The Story of the Ching Ming Festival, Part 3 of 4, Feb. 19, 1996, Hsihu, Taiwan (Formosa) -

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Duke Wen of Jin sighed and said, “It’s all my fault to have forgotten such a sage. That’s why he was in this situation. Now he’s nowhere to be found. But I heard that Jie Zitui is a very filial son. If we set fire to the forest now, in order to protect his mother, Zitui will definitely carry his mother out.” When he carries her out, then they would be able to find him, meaning like that. He had a good intention. After some consideration, he ordered people to set fire to the forest. Because the forest was very big, the fire burned for three days and nights, and did not go out. However, Jie Zitui and his mother refused to come out. Two of them hugged each other and died in front of the stone cave. So pitiful.

After they found the remains of the mother and son, Duke Wen of Jin saw it and shed tears. He told his subordinates to bury them at the foot of the mountain and build a small temple. Then the mountain was renamed “Mt. Jie,” the “Jie” of Jie Zitui. Meaning to commemorate this loyal minister. And then all lands and fields in the vicinity became the property of the temple, thus people could burn incense as offering to Jie Zitui and his mother every day.

The day of the fire was then called “Ching Ming Festival.” March 3 of the Chinese calendar, the Lunar calendar. Since then, every year on Ching Ming Festival, Chinese people would commemorate Jie Zitui. The whole country would refrain from using fire to cook but just eat cold food. Or just eat dry foods. Therefore, that period is also called “Cold Food Festival.” Meaning, people all eat cold food, without using any fire, in order to express their respect for Jie Zitui. And in front of their houses, they would hang a willow branch, called “Soul summoning willow,” meaning to summon the soul of Jie Zitui. Also, many families would sometimes display a lot of food to make offering, making it a grand ritual.

According to history, after the death of Jie Zitui, Duke Wen of Jin was very frustrated and sad. After returning to the royal palace, he asked for a very tall tree in front of the cave where Jie Zitui lived. He told his subordinates to cut the tree down to make shoes for him to wear every day, wearing them on his feet in order to commemorate Jie Zitui. Each time, he wore the shoes, he’d say, “Beneath my feet,” Meaning, below the feet. He used “beneath my feet” to address Jie Zitui. Therefore, the later generations use “beneath the feet” when referring to those loyal and meritorious ministers. Isn’t it so? (Yes.) Don’t the Chinese have this habit? (Yes.) Yes? OK. Now you all know. As time went by, we sometimes address a person as “beneath the feet” to express our trust in him. Is it not so? (Yes.) A very close and trusted person.

Why am I reading this story to you? Apart from letting us remember a loyal and noble gentleman, I want you to remember that we keep the precepts and keep ourselves clean, but we are not obstinate. Understand? (Yes.) Jie Zitui was, of course, a very clean and uncorrupted man, but from my humble point of view, he was too obstinate. Why are you laughing? (Humble opinion.) Is “humble opinion” wrong? (It’s correct.) Yeah. Therefore, I’m very humble. Do you realize it only now? Because everyone has different opinion. I don’t insist that my opinion is correct, but it can be used as a reference for you.

For example, Jie Zitui, he was reputed for being a filial son. Since he was filial, how could he let his mother die like that without a reason? What do you think? (Yes.) Yeah. Even if he didn’t want the award, he could have just come out and said, “I don’t want it. Thank you, my lord.” And then it’d be OK. And by the way, tell the King, “I heard that you have gained the world; it was due to the grace of God. I claim no merit in it at all.” Then he could let the King and his ignorant subordinates have some noble ideas to think about. No? (Yes.) If they didn’t think in that way, it’s their own business. He wouldn’t lose anything. Why did he force his mother to die a wrongful death? And die in such a painful way. Even if he didn’t have any great merit, he didn’t do anything wrong. (Yes.) He didn’t have to hide like that. Besides, it wasn’t just about him; it was also about his most respected and beloved mother.

She was quite silly as well. Her son didn’t have the right concept, and she didn’t correct him. Instead, she supported him, which led to his tragic death, and her own death. (Yes.) We do not fear death. When it’s time to die, we die. When we should not die, we don’t. He didn’t do anything sinful, and his mother had worked hard her whole life raising him. Even if the King had rewarded him with something to care for his mother, it would have been entirely justified. (Yes.) After we’ve grown up, we should repay our parents with filial piety. (Yes.) We don’t steal, we don’t rob, and we don’t purposely go out to claim our merit, it’s already very good; everyone knows, the whole country knows. He already went to the mountain without saying a word. That’s enough to prove his incorruptible spirit. Why did he need to die like that?

