A decade of changes for Tomb Sweeping Day
By admin on 2015-01-08

Falling on the 4th or 5th of April, Tomb Sweeping Day is a time to pay respects to one's ancestors and to tidy their gravesites. This year, 1.07 million citizens in Guangzhou went to the gravesites of deceased family members to burn incense and perform ritual offerings while clearing away plant overgrowth from the gravesite. However, the past decade has seen a series of changes in the way this day is commemorated in the city .

Ten years ago, motorcycles stormed to crematoria near Yanling Road, blocking the whole area around Yinhe Revolutionary Cemetery on Tomb Sweeping Day. Since 2006, motorbikes were banned on the road and replaced by private cars, resulting in another traffic jam and shortage of parking spots. Since 2008, traffic has been flowing more smoothly thanks to the newly built overpass connecting the crematoria and cemetery across Yanling Road. Recently, the municipal government has been encouraging people to avoid the rush and to take public transit to the gravesites.

In the past, millions of people in Guangzhou flocked to the gravesites, giving rise to a large market outside the crematoria. Nowadays, people click on the memorial websites to pay their respects and perform virtual rituals such as offering flowers and wine, burning incense and bowing in front of the ancestors. Even those who live far away from the hometown can mourn the dead through the online funeral halls.

A decade ago, a bundle of sacrifices including roasted goose, firecrackers, joss sticks and candles could cost an ordinary family 100 RMB, equivalent to one-tenth of the income of a retired worker. Since last year, the arrangements of sacrifices have been simplified as people value their emotion and feelings more than the goods themselves. Therefore, 50 RMB is now enough for biscuits, fruits, flowers and candles.

Since the 1950s, the gravestones in the martyrs cemetery in Guangzhou have been eroding away due to a lack of funds for renovation. The situation changed after Guangzhou Daily drew public attention to the deserted cemetery. In 2008, a martyrs monument for Guangzhou police was formally inaugurated in Guangzhou Yinhe Cemetery, which is now surrounded by flowers brought by ordinary people as well as police authorities.

Ten years ago, a common memorial service in a crematorium was composed of burning paper money and accessories and fire crackers, which generated irritating smoke and deafening sounds while creating a big mess. In addition, the limited memorial area forced people to line up impatiently, which sparked quarrels.

Nowadays, order has been restored with the help of seasonal workers and volunteers during the festival. The memorial areas have been greatly expanded, saving people’s waiting time. More important, the noisy memorial service in the past has been replaced by silent worship with a bundle of flowers, several dishes and candles.