百科 | 清明节由来与习俗（双语）+ 如何用英语介绍清明节传统文化 | 自由微信

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 small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.

谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子椎。据历史记载，在两千多年以前的春秋时代，晋国公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艰苦，跟随他的介子椎不惜从自己的腿上割下一块肉让他充饥。后来，重耳回到晋国，作了国君（即晋文公，春秋五霸之一），大事封赏所有跟随他流亡在外的随从，惟独介子椎拒绝接受封赏，他带了母亲隐居绵山。

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 every 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.

晋文公无计可施，只好放火烧山，他想，介子椎孝顺母亲，一定会带着老母出来。谁知这场大火却把介子椎母子烧死了。为了纪念介子椎，晋文公下令每年的这一天，禁止生火，家家户户只能吃生冷的食物，这就是寒食节的来源。

The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve 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. Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, 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.

寒食节是在清明节的前一天，古人常把寒食节的活动延续到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食节。拜介子椎的习俗也变成了清明扫墓的习俗了。无论以何种形式纪念，为了使纪念祖先的仪式更有意义，我们应该让年轻一代的家庭成员了解先人过去的奋斗历史，当然，还要学习介子椎宁死不屈的气节。

清明习俗

sweeping the tomb 扫墓

One of the most important activities on this day is to tend graves to honor ancestors,dead relatives and friends. On Tomb Sweeping Day, thousands of Chinese families will head to cemeteries to clean and sweep the tombs of deceased family members. As we gather with our families to remember our ancestors, remember to give thanks for family and the gift of life. In addition, as the spring comes and everywhere gets green, people often go picnicking, hiking, play kites or plant willows.

清明一大重要的活动就是上坟祭拜祖先、去世的亲人及朋友。在清明这天，成千上万的中国家庭将要前往陵园去为逝去的亲人扫墓。当我们全家一起祭奠祖先的时候，记得一同感谢家人和生命的礼物。除此之外，春天到来万物复苏，人们也常常借此机会外出野餐，徒步旅行、放风筝或者种柳树。

健康小贴士

The traditional Chinese medical theory believes that this period is the perfect time for people to absorb Yang Qi into human’s body. Everything which may consume or block one’s Yang Qi should be avoided. People are suggested to take more exercises such as jogging, gymnastics, hiking. Although the old custom of eating cold food is still popular in some areas, not everyone’s body is suitable for doing so, especially those who have weak stomach. People should eat more fruits and vegetables such as chives,Chinese cabbage and radish.

中国传统医学理论认为清明时节是人们吸取阳气的最佳时机、应该要避免所有消耗或阻挡体内阳气的事。建议人们多参与像慢跑、体操、徒步旅行这样的锻炼。尽管吃冷食的就习俗在某些地方依旧盛行，但并不是每个人的身体都能适应，尤其是那些肠胃功能不好的人。应该多吃水果和蔬菜，如韭菜、大白菜、萝卜。

我们人耳熟能详的一首关于清明的诗就是：

清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。借问酒家何处有?牧童遥指杏花村。清明杜牧

这首杜牧《清明》各种英文翻译版本也有很多：

1.许渊冲译

A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day

The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.　Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?

A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.

2.吴伟雄译

It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,

The mourner travels with his heart lost in dismay. When asked for a wineshop to kill his gloomy time, A cowboy points at Almond Hamlet far away.

3.万昌盛、王僴中译

The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day,

So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.When asked where could be found at avern bower,

Acow boy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.

4.杨宪益、戴乃迭译

It drizzles endless during the rainy season in spring,

Travelers along the road look gloomy and miserable.When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,

He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.

5.吴钧陶译

It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day,

I travel with my heart lost in dismay."Is there a public house somewhere, cowboy?"

He points at Apricot Village faraway.

6.蔡廷干译

The rain falls thick and fast on All Souls' Day,

The men and women sadly move along the way.They ask where wineshops can be found or where to rest ----

And there the herdboy's fingers Almond-Town suggest.

7.孙大雨译

Upon theClear-and-Bright Feast of spring, the rain drizzleth down in spray.

Pedestrians on countryside ways, in gloom are pinning away.
When asked "Where a tavern fair for rest, is hereabouts to befound",
The shepherd boy the Apricot Bloom Vill, doth point to afar and say.

清明节相关英文词汇

day of sacrifice 祭祀节日
offer sacrifices to ancestors 祭祖/上供
condolence 哀悼之情
hell note/joss paper 纸钱
funeral supplies/products 殡葬用品
funeral services 殡葬服务业
mortician 殡仪业者
burn incense 焚香
tomb-sweeping 扫墓
tomb sweeper 扫墓的人
kite flying 放风筝
spring outing 踏青
god's lantern 神灯
memorial tablet 纪念碑
willow branches inserted on each gate 门旁插柳
cremation urn 骨灰盒
mourning ceremony 哀悼仪式
inhumation 土葬
cremation 火葬
sea-burial 海葬
boat-coffin burial 船棺葬
tree burial 树葬
celestial burial 天葬
flower burials 花葬
filial piety 孝顺孝心
Day of the Dead(亡灵节，墨西哥传统节日，人们通过守灵、上供等方式祭奠逝去的亲人。)

动态版的清明上河图，配乐是李玉刚的歌，二者结合在一起，诗情画意，韵味十足。清明上河图的原画长528厘米，高24.8厘米，最早的版本为北宋画家张择端所作，现藏北京故宫博物院。

《清明上河图》描绘北宋京城汴梁及汴河两岸的繁华和热闹的景象和优美的自然风光。作品以长卷形式，采用散点透视的构图法，将繁杂的景物纳入统一而富于变化的画卷中，画中主要分开两部份，一部份是农村，另一部是市集。画中有814人，牲畜60多匹，船只28艘，房屋楼宇30多栋，车20辆，轿8顶，树木170多棵，往来衣着不同，神情各异，栩栩如生，其间还穿插各种活动，注重情节，构图疏密有致，富有节奏感和韵律的变化，笔墨章法都很巧妙，颇见功底。这幅画作对于各种形态的几乎正确描绘性使其负有盛名。

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=f0156j7plqs&width=500&height=375&auto=0
会动的《清明上河图》

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=p0126w814ay&width=500&height=375&auto=0

清明上河图（高清全图）

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=f0127ggmvwo&width=500&height=375&auto=0