Why do we have cockfighting during the Qingming Festival? It is a custom handed down from ancient times

Qingming Festival is a traditional festival in my country that has developed for many years. During this festival, in addition to tomb sweeping, our ancients also had a sport, which was cockfighting. So why do we have cockfighting during the Qingming Festival? Let’s take a look at it together below.

Why do we have cockfighting during the Qingming Festival?

"Zhuangzi" uses Ji Hezi's story of raising fighting cocks for the king to explain the way of health preservation. This incident shows that cockfighting was a well-known game during the Warring States Period when Zhuangzi lived. Another book that records cockfighting in the Warring States Period is "Strategies of the Warring States", which records that people in Linzi, the capital of Qi State, enjoyed cockfighting and dog racing. "Zuo Zhuan" records that Ji Min covered fighting cocks with iron armor to help with defense; and Bi Shi equipped fighting cocks with sharp claws to facilitate attack. Cockfighting requires great technique. Cockfighting was popular in the palace during the Han Dynasty. There was a cockfighting arena in Changle Palace. Cao Pi and Cao Zhi both had poems describing cockfighting handed down from generation to generation.

Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty liked cockfighting, so he asked Du Yan to compose a poem about cockfighting. Du Yan's poem was titled "Ode to Cockfighting on Cold Food Festival" (Cold Food Festival is the day before Qingming Festival). Before Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, ascended the throne, “people enjoyed the cockfighting game during the Qingming Festival.” Records from the Tang Dynasty show that cockfighting was a custom of Qingming Festival. "Biography of the Elders of Dongcheng" records: Every year on Qingming Festival, Emperor Taizong of Tang held cockfighting competitions in the palace, and concubines from the six palaces and civil and military officials came to watch. There will be drums and music, and the scene will be grand. Why is cockfighting most popular during the Qingming Festival? This makes scientific sense. The ancients knew the living habits of pheasants. From Qingming to June is the mating and egg-hatching period, and roosters fight most fiercely to choose mates. People have discovered that domestic roosters are at their most aggressive during the Qingming Festival. If two roosters fight at this time, the fight will be more exciting than at any other time.

As cockfighting for entertainment developed into gambling, gamblers became even more crazy. Han Yu and Meng Jiao of the Tang Dynasty wrote wonderful couplets on the subject of cockfighting, describing a fierce fight between two cocks. When the outcome is uncertain, the cockfighters are "shocked and sweating profusely", feeling nervous and uneasy. When the superior and inferior are clearly distinguished, the winner is so happy that his face dances with joy. The losing party was "cowardly and worried about the bribe", looking worried and distressed as he saw he was losing his money. People "rushed to watch the road being filled and to help make the waves turn over the sea." It is about spectators filling the streets and the sounds of shouting and screaming, like the raging waves of the sea. It's really intoxicating!

The custom of cockfighting during Qingming Festival still exists among the people, and is most famous in Kaifeng, Henan.

The custom of cockfighting during the Qingming Festival is said to have originated in the Warring States Period, and was later recorded in books and passed down. These customs are still preserved in some areas.