Understanding Qing Ming in Singapore

Qing Ming, also called the Tomb Sweeping Festival, is a day that the Chinese faithfully remember and honour their ancestors and deceased loved ones. Steeped in Chinese culture, it fosters a strong bond between the living and their ancestors. It takes place in early April, 106 days after the winter solstice in December. An annual event that holds a special place in the hearts of many, it is a festival that transcends time and societal changes.

For the Chinese, it is a busy time for visiting and cleaning tombs or niches, a tradition tied to family devotion. Visits to the columbaria are now more common than cemeteries due to land scarcity in Singapore and the increasing popularity of cremation. However, the observance of Qing Ming remains an enduring and significant tradition.

Cultural Significance of Qing Ming

The question that often arises is why, in an age dominated by digital connectivity, people continue to embark on the physical journey of Qing Ming.

Qing Ming is a time when we honour our cultural heritage by participating in a tradition that connects us to our past, present and future. This physical and tangible act of remembrance is especially significant in a world where digital interactions are increasingly prevalent because it is a time we strengthen our familial and cultural ties, preserving our legacy for generations to come.

Qing Ming is more than just a religious duty. For some, it's a cultural tradition reflecting filial piety and familial respect. For others, it is an obligation to their ancestors to avoid misfortune as they believe that ancestral spirits can impact the lives of the living. Either way, it is a unique occasion, much like Chinese New Year, for families to come together, strengthen family bonds and reinforce these values as they gather to catch up on each other’s lives, share stories and enjoy each other’s company.

While Qing Ming is commemorated to remember the departed loved ones, it also serves as a stark reminder of how swiftly time passes by, of how temporary life is, and thus, the importance of appreciating and cherishing the loved ones around us. Therefore, it is not only a time to pay respects to the deceased by maintaining their graves, connecting to our roots, and remembering our past; it is also a time we take to cherish the living.

Buddhist perspective on Qing Ming

Qing Ming for Buddhists is more than just about sweeping our ancestors’ tombs and offering items to our deceased loved ones. It is also a way to express filial piety to our loved ones even after they have departed. By dedicating prayers and merits to them to ensure that they are reborn in a good place such as Amitabha Buddha’s Pureland, we show gratitude and love in wanting to benefit them even after their passing.

In the Buddhist tradition, we recall in the teachings how all beings have once been either our father or our mother for numberless eons. Hence, we also pray for wandering spirits as we extend our love to all sentient beings for their kindness to us in previous lives. Wandering spirits include those who have died in war, accidents, without closure, or without family members to conduct proper transmigratory prayers for them. Qing Ming thus becomes a season of remembrance where we can share love and merits with those who are karmically linked to us.

Throughout the Qing Ming Festival event, Thekchen Choling will be conducting prayers and offerings by our resident Sanghas consecutively for 13 days. These prayers are for one to dedicate extensive merits to the dearly departed for them to transcend samsara and swiftly transmigrate to Amitabha’s Pureland.

Rituals Beyond Obligation

The Four Immeasurables

May all sentient beings achieve extraordinarily superior happiness! 

May all sentient beings be free from the unbearable sea of suffering! 

May all sentient beings never be parted from the bliss of supreme liberation! 

May all sentient beings be free of all bias, attachment and anger to near ones and aversion to others! 

When we reflect upon these rituals, they go beyond being a religious or cultural obligation. They are a way of showing our love, gratitude and filial piety to our ancestors and loved ones. We also pray for all beings to achieve superior happiness and supreme liberation, just like what the prayer “The Four Immeasurables” says. We show our gratitude and love to all sentient beings, extending our love from our loved ones to all beings. 

In the past, people cleaned and visited tombs. However, most Singaporean Chinese now visit the columbarium and niches. Despite not needing to clean tombs anymore, it is still an opportunity to practice Dharma. By making offerings to the Buddha and doing prayers for our ancestors, we engage in merit-making acts for our ancestors’ future lives. Simple acts such as wiping photographs or repainting engraved words are also a personal and familial commitment that is filled with emotions. They are a way to pay tribute and gratitude to our family, community, and cultural roots. We are thankful to our forefathers for creating these rituals to cultivate and preserve the continuation of familial virtues for future generations to come.

Conclusion

By celebrating Qing Ming, we are reminded of the significance of community and family ties. It is a tradition passed down through generations, and like a thread that weaves through time, it preserves our culture and values.

Qing Ming is more than a ritual; it is a living tradition that invites individuals to embrace their roots, appreciate the present, and contribute to the cultural continuity of future generations. We also show gratitude and love to those who are karmically linked to us by making prayers and dedicating merits to them.

As you prepare to participate in the annual Qing Ming festival, you may want to consider adding some meaningful practices to honour and remember your ancestors. Sutra recitations such as Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance or engaging in charity work can help us and the dearly departed to gain bountiful merits and ensure the deceased to gain rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s Pureland.

May you and your family have a meaningful Qing Ming! You can find detailed information about our Qing Ming activities here.