Tradition meets practicality for Qing Ming rituals
More adopting eco-friendly practices such as simplifying food offerings and burning less paper paraphernalia

THE practice of ancient customs during Qing Ming or Tomb Sweeping Day, which falls on April 4 this year, is often simplified or adapted to fit local beliefs.

With growing emphasis on environmentally-friendly practices, cemetery management groups are advising those who observe Qing Ming to relook at some practices and strike a balance between preserving tradition and meeting the needs of today’s society.

They are also advocating for a shift towards sustainability and moderation to prevent wastage.

Family members burning joss paper at KL Hokkien Cemetery in Jalan Kerayong, Bukit Seputeh. — Photos: ONG SOON HIN, LOW BOON TAT, WILLIAM GARY/The Star

While many aspects of traditional rituals are still being observed, some have been adapted.

Most importantly, diverging from tradition need not diminish the meaning and significance of Qing Ming.

Observing tradition

Kwong Tong Cemetery (KTC) Kuala Lumpur Qing Ming 2024 committee head Ng Kwee Heng said ancestor worship rituals were aligned with traditional customs, pace of life and habits of the time.

“In the book ‘Wen Gong Jia Li’ (Family Rites of Duke Wen) by Zhu Xi, the observance of ancestor worship during Qing Ming entails fasting, meticulous adherence to protocols in the preparation and placement of offerings, and specific prayer positions.

“There are 42 formal steps of worship recorded in the book, from honouring the farthest ancestors in at least four generations to the most recently deceased.

“The actions of worship include kneeling and bowing and should take place in ancestral halls,” he told StarMetro.

“In ‘Wen Gong Jia Li’ (Family Rites of Duke Wen) by Zhu Xi, the observance of ancestor worship during Qing Ming entails fasting, meticulous adherence to protocols in the preparation and placement of offerings as well as specific prayer positions.” - Ng Kwee Heng

Ng said that different clan associations in KTC would pray in a simplified version during Qing Ming.

“For example, no one fasts for the ritual anymore. But what is unique is that clan associations often conduct the ceremonies in their own dialects.

“Ceremonial texts are poetic and beautifully written.

“Certain rituals are also exclusive to certain clans,” he said.

For example, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Kwong Siew Association would worship their ancestor Chiew Yoke, one of the founders of the association, as well as the Nan Yang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics monument at KTC.

The Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Ka Yin Association performs lion dances during Qing Ming, while the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Char Yong Association includes a “fragrant rice” offering.

The Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Teochew Association and Kwang Tong Clan Association offer prosperity cakes (guat in Teochew and fatt gou in Cantonese) as symbols of prosperity.

Members of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Char Yong Association performing the Three Bows ritual to their ancestors at a cemetery.

The Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Hainan Association scatters five grains to symbolise a bountiful harvest and performs a ritual of pouring water for continuous blessings.

Each clan association also prepares its own specialty foods, such as Kwangtung’s fa gou (prosperity cake), hee bun (joyous festive cake), yi bua (fortune cake) and ang tor kueh (rice cake) which are essential items on the altar.

Ng said food offerings typically carry auspicious meanings in the dialect of the clan.

“For example, bananas symbolise wealth, apples symbolise peace, spring onions symbolise intelligence and eggplants symbolise strength, among others,” he said.

According to Ng, rituals for burial grounds and columbaria also do not vary much.

There are designated areas to burn offerings at Kwong Tong Cemetery in Jalan Dewan Bahasa in Kuala Lumpur.

“Oftentimes, family members would sweep and clean the tomb of their ancestors.

“Prayers are then made to Hou Tu (Lord of the Ground) and then the ancestors before offering food and burning incense as well as paper paraphernalia for them.”

He said ancestor worship rituals had been simplified significantly these days as many adopted personal and simpler ways.

“Simple gestures like preparing offerings, bowing three times to ancestors and burning incense and paper paraphernalia are now considered sufficient.

“People used to offer San Sheng (three types of meat offerings), usually chicken, pork and fish, to their ancestors but now many just buy their deceased family members’ favourite food,” he noted.

Preventing wastage

Ng said that at KTC, praying in moderation and preventing wastage is advocated.

“We encourage people to use containers for food, which promotes cleanliness and allows offerings to be taken home for consumption.

“Food used in prayers can be consumed as it is believed that by doing so, we receive blessings from our ancestors.

“Offerings need not be extravagant; instead, they should focus on the preferences of the deceased as a way of remembrance and to pay tribute,” he added.

At KTC, there are signboards stating “care for the environment, reduce incineration” thus urging visitors to practise moderation in burning paper paraphernalia.

According to an employee who is taking care of the new pagoda building in KTC, he saw a family using electronic candles while paying respects to their ancestors during Qing Ming last year.

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“And they used joss sticks that light up while praying in front of their departed relatives.

“They also did not burn any incense or joss paper and brought home all their offerings,” he said.

Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Association president Tan Peng Chung said they encouraged eco-friendly practices at the Kuala Lumpur Hokkien cemetery too.

“In the old days, families would cook the food for their departed kin but now most order takeaway.

“So, at times, there is food packaging left at burial grounds.

“We encourage families to take back the edible offerings,” he said.

(From left) Lim, Tan and Thay from the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Association are all for changing with the times.

The association’s deputy president Dr Lim Chong Keang said important traditional rituals were still being observed.

“They clean the tombs and decorate them with multi-colour joss paper.

“The reason is to show it is being taken care of and to ward off other spirits from taking the offerings.

“Some even help to clean and pull out weeds from neighbouring tombs as a courtesy,” he said.

For secretary-general Thay Peng Kee, Qing Ming ultimately promotes the value of togetherness.

“It is a physical expression of gratitude to ancestors.

“By gathering together, they are also promoting filial piety,” he said.

Modern-day offerings

Paraphernalia in the form of modern-day lifestyle items such as cellphones, houses, cars, motorcycycles and credit cards are readily available these days.

Some paraphernalia shops even offer packaged sets for those wanting to pay respects to their ancestors during Qing Ming.

Historian Lee Eng Kew opined that such offerings had become commercialised.

“Traditionally, families would burn clothes, shoes as well as gold and silver joss paper symbolising money for their ancestors.

“However, those observing are free to choose whatever suits them best.

Fruits, buns and fatt gou (prosperity cake) are some of the common items offered to ancestors.

“Additionally, during Qing Ming, families typically pray at home in front of their ancestors’ altar.”

Lee said food offerings could vary among different states in Malaysia.

“Some prepare three different dishes, while wealthier families may have a six-dish feast for their ancestors.

“In north Malaysia, cakes like angku, nyonya kuih and kuih koci are common, while assorted Chinese kuih are preferred in the south,” he said.

Lee also advised families to prevent wastage during prayers.

“There are beliefs that food offerings made to the departed are inedible, but this is inaccurate.

“The bottomline is to not waste the food after prayers,” he said.
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THE practice of ancient customs during Qing Ming or Tomb Sweeping Day, which falls on April 4 this year, is often simplified or adapted to fit local beliefs.