With gentle hands and a peaceful expression, James C.M. Young of Wai'alae lifted a ceramic bowl representing a serving of fish and held it above his head as an offering to ancestors long gone.

Following more symbolic offerings that included roast pig and oranges, the retired architect, 81, gracefully bowed three times — with each bow representing heaven, earth and man; or happiness, prosperity and longevity.

Young and about 10 other participants were rehearsing their parts for the Hawaii Chinese Qing Ming Celebration, an annual public event tomorrow at Manoa Chinese Cemetery that is in its sixth year.

"Ching Ming is a time of the year where all the Chinese families go to the cemeteries to pay respects to their ancestors," said Young, first vice president of the United Chinese Society of Hawaii and one of three chairpersons of the event. "This is a time where we remember them while they are gone. And while (our families) are living, we honor them."

Ching Ming season this year is today through May 4, Young said.

"It is not a time of sadness," he emphasized. "It's a time for reflection, remembrance and communication — when the living communicate with the dead."

A THREE-PART CEREMONY

Sponsored by several Chinese societies under the organization of the United Chinese Society of Hawaii, tomorrow's celebration will include a color guard procession, three-gun volley and release of pigeons. This will be followed by a traditional Ching Ming ceremony that includes lighting firecrackers, burning incense, presenting flowers and bowing to pay respects to ancestors.

Organizers expect nearly 250 guests to attend.

The traditional ceremony involves three parts, said Harry C.Y. Wong, another chairperson of the event and trustee of the United Chinese Society of Hawaii.

"(Part) one is the invocation, or the inviting of the ancestors to come back to earth, and part two, to invite the ancestors for a feast in their honor," Wong said. "The third (part) is the offering of paper and spiritual money to the ancestors, and the final eulogy."

The feast offered to the ancestors traditionally includes tea, wine and five dishes representing the five elements of soil, water, wood, fire and metal. These dishes also represent treasures from the land, ocean and mountains: mainly pork, fish and chicken, in addition to jai (a vegetarian stew), oyster, shrimp, duck or other delicacies. Other offerings include rice, oranges and buns with sweet fillings.

During the rehearsal, which took place last week at the Buck Toy Club in Liliha, participants practiced offering incense, flowers and foods to ancestors as a couple of dozen members of various Chinese societies watched in the audience.

Danny S. M. Young, vice chairman of the emeritus trustees of the United Chinese Society of Hawaii and president of Buck Toy Club, commended those in attendance for volunteering their time to helping preserve the Ching Ming tradition.

"One thing we emphasize: Ching Ming is not a religion," Danny Young told the guests. "It is a cultural celebration."

PRIVATE OBSERVATIONS

While tomorrow's Hawaii Chinese Qing Ming Celebration is open to the public, Ching Ming is typically observed privately among Chinese families and societal organizations. ('Qing' is Mandarin for 'Ching.')

During Ching Ming season, many Chinese families visit their loved ones' grave sites, cleaning and decorating the area with fresh flowers. They also perform a gravesite ceremony that includes lighting firecrackers, offering a feast at the headstone and bowing to pay respects — rites much like those done at the annual public Qing Ming Celebration.

As the rehearsal came to a close and members began clearing out of the room, Wong quoted a Chinese proverb as he reflected more on the revered tradition and the importance of families to the Chinese.

"(The proverb) says to honor your parents when you are alive, to provide a good funeral for them and to continue to honor them after they leave the earth," Wong said.