Cutting troubles

Kite flying and riding on swings are also traditions of the festival. According to Qingjialu, a book from Qing Dynasty recording the customs of East China, "The wind of spring comes from below, and the paper eagles rise to the sky, hence the proverb 'the kite is released at Qingming'."

In ancient times, people would write down their illnesses and troubles on pieces of paper and attach them to a kite. When the kite was high in the air, they would cut the string and let the kite fly away on the wind in the hope of literally cutting loose their problems.

It might sound unlikely, but a form of Chinese football called cuju was once a popular activity on Tomb Sweeping Day. Emperors from the Tang Dynasty with a passion for watching the ancient game organized competitions for the nobility and officials.

This curious amalgam of ritual ceremonies and outdoor entertainment also demonstrates the Chinese view of life and death. The Analects of Confucius state that filial duty does not require the living to drown themselves in grief, but to cherish life more because of death.

Ceremonies of sacrifice to give thanks were common in ancient China, from the imperial courts to commoners' households.

Sacrificial ceremonies, apart from during Qingming, were held to mark the solar terms. Winter solstice, for instance, honored the sky, and the summer solstice honored the earth.

Therefore, Tomb Sweeping Day is not only about the obligations of filial duty, but also expressing joy and gratitude for life.

"The philosopher Zeng said, 'Let there be a careful attention to perform the funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed, when long gone, with the ceremonies of sacrifice－then the virtue of the people will resume its proper excellence'," the analects said.