Remembering the dearly departed

Brother Tai Kam came back from abroad to perform the QingMing prayers at Mother's resting place in Fairy Park,Meru, Klang, together with sister Wan Lan. Several days before going to Fairy Park, sis Wan Lan also performed prayers to the departed ancestors in Father's house in PJ.

Apparently, QingMing or Chinese All Souls Day goes back 2000 years ago to the Han Dynasty in China when the tradition of visiting the graves of the ancestors started. QingMing means Clear Brightness in Chinese because QingMing is the time in Spring when the days are longer than the night. In the Chinese solar calendar the season of spring is sub-divided into 6 divisions of approx 14 days each. QingMing is one of sub-seasons and normally falls on the 5th or 6th of April.

I found this picture and the Chinese poem by Chinese Poet Du Mu about QingMing. Du Mu (803 - 852 CE) was a famous poet during the Tang Dynasty.

English translation of the poem:

"A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day; The mourner's heart is breaking on his way; Where can a wine house be found to drown his sadness? A cowherd points to Almond Flower (Xing Hua) Village in the distance."

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/tomb-sweeping-day