The Qing Ming Jie is one of the major Chinese festivals that had been celebrated in China for thousand of years. Qing Ming Jie or just Qing Ming in short, is a period to remember, honor and pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. It reinforces filial piety in the Chinese community by requiring them to make special efforts to visit graves, columbarium or temples to pay their respects.

Qing Ming literally means “Clear and Bright”, and is a very specific day which falls in the middle of spring. Traditionally family members start these visits, ten (10) days before and after the actual day. However with today's busy schedules some start these as early as a month before or after the actual date. Qing Ming maybe a day to remember or pay respects to ancestors and the dead but it is also a time for family gatherings. Family members from afar will gather on the appointed date and make their way to the graves.

A three Sessions of Pure Land Chanting ( 三时系念 - San Shi Xi Nian) was conducted at the Qing Ming Dharma Assembly organized by Than Hsiang Temple on Sunday, 03-04-2005. ( 中峰国师 ). Each session consisted of the chanting the Amitabha Buddha Sutra, reciting the Buddha's name, explaining the Teachings (the Dharma), singing the Praises, undertaking the Repentance and pledging the Vow.

The Teaching that followed the first session focuses on Pure Land doctrine of faith, vow and practice, for example the recitation of Amitabha Buddha's Name while the second focuses on the power of the mind. To purify the mind, one has to use the power of repentance.

The third teaching focuses on the recitation of the Buddha's name incessantly and mindfully to cultivate and tame the mind and the vow to seek rebirth in the Pure Land.

At the end of the first session, Ven. Wei Wu conducted a Dharma talk and told the story of the origin of Qing Ming. According to the story, it was during the Chun Qiu Period of Wars, before the beginning of the Jin Empire that Qing Ming was first celebrated..

Gin Wen Gong, a king of Gin Kingdom was once saved by a minister, Jia Je Tui when he was still a prince during a war. The minister cut his own flesh (meat) to save the Prince from hunger when they were being chased by enemies. After he became king, Gin Wen Gong forgot his savior.

By then, Jia Je Tui had retired and went to stay in Mian Shan with his mother. When Gin Wen Gong heard about this, he regretted and tried to get Jia to return to serve his kingdom. He set fire to Mian Shan hoping to get Jia out. Unfortunately, Jia and his mother were burnt to death. Jia left a letter before his death: “I cut my meat to serve my king, I hope that he will always be pure and righteous – Qing Ming.”

To remember and honour Jia, Gin Wen Gong ordered that no fire be lit on the day Jia was burnt to death. The people took cold food on that day.

The following year, Gin Wen Gong prayed to Jia Je Tui on the anniversary day and named it Qing Ming day. Qing Ming day is also called cold food day. With the passing of time, Qing Ming day became a day to the honour ancestors and the dead.

About seven hundred (700) devotees attended the Qing Ming Dharma Assembly held at Than Hsiang Temple and nearly five hundred (500) stayed throughout the three sessions. The chanting and recitation were accompanied by the melodious traditional chanting instruments like the cymbals, wooden fish, bell and drum (Chong Gu) which gave the sessions a very lively, religious, organized and impressive atmosphere. Those who were present felt grateful and thankful to Amitabha Buddha for his compassion, to our late ancestors who brought us into this world, and to Than Hsiang Temple who organized the Dharma Assembly.

All donations and proceeds collected during the event was channelled towards the Education fund which organised activities, such as the Kindergarten, the Buddhist Sunday Dharma School, Kalyana-mitra Home, Buddhist Research Centre and the International Buddhist College.