The Qingming Festival and Respecting the Ancestors

From South China to the American West the tradition of respecting the ancestors was carried out during the Qingming (Bright and Clear) Festival during which time the ancestors are remembered, the tomb is swept, and food offerings are made.  The fourth century B.C. philosopher, Confucius, stressed the importance of performing the proper rituals.  The preparation of the body for burial, the funeral procession, the burial itself, and the banquet were all part of the prescribed activities.  Join us in this presentation by Professor Emerita Sue Fawn Chung on the Qingming Festival and respecting the ancestors from the distant past to the present on Wednesday, April 6^th at 7 p.m. (PT).

Sue Fawn Chung was born, raised, and educated in Los Angeles.  Her mother, Jane Chung, was an officer in China Society and her father, Walter Chung, was an early supporter of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.  She received her doctorate from UC Berkeley in Asian History, Asian American History, and Chinese Art History.  She taught for almost forty years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  She is currently writing a book on Chinese railroad labor contractors in the American West in the late 19^th century.