Odes to Qingming chime down years

Qingming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, is one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture, and it's not surprising that this day - either the sorrows of mourning the dead, or the joys brought about by the vibrant atmosphere of springtime - inspired numerous ancient poetic souls.

Many poems related to this special day were created during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, when the art of poetry was at its peak in China. Many of these poems have survived the test of time, and some of them have become oft-quoted and widely beloved.

If you ask any Chinese person about poetry related to the day, they are most likely to cite the famous ode written by the ninth-century poet Du Mu. His short piece, simply titled Qingming, provides a perfect description of the festival's typical mood.