1. Core Concept (核心概念)
Han Shi (寒食)—the “Cold Food” tradition—was one of China’s most ancient festivals, observed for over two millennia before gradually merging with the Qingming Festival. Its defining feature was a complete prohibition of fire for three days, requiring households to eat only cold, pre-cooked food.
The tradition commemorated Jie Zitui (介子推), a nobleman of the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BCE) whose loyalty unto death became a foundational moral exemplar in Chinese culture.
2. The Legend of Jie Zitui (介子推传说)
> During the turbulent Spring and Autumn Period, Prince Chong’er (重耳) of Jin was exiled for 19 years. His loyal follower Jie Zitui accompanied him through starvation and danger. Once, when the prince was near death from hunger, Jie cut flesh from his own thigh and cooked it into a soup to save him. When Chong’er eventually became the Duke Wen of Jin, he rewarded his followers generously—but forgot Jie Zitui. Ashamed, Jie retired to Mian Mountain (绵山) with his elderly mother, refusing all offers of office. The Duke, realizing his oversight, set fire to the mountain to smoke Jie out. But Jie—true to his integrity—chose to burn to death rather than accept power under duress. The Duke found their charred bodies embracing a willow tree. Overcome with remorse, he decreed that no fire could be lit on the anniversary of Jie’s death, and the day became known as Cold Food Festival.
3. Ritual Practices (节俗活动)
Fire Prohibition (禁火)
For three days around Jie’s death anniversary (the 105th day after the winter solstice):
- No cooking fires were lit in any household
- Cold food only — dried meats, preserved vegetables, cold congee
- Candles and lamps were also extinguished at night
This extreme austerity was a collective act of mourning and moral purification.
Willow Branch Inserts (插柳)
Families planted willow branches by their doors:
- The willow was Jie’s tree—he died embracing one
- Willow’s flexibility symbolized adaptable loyalty
- Green shoots represented life persisting through death
Spring Outing (踏青)
Despite the somber origin, Cold Food also involved spring outings—walking in nature, composing poetry, and flying kites. The festival embodied the Chinese capacity to merge mourning with renewal.
4. Merger with Qingming (与清明的融合)
By the Tang Dynasty, the Cold Food Festival and the Qingming Festival (literally “Clear and Bright”) had become so intertwined that they were essentially celebrated together:
| Aspect | Cold Food (Han Shi) | Qingming |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 105 days after winter solstice | 15 days after spring equinox |
| Mood | Mourning, austerity | Remembrance, renewal |
| Activities | Fire prohibition, willow branches | Tomb sweeping, spring outings |
| Food | Cold, dry provisions | Fresh spring greens |
The Tang imperial court officially merged the two festivals, and over centuries, Qingming absorbed Cold Food’s customs. Today, the “Cold Food Festival” is rarely celebrated independently, but its legacy survives in:
- Qingming’s tomb-sweeping rituals
- The willow branches still inserted by some doors
- The Qingtuan (green rice balls)—originally a Cold Food staple, now a Qingming specialty
Moral Legacy
Jie Zitui’s story established a powerful cultural archetype: the loyal minister who values integrity over reward, the individual who chooses death over compromise. This ideal has shaped Chinese political ethics, literature, and personal identity for over 2,500 years.