Did you know that in China there's a special day to remember the dead, commonly known as Tomb Sweeping Day?
你們知道在中國有一個紀念逝者的特殊節(jié)日嗎？我們一般把它叫做清明節(jié)。
Hello and welcome to World History Encyclopedia.
大家好，歡迎來到世界歷史百科全書。
My name is Kelly and in honor of the Qingming Festival which will take place on the 4th of April, we're going to explore the legendary history of the festival and how it is celebrated today.
我是凱莉，為了紀念4月4日即將到來的清明節(jié)，我們將探索這個節(jié)日的傳說以及現(xiàn)代的紀念儀式。
The Qingming Festival is held 104 days after the winter solstice and is known as the Purebright Festival, Tombsweeping Day and Ancestors Day.
清明節(jié)是冬至后的第104天，也被稱為清潔明凈節(jié)、掃墓節(jié)和祭祖節(jié)。
For over 2,500 years this festival is a day for Chinese people to visit the tombs of their ancestors and care for and clean them, which can involve literally or figuratively sweeping them.
2500多年來，在清明節(jié)這天，中國人會去祖先的墳墓祭拜，對墳墓進行管理和清潔，這包括字面上或象征意義上的打掃。
Both the young and the old kneel down and offer prayers to their ancestors.
年輕人和老年人都跪下來對他們的祖先祈禱。
People offer tea, wine, food, chopsticks or libations in honour of their ancestors and to show respect.
人們用茶、酒、食物、筷子或祭品來祭拜祖先，并表示尊敬。
Stories are told of those who have passed while people make new memories with their friends and families.
人們一邊講述著逝者的過去，一邊與自己家人朋友留下新的回憶。
In the past, people would wear soft willow branches around their necks or hang them on gates and doors in the belief that it would ward off evil wandering spirits during the Qingming Festival.
在過去，人們會把柔軟的柳枝掛在脖子上或門上，他們相信這樣可以在清明節(jié)期間趕走游蕩的邪靈。
It was a time for people to start going outside and enjoying the greenery and early blossoms of spring.
清明節(jié)也是人們開始外出踏青，享受春暖花開的節(jié)日。
And one of the most important customs apart from the tomb-sweeping is kite-flying, a tradition that continues to be observed.
除了掃墓，還有一個最重要的風俗就是放風箏，這個傳統(tǒng)一直延續(xù)至今。
Both children and adults fly kites during the day and at night as well.
孩子和大人們在白天和夜晚都會放風箏。
They attach lanterns either to the kites or to the strings, which in the night sky would look like shimmering stars.
人們把燈籠系在風箏或風箏線上，這樣在夜空中看起來就像閃爍的星星。
The kites are said to be both symbolic of good fortune and to cure and prevent disease.
據(jù)說，風箏既象征著好運，又能治療和預防疾病。
The festival throughout time has merged with the cold food day which was initially the day before.
清明節(jié)融合了最初在它前一天的寒食節(jié)的習俗。
Essentially fires were not allowed and only cold food was allowed to be eaten.
寒食節(jié)原則上不允許生火做飯，只能吃冷的食物。
In some places, this custom is still in place.
在一些地方，這種習俗仍然存在。
The traditions of Qingming including cold food are derived from the legendary history of the day which took place over 2,500 years ago.
清明節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)包括寒食，都源于2500多年前這一天的傳說。
According to Chinese Folklore, sometime between 700 and 500 BCE, there was a Prince in exile, Prince Chonger with his defender Jie Zitu.
根據(jù)中國民間傳說，大約在公元前700年到500年之間，公子重耳和他的隨從介子推從晉國逃亡。
One night Chonger was about to die of starvation so Jie Zitu made a stew with flesh from his own leg, and the meal saved the Prince.
一天晚上，重耳快要餓死了，介子推就用自己腿上的肉燉了一鍋湯，救了重耳一命。
Nineteen years later, the Prince returned to his kingdom and assumed his place as the Duke Wen of Jin.
19年后，公子重耳回到晉國，繼位成為晉文公。
And when he rewarded his followers, he forgot to reward the man who had saved his life.
當他獎賞他的隨從時，卻忘了那個救過他一命的人。
When the Duke was reminded of Jie Zitu, he felt deep shame that he had forgotten him.
等到晉文公想起介子推，他很慚愧自己竟然忘了恩人。
So he decided to visit in person to reward and honor him.
所以晉文公決定親自去拜訪介子推，以表獎賞和尊敬。
Jie Zitu heard the news of the Duke coming but he did not want the honour.
介子推聽說了晉文公要來的消息，卻不想接受這份榮譽。
So he fled with his elderly mother into a mountain and refused to see the Duke.
于是他帶著年邁的母親逃到山上，拒絕見晉文公。
The Duke couldn't find Jie Zitu's hiding spot and so he had the most excellent and logical idea to have the mountain be set on fire to force him out.
晉文公找不到介子推的藏身之處，于是他想出了一個絕妙而又合乎邏輯的主意：放火燒山，把介子推逼出來。
Jie Zitu didn't want a title or honours.
而介子推并不想要封賞。
He just wanted to keep the Prince alive and see him become the Duke and so he didn't leave the mountain.
他只是想讓公子重耳活下來，見證他成為晉文公，所以他沒有從山里出來。
After three days the Duke found the bodies of Jie Zitu and his mother in a cave in the mountains under a willow tree.
三天后，晉文公在山中一棵柳樹下的山洞里發(fā)現(xiàn)了介子推及其母親的遺體。
In honor of the man who sought no honour or reward, the Duke held a memorial and buried the mother and son respectfully.
為了紀念這位不追求榮譽和獎賞的臣子，晉文公舉行了追悼儀式，并恭敬地埋葬了這對母子。
And he requested that no food be prepared with fire that day and to only eat cold food as a sign of respect, mourning and remembrance.
于是晉文公下令那一天不能生火做飯，只能吃冷食，以示尊敬、哀悼和懷念。
The next year the Duke returned to commemorate Jie Zitu and he saw that the willow that had been burnt the year before was now alive and lush.
第二年，晉文公回山中祭奠介子推，看到一年前被燒毀的那棵柳樹現(xiàn)在又活了過來，并且枝繁葉茂。
The Duke swept the tomb and then declared the beginning of the Cold Food Festival, which has become synonymous with the Qingming Festival.
晉文公掃完墓后，宣布設(shè)立寒食節(jié)，現(xiàn)在寒食節(jié)已成為清明節(jié)的同義詞。
Remembrance of the dead and honoring one's ancestors is an important cultural value in China.
在中國，追思逝者與祭奠祖先是一種重要的文化價值。
It is believed that you can and almost certainly will be haunted if you fail to remember and honor your family members who have passed on.
人們相信，如果你不記住和尊重已經(jīng)去世的家人，那你肯定會被鬼魂困擾。
Tomb Sweeping Day provides people with a reminder to visit and care for the graves of family and friends, and in recent years even beloved pets.
清明節(jié)提醒人們?nèi)グ菰L和打掃家人和朋友的墳墓，近年來甚至還有心愛寵物之墓。
The festival encourages people to tell stories of their loved ones, keeping the memory of those who have passed alive in the present, and maintaining a family's history and traditions.
這個節(jié)日鼓勵人們講述所愛之人的故事，保留對逝者的記憶，并保持一個家族的歷史和傳統(tǒng)。
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