Custom of ancestor worship

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: ancestor worship custom

Applicant: Qinshui County, Shanxi Province

Item No.: 997

Project No.: Ⅹ - 90

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Shanxi Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Qinshui County, Shanxi Province

Protection unit: Qinshui people's Cultural Center

A brief introduction to the custom of ancestor worship

Applicant: Qinshui County, Shanxi Province

Qingming ancestor worship of the Liu family in Qinshui County, Shanxi Province, is a traditional custom of ancestor worship of the Liu family in xiwenxing village, Qinshui county.

Xiwenxing village is a well preserved ancient village inhabited by the Lius in Hedong for generations. It retains the intact ancient buildings with the characteristics of patriarchal system in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Liu's residence is now a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Up to now, the residents of this village are still descendants of the same lineage. According to the existing inscriptions and the genealogy of Liu family in Hedong, the descendants of Liu family in this village are the descendants of Liu Zongyuan, a writer of Tang Dynasty. They lived in xiwenxing village, followed the instructions and rites, inherited the family tradition and virtues of Liu family in Hedong, and continued the unique life customs of Liu family in Hedong. They also set up a stone to be remembered in xiwenxing Liu's ancestral hall for many years.

The Qing Ming Festival is the most solemn. Three days before the Qingming Festival, meat and vegetarians are forbidden. The first bowl of rice in the morning must be presented to the ancestral hall. Each family went to the grave to sweep it. On the Qingming Day, they gathered in ancestral halls to sacrifice to their ancestors. On this day, all the people who went out came back to attend the ancestor worship ceremony.

The project is of great significance to carry forward the fine tradition of the Chinese nation and build a harmonious society.