What does it mean to not have a new grave in the community? What are the rules for the first three years after a new grave is built?

In some parts of China, there is a folk custom that "new graves cannot be buried outside the community". So, what does it mean that a new grave cannot be buried within the community?

What does "新墓不不社" mean?

"New graves cannot be swept before the Spring Festival", also known as new graves hanging on the Spring Festival graves, refers to new graves, that is, people who died in the previous year or the current year. In some areas, it refers to people who died within three years of the new death. Tomb sweeping must be done before the Spring Festival. Spring Festival is the fifth day after the beginning of spring.

For example, the beginning of spring in 2021 is February 3, the first Wu day is February 9, the second Wu day is February 19, the third Wu day is March 1, the fourth Wu day is March 11, the Wu day, and the fifth Wu day is March 21, the Wu day.

Why do we have to sweep and hang green ceremonies on new graves before the Spring Festival?

Why do we have to sweep and hang green trees on new graves before the Spring Festival, but not worship them together with old graves during the Qingming Festival?

Generally, ancestor worship is done during the Tomb-Sweeping Day in March and the Ghost Festival on the 15th day of July. In particular, tomb sweeping and hanging green trees are customary during the Tomb-Sweeping Day. This custom exists in most parts of China. It is used to mourn the ancestors and ancestors and to offer tribute to them.

According to the customs of Anqing City, the Qingming Festival for sweeping new graves must be held before the Spring Festival. Brothers and sisters are divided on this. Spring Festival is the fifth day after the beginning of spring.

Why “new graves cannot be buried outside the community”? It is said that people who have just passed away will have no one to rely on when they arrive in the underworld, alone and weak. The tributes brought by family members in the world of the living will be fought over by other wild ghosts. The day before the community sacrifice is the day of acceptance stipulated by the laws of the underworld, and only at this time can the tributes brought to the newly deceased be deducted in full.

I have heard people say before that Sheri is the beginning of spring. It is probably because Sheri is indeed close to the Spring Equinox, so if you don't want to make complicated calculations, it is probably accurate.

Community Day is a traditional festival in ancient times for farmers to worship the God of Land. Before the Han Dynasty, there was only the Spring Festival, and after the Han Dynasty, the Autumn Festival began to appear. There was no fixed date in ancient times. The Qin, Han, Wei and Jin dynasties each chose auspicious dates differently. Since the Song Dynasty, the fifth day after the Spring Equinox or the Beginning of Autumn has been regarded as the Community Day.

The community god is said to be the son of Gonggong in ancient times, named Hou Tu, who is in charge of land resources and agriculture and animal husbandry. The custom originated in the Qin Dynasty.

Wang Jia, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem called "Community Day", which mainly describes the happy scene of Community Day.

At the foot of Ehu Mountain, the rice and millet are lush, the pigs are in the pen and the chickens are roosting with the door half-closed.

The shadows of mulberry trees are slanting as the Spring Festival is over. Every household helps their loved ones return home.

What are the rules for the first three years of a new grave?

Tip 1: Avoid earthwork

There is no need to add soil to a new grave that is less than three years old. A new grave refers to a grave that is less than three years old. Such a grave contains a lot of evil spirits, and breaking the soil itself is very harmful. It is easy to hurt the immature "vital spirits", causing damage to the vitality of the grave. As a result, the descendants of the grave will suffer casualties, diseases, and other harms within three years. This is why the ground cannot be broken for a new grave within three years. It can be left alone within three years.

Second, avoid adding feces to the soil

The added soil must not be mixed with feces as this is a great disrespect to the ancestors. The soil must be clean.

The third rule is that the soil you add cannot be silt soil, black soil or red soil.

The color of the soil in rural graves also has a huge impact on the graves. Black or red soil will hinder the vitality of the grave, and the vitality cannot enter the grave well. Therefore, red or black soil should never be used, as these will damage the fortune of future generations.

The fourth point is that it is better to take soil when the two virtues of heaven and moon are in harmony.

The best places to get soil are the Tianyue Erde directions of this month. These are two auspicious directions. Taking soil from these directions is like absorbing auspicious energy to fill the ancestors' tombs.

Rule 5: Do not take soil from the direction that conflicts with the zodiac sign of the deceased

Do not take soil from the direction that conflicts with the zodiac sign of the deceased. For example, if the deceased was born in the year of the Ox, do not take soil from the Wei direction, which is the southwest direction of the grave. The same can be said for other zodiac signs.

Tip 6: Do not use a hoe to hit the soil when cultivating it

Some people will slap the soil hard to prevent it from sliding down. This is wrong. It is also disrespectful to the ancestors and will cause harm to the spirits in the grave, thus bringing disaster to future generations.