Legend of Qingming Festival
In the Spring
and Autumn Period of China's history, King Jin Xiangong very much doted on his concubine
Li. Concubine Li wanted to make her own son the crown prince. So she killed the crown
prince Shen Sheng by scheme. Soon afterwards she began to persecute Chong Er, the son of
the crown prince. As soon as Chong Er heard of this, he fled abroad together with his
henchmen.
On the way of
exlie Chong Er and his henchmen went through all kinds of hardships and difficulties. One
day they came to a remote and uninhabited place where Chong Er, worn out and hungry,
suddenly, collasped down the ground and was not able to go a step further.
His henchmen
searched for a long while but could find nothing to eat. So everyone was deeply worried.
Seeing this, Jie Zitui, an official following him, retreated to a secluded place and cut a
piece of flesh off his thigh. He cooked a bowl of soup with his flesh and held it to Chong
Er in his hands.
Chong Er
devoured the soup ravenously and then recovered his vitality gradually. When he asked
where they got the flesh, the officials looked at Jie Zitui whose gown was stained with
blood and told everything with tears in their eyes.
Chong Er was
so moved that, with all sorts of feelings welling up in his heart, he embraced Jie Zitui
and said, shedding tears, "What shall I do to repay you?" "You have tasted
to the full the bitterness of the people through his exile. I hope you will be a king
clear and bright in the future." replied Jie.
19 years
later Chong Er became the king who was called Jin Wengong in China's history. After his
ascending the throne, Jin Wengong confered titles and awards to the meritorious officials
who had followed him in exile, but only to forget Jie Zitui.
Quite a few
people felt indignant at the justice done to Jie Zitui. They advised him to see the king
and ask for awards. Jie Zitui, however, disdained very much those who contended for merits
and asked for rewards. He got his things ready and went quietly with his mother to the
Mianshan Mountain to live in seclusion.