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.
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.
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.
清明一般解字椎，谁住在山西省在公元前600年，传说杰救了他的饥饿的主的生活作为一件自己的腿。当主成功地成为一个小公国的统治者，他邀请他的忠实追随者和他。然而，杰拒绝了他的邀请，宁愿与他的母亲在山上过隐士的生活。
相信他可以强迫杰由燃烧的山，耶和华下令放火烧山。他惊愕，杰选择留在那里他被烧死。为了纪念街，耶和华命令所有的火灾，每个家庭将在街去世一周年的日子。由此开始，寒食宴，一天没有食物可以煮熟，因为没有火能被照亮。
寒食节是在清明节的前夕，通常被认为是清明节的一部分。久而久之，清明取代了寒食节。无论实践观察，观察清明基本记住人的长老通过特别的努力来拜访他们的坟墓，多爱。为了使参观更有意义，要花费一些时间来对生活和贡献他们的祖先年轻的家庭成员，和介子推选择了死亡投降的故事。