Qingming, the Pure Brightness festival, falls in early April, and it is one of the few days on the calendar devoted directly to family ancestors. It is the time to tend graves, clear the ground and make offerings. The Tong Shu Oracle now recognizes Qingming inside its Ancestor Burning feature, so the day is part of your timing as well as your remembrance.

Qingming in the Practice of Ancestor Veneration

Qingming is set by the solar term rather than a fixed calendar date, so it falls between April 4 and 6 each year. On this day families traditionally visit ancestral graves, sweep the tombs and make offerings of food, flowers and paper. The festival blends remembrance with the arrival of spring, and for many people it is the most meaningful date in the year for honoring the family line. Many families use the day to gather, share a meal and talk about the relatives they remember, passing stories to younger generations. Its place in the calendar reflects a belief that the living and the ancestors remain connected through care and ritual.

How Ancestor Burning Recognizes Qingming

Ancestor Burning is the feature that helps you time the burning of joss papers. Qingming is now part of that timing. On Qingming, the feature recognizes the day as traditionally the most auspicious for ancestral offerings. It can override the usual Day Officer restrictions, so the calendar matches the emphasis the tradition places on this day. You do not need to search for the date or check a separate almanac, because the recognition is built into the calendar.

Where Robbery Sha Still Applies

Honoring the ancestors does not mean ignoring every warning. Robbery Sha still applies on Qingming, and the calendar keeps that warning visible. The override covers the normal Day Officer restrictions, but Robbery Sha remains a caution in its own right. Reading both together gives a more complete picture of the day than either would on its own, and it helps you decide when and how to make your offerings.

Planning Your Offerings

Good planning starts before the festival. Check the calendar in advance, note the Qingming date for the year, and decide which offerings you will prepare and when. Ancestor Burning is included on every tier, including the free trial, so you can review the timing without a subscription. Whatever you choose, the aim is the same: to honor those who came before with care and intention.

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