Qingming, also known as Tomb-sweeping Day, is one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture. During the Qingming Festival, people visit the graves of their ancestors and lost family members with offerings of flowers, food, incense, and joss money. This year, China made the first day of Qingming, April 4th, Saturday, a national mourning day for those who died in the COVID-19 pandemic: flags were flown to the half-mast; website pages were turned to black and white; public recreation activities were suspended. Chinese across the country observed three minutes of ‘silence’ at 10 am while sirens wailing and vehicles sounding their horns. Amid the fear of another outbreak, authorities have suspended the regular Tomb-sweeping customs this year. Many people found their own way to pay tribute to the deceased. In observing Qingming Festival, Humans of Wuhan presents the English translations of two widespread pieces on Weibo: Do Not Forget, and Wuhan Residents Mourned the Dead.
Original article: 罐头辰@WeiboTranslator: AmalyaEditor: Bella_Z
Don’t forget Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital. He was a martyr in this epidemic. When his hearse passed through the hospital, his widow Cai Liping, head nurse of the hospital, followed after the car crying bitterly (editor’s note: this video went viral on Chinese media).Don’t forget Xiao Xianyou, who on his deathbed wrote, “donate my body to the country.” Afterward, he scrawled out four shaky words: What about my wife?(Editor’s note: Xiao was an ordinary car dealer in Wuhan before he was infected with and killed by COVID-19. He had repeatedly expressed his willingness to donate his body for medical research. The day before his death, he left the following note: Donate my body to the country. What about my wife?)
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Don’t forget Chang Kai of Hubei Film Studio (a 55-year-old film director in Wuhan), his older sister Liu Fan, and their parents who passed away just before them.Don’t forgetLi Wenliang. No matter his position among the government or among the people, the differing views people may have, or the various ways people may describe him – he was a good person. One who lived an ordinary life like any one of us, but because of this epidemic emerged as a great person.Don’t forgetOld Su 8811, who in the dark, early hours of February 25th, at exactly 1:34 am, sent out his first Weibo message: “Hello.” Now he can finally reunite with his daughter in the afterlife.(Editor’s note: In the darkest time of the outbreak when the medical system in Wuhan was crushed by the overwhelming number of patients, many desperately cried out for help on social media platforms like Weibo, hoping to find a bed in a hospital with help from social media influencers. Old Su was a 77-year-old retired high school teacher who had never used Weibo before. Following his daughter’s death from COVID-19, the rest of the family all tested positive, including his same-aged wife, a 13-year-old granddaughter, and himself. His son had been working on the frontlines during this time. Old Su had no way to save the family except by seeking out help on social media. Being unfamiliar with Weibo, he first tested it with an old-fashioned message 你好/“Hello,” then posted detailed information about the family. With thousands of internet users’ attention, the family eventually received help, but Old Su didn’t survive the disease.)Don’t forgetthe daughter who cried out after the hearses, shouting, “Mother!”. Don’t forget the woman who wailed for help from her balcony, banging a homemade gong. Don’t forget the boy who suffered from cerebral palsy, whose father had cared for him for 16 years. He died in his home after his father was quarantined for 6 days.
Even if this country has been almost completely destroyed a few times, it is only because we as people remember our history that we are able to rise again each time. Because we persevered and limped along this bumpy road for five-thousand years, we are able to bring the kindling of our ancestors’ remains with us to this moment. This generation has even less of a reason to forget their suffering, to forget those who have now passed. Of them, some were great, some were ordinary. But what is the same is that just two, three months ago, those who were secretly in love, those who were preparing for their child’s wedding, those who were worried about public reserve funds and business loans, have all become names on gravestones.
During this epidemic, I have seen two messages online that have moved me to tears:“As you live alone, you should plan meticulously and account accordingly. Buy things in small packages, don’t let the expiration date pass.”(Editor’s note: this is from a note that a mother in Wuhan left for her daughter. Soon after the mother wrote the note, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 and sent to the hospital. She didn’t make it.)[The original note: “Your baking flour has expired. I’ll take it and throw it away. There are expiration dates on food. As you live alone, you should buy things in small packages and sort them into categories so that you don’t forget what you have bought. It’s a waste to buy too much food and not use it before it expires. Don’t be annoyed by my nagging. You should plan your life meticulously and account accordingly.”]
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“My father has just died. You can call the hospital to see if the bed space is available”(Editor’s note: this message was a reply to a post on Weibo seeking help for a family member)[The original reply: ”One of my family members has just passed away, making a new bed space available in the hospital. I hope this is helpful.“]
You see, despite it all, they still constantly think of the living, of our lives. Our people, our country must do right by those who died before us. We must be worthy of their legacies.Today on Qingming, the entire country is grieving. The Chinese people must continue to grow without end.
