?". Can't denied that some of this mischievous peoples do pray there for money, for wealth or fame (but this usually done performs at night). These are those rascals that end up in pretty bad because there is no such thing as "free-lunch", if you know what I mean. But in the meantime, the majority that prays on Ching Ming are prayed with a sincere and faithful heart hoping that their ancestors will bestow protections (health is wealth) to the family members. Thus this to ensured the dearly departed are not forgotten too.
All on all, the reason why Ching Ming is celebrated are mainly to strengthen the families bonds and most important is to educates the young not to forgetting their ancestors.
So I hope that this clears up the reason why Ching Ming is celebrated. happy Ching Ming.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
All the pictures here belong to someone, mostly googled. So please don't sue me for copyright. ^ ^
No comments:
Post a Comment