Therefore, as a matter of fact, Chinese people – let me say it honestly – they wrongly worship a lot of people. For example, Qu Yuan was also wrong. I’ve said it once and do not want to talk about it again, do not want to criticize the dead. I don’t want to scold him. Now, let’s come back to Jie Zitui. I’m sorry, but he was another fool. I respect his incorruptible heart very much. (Yes.) But on the other hand, he was too stubborn. (Yes.) Stubborn to the extent of harming two lives. He overdid it, utterly ignorant. Killing himself is one thing, but getting his mother killed… You do know the sin of killing parents is very severe, don’t you? (We know.) Yeah. Therefore, he was ignorant to such an extent, and we still worship him. It’s too much. He set a bad example for others. But it’s just like that.

The Kings of China in the past all liked to commemorate those who were patriots and loyal to the King, in order to strengthen their own position. To encourage their citizens to die for the kings, they constantly spread this kind of message, elevating these improper figures into heroes for people to worship. This is a kind of brainwashing. Take Confucius, for example, he taught us many, many things. He did not just teach us to be loyal to the King and love the country. Is it not so? (Yes.) But those kings used loyalty and patriotism to brainwash our children. There were other profound and noble principles, which were not paid attention to. Any dynasty, many dynasties, all used Confucius’ benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, and loyalty and patriotism to brainwash people, in order to consolidate their power, and suppress people’s revolutionary spirit.

It’s good in some respects. I’m not saying that being loyal and patriotic is not good, but in this story, it’s not appropriate. (Right.) Instead of sustaining his mother, he let her die just for his honor. Honor is not real actually; he does not get anything. It was good enough that he realized his incorruptible heart within, and the King understood. That’s why the King, the monarch of a nation, would personally go there to look for him. His behavior had already expressed his gratitude and understanding. Isn’t it so? (Yes.) Why did he have to be so rude by ignoring him, and then dying in front of him? Even if it was not wrong to die before the King, but he also let his mother die before the King. The King really didn’t do anything wrong. (Yes.) He was innocent. The King was totally innocent. Why torture him mentally? After he died, after he and his mother died, the King definitely felt very sad, yes or no? (Yes.) His coming in person meant that he valued you very much. Since he valued you that much, he must have been heartbroken when you passed away. Why did you torture such a good King? (Yes.) And so, you see, Jie Zitui wasn’t all that great. I’m not blaming him, because he was one of the ignorant people.

But I tell you, this kind of education has harmed many people. (Understand.) If all the Chinese people follow this example, what do you think your country will become? Anyone who has contributed a little to the King just gives up his life, instead of giving him a chance to express his gratitude. As a small official, you knew about repaying gratitude. The King, master of the country, also knew about repaying gratitude. (Yes.) He also wanted to express his gratitude. (Yes.) How could you be so stubborn? You only cared about your own reputation, and didn’t care about the King’s position. You ended up giving him the reputation of an inept king. For example like that. (Yes.) He personally went there already. He was already very, very humble. He was a wise King, worthy of your support. If you were so wise, and those surrounding him were not good people, you should come out and say it. If you didn’t want to help him, it’s alright, and it’s fine if you didn’t want any award. No one can force you. You just come out and say that you don’t want it. Why must he do that? Why must he force his mother and himself to die, and leave the King and the whole country in sorrow? What was so good about this reputation?

Therefore, sometimes, when we look at the world, people’s concepts are upside down. They say it’s good when it’s not so good, and they say it’s not good when it’s good. Having your parents killed is not right. Is it? (No.) He let his mother die without any reason – not sacrificing for the country, or protecting the country. He just wanted to protect his reputation, just for a little integrity. What is so great about integrity? There is no particular reason, and he just killed himself for the sake of integrity, and forced his mother to die. I think that was just too ignorant. Therefore, we can’t follow these examples. (Yes.) We only respect him for one aspect, but he had committed too many mistakes, and only did one correct thing, which was cutting his flesh for the King to eat when the King was starving to death. For that we can still say that he was very loving and loyal. Afterward, he didn’t want to get any award, didn’t want to claim any merit, and for that he was good.