Jie Zitui and the legend of the Cold Food Festival Source of the Cold Food Festival
The Qingming Festival is in In ancient times, there was no special meaning.At the beginning, it was not a unique festival to worship ancestors.Why does Qingming Festival have such a meaning? To commemorate Qu Yuan, people eat zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival.Similarly, in ancient times, there was a person named Jie Zitui.In order to commemorate him, this people created a festival called the Cold Food Festival.
The Cold Food Festival and the Legend of Jie Zitui
There is such a legend:According to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Li Ji, the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin, wanted his son Xi Qi to succeed him.He planned a drug plan to kill the prince, Shen Sheng, who was forced to commit suicide.Shen Sheng’s younger brother, Chong’er, fled into exile in order to avoid harm.During his exile, Chong’er suffered humiliation.It turned out that most of the courtiers who went out with him went their separate ways one after another.Only a few loyal and loyal people remained, who followed him all the time.One of them was Jie Zitui.Once, Chong’er fainted from hunger.In order to save Chong’er, Jie Zitui cut a piece of meat from his leg, roasted it with fire, and gave it to Chong’er to eat.Nineteen years later, Chong’er returned to the country and became the monarch.He was Duke Wen of Jin, one of the famous five hegemons in the Spring and Autumn Period.After Duke Wen of Jin came to power, he gave great rewards to those ministers who shared weal and woe with him, but Jie Zitui was the only one who forgot.Some people complained for Jie Zitui in front of Duke Wen of Jin.Duke Wen of Jin suddenly recalled the old events and felt ashamed, so he immediately sent someone to invite Jie Zitui to be rewarded and appointed an official.However, after a few trips, Jie couldn’t push him.
Gong Wen of Jin had to go and invite him in person.However, when Duke Wen of Jin came to Jie Zitui’s house, the door was closed.Jie Zitui didn’t want to see him, so he had already hid in Mianshan (today’s southeast of Jiexiu County, Shanxi) behind his mother’s back.Duke Wen of Jin asked his imperial army to search Mianshan, but they could not find it.So, someone came up with an idea that it would be better to set fire to the mountain, set fire to three sides, and leave one side, and Jie Zitui would come out on his own when the fire broke out.Duke Wen of Jin ordered the fire to burn the mountain, but the fire burned for three days and three nights.When they went up the mountain, Jie Zitui, mother and son, were already dead holding a charred willow tree.Duke Wen of Jin looked at Jie Zitui’s body and wept for a while, and then buried the body.He found that there was a willow tree hole in Jie Zitui’s back, and there seemed to be something in the hole.When I took it out, it turned out to be a piece of clothing with a blood poem inscribed on it:Cut the flesh and serve the king with all his heart.I hope the lord will always be on the Qingming Festival.The ghost under the willow never disappears, and it is as strong as accompany the king as a counselor.If the lord has me in his heart, always reflect on me when I remember.
I have a clear conscience in Jiuquan, and I will be diligent in the Qingming Festival.Duke Wen of Jin hid the blood book in his sleeve.Then Jie Zitui and his mother were buried under the charred willow tree.In order to commemorate Jie Zitui, Duke Wen of Jin ordered Mianshan to be changed to "Jieshan", built an ancestral hall on the mountain, and designated the day when the mountain was set on fire as the Cold Food Festival, telling the whole country that fireworks are forbidden on this day every year, and only cold food is eaten.When he left, he cut down a section of charred willow and made a pair of clogs in the palace.He looked at it every day and sighed, "Sorry, step by step." "Step by step." It comes from this.In the second year, Duke Wen of Jin led his ministers and went on foot to pay homage to him in plain clothes to express his condolences.Walking to the grave, I saw the dead old willow tree resurrected, with thousands of green branches dancing in the wind.Duke Wen of Jin looked at the resurrected old willow tree as if he saw Jie Zitui.He walked up to him respectfully, pinched the branch cherishly, and made a circle around his head.After the sacrifice, Duke Wen of Jin named the resurrected old willow "Qingming Festival Willow", and designated this day as the Qingming Festival.
Afterwards, Duke Wen of Jin often kept the blood book by his side as a motto to spur him to govern.He was diligent in the administration of the Qingming Festival, worked hard to govern, and managed the country well.Since then, the people of Jin have been able to live and work in peace and contentment.On the day of his death, fireworks are prohibited to commemorate him.It is also made of flour and jujube paste, shaped into the shape of a swallow, strung with willow sticks, inserted on the door, and summoned his soul, this thing is called "Zituiyan" (Jie Zitui is also referred to as Jiezhitui).Since then, Hanshi and Qingming Festival have become grand festivals for the people of the country.When it is cold food, people do not make a fire to cook, but only eat cold food.
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