Qingming Festival on the Bianhe River

Han Hong

The exact dates of poet Han Hong's life are unknown, except that he lived around the 8th century during the Tang era. In 754, Han Hong received the Jinshi (highest degree) degree, which earned him the right to a high-ranking official.

Cold Food Feast

Petals are flying in the spring capital
- trees bloom everywhere.
East wind on the eve of Qingming
rakit plays in the alleys.
Tonight in the Han Palace
for the first time a fire will be lit ...
... And now in the Chambers of the Five Marquis
the smoke from the candles floats in.
(Translation: B. Meshcheryakova)

Li Qingzhao

Li Qingzhao (1084-1155?) Lived during the Song Dynasty and is considered one of the best Chinese poetesses.

Spring has become more alarming and sadder
And Memorial Day is not far off ...
Incense burner made of jasper. And above her,
Redea, smoke wriggles.
Unable to get up - I lie in the power of dreams,
And no hair clips needed.
The time has passed for the flowering of tender plums,
The river slopes are overgrown with grass.
Fluff floats from the branches of weeping willows,
And the swallow still does not fly home.
And dusk. And endless rain.
And a wet swing by the porch.
(Translated by M. Basmanov) Fan Zhi-Hao