2017 Qingming Memorial Address for the Ancient Locust Tree and Our Ancestral Settlers

On the fourth day of the fourth month in the year 2017 of the Common Era, the year of Dingyou, as the Qingming Festival arrived, the locust trees gathered at Zixing, auspicious omens spread far and wide, and under the bright expanse of heaven and earth, all shared in this prosperous age. We, the descendants of the Great Locust Tree of Hongtong, with the rites of three offerings and five grains, accompanied by fresh flowers and elegant music, offer our most sincere and reverent homage to the spirits of our forebears who, in ancient times, migrated from beneath that venerable tree. The inscription reads: To the right of the Taihang Mountains, east of the Yellow River, lies the fertile land of southern Jin, the ancient capitals of Yang and Zhao. There stands the venerable, time‑worn locust tree, a distinctive landmark of the city; its gnarled roots and luxuriant branches shade acres of sunlight. Through ten cycles of sixty years, it has witnessed countless vicissitudes. At the end of the Yuan dynasty, war brought untold suffering; the Central Plains were reduced to scorched earth, and human life was nearly extinguished. In a remote corner of Shanxi, a veritable paradise, surrounded by mountains and rivers, lay a hidden realm apart from the world. During the reigns of the Hongwu and Yongle emperors, people were gathered and resettled; leaving their native soil, the storks cried out in the chill of parting. The great locust tree stood solemn…

2016 Qingming Commemorative Oration for the Ancestral Settlers of the Ancient Locust Tree

On the fourth day of the fourth month in the year 2016 of the Common Era, in the mid-spring of the Bing-Shen year, as the season of Qingming arrives, we, the descendants of the ancient locust tree and the children of emigrants, together with honored guests from all quarters and with heartfelt sincerity, solemnly offer sumptuous delicacies and the refined rites of chime and bell, standing respectfully upon the banks of the Fen River to pay homage to our forebears who migrated under the shade of the ancient great locust tree. The inscription reads: Magnificent China, with rivers and mountains stretching for ten thousand li; towering ancestral locust, bestowing auspicious blessings upon all directions. Vast and enduring, within the realm of Ji Province; at Hongya’s precipitous cliffs, where ancient caves once sheltered phoenixes. In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, when the imperial throne was first established, people fled calamity, leaving barren fields and desolate granaries. A new policy of migration was enacted—a sweeping measure of thunderous resolve. The fertile lands of Jin Province beckoned, and so the migrants journeyed forth to distant shores. Through the bond of the locust tree, their reach extended far and wide, spreading across the four corners of the earth. Braving bitter winds and relentless rains, they left their homes and villages behind—crossing mountains and valleys, sailing across seas, reaching Yunnan, Guizhou, and Ningxia.

2015 Qingming Commemorative Oration for the Ancestral Settlers of the Ancient Locust Tree

On the fifth day of the fourth month in the year 2015 of the Common Era, in the second month of the Yiwu year, as the season of Qingming arrives, we, the descendants of the ancient locust tree and the children of emigrants, together with honored guests from all directions and with heartfelt reverence, solemnly offer this grand sacrifice at the banks of the Fen River. With the finest delicacies of the season and the dignified rites accompanied by the resonant chimes and bells, we pay homage to our forebears who were displaced from the ancient great locust tree. The inscription reads: Vast mountains and rivers stretch endlessly, their peaks reaching toward Mount Huo. Majestic ancestral locust trees bestow blessings upon all corners of the land. In the boundless expanse of the Ji region, lies the sacred homeland of Lord Yang. Back in the Ming dynasty, during the early years of the Hongwu reign, when the nation was newly established, the people lay in desolation, and the fields lay fallow, bereft of grain. By imperial decree, a sweeping relocation was ordered—a measure as swift and resolute as thunder. The fertile lands of Jin became the first destination for those who were resettled. Through the auspicious bond of the locust tree, the migrants spread far and wide, to every corner of the realm. Through bitter winds and relentless rains, amidst vast, untamed wilderness, our ancestors endured—how mighty they were, their songs stirring tears! Blazing trails through thorns and brambles…

2014 Qingming Commemorative Ritual Address for the Ancestral Settlers of the Ancient Locust Tree

On the fifth day of the fourth month in the year 2014, the Year of the Wood‑Goat, as the season of Qingming arrived, we, the descendants of the ancient locust tree and the children of those who migrated, together with honored guests from all quarters, bearing heartfelt reverence, solemnly offer this grand sacrifice at the banks of the Fen River. With the finest delicacies of the season and the harmonious sounds of bells and chimes, we pay homage to our forebears—those who, under the shade of the ancient great locust tree, embarked on the great migration. The inscription reads: Vast is the land of China, stretching ten thousand li across rivers and mountains. Majestic stands the ancient locust tree, its shade sheltering all directions. In the early days of the Ming dynasty, when the imperial throne was first established, the Central Plains lay desolate for a thousand miles, the earth a sea of white bones, and human voices had long since faded. All things lay in ruins, awaiting the dawn of a new chapter. Yet, surveying the world, only Jin remained fertile and prosperous. By resolute decree, a momentous relocation was ordered; people gathered beneath the locust tree, and their journey carried them to the farthest reaches. How mighty were our ancestors—worthy of song and tears! Through arduous toil and unyielding perseverance, they forged a path through thorns and brambles, their hearts pierced with sorrow yet their spirits unbowed.

2013 Hongtong Ancestral Worship Homecoming Ritual Address

In the year Gui Si, on the anniversary of Run’s birth, we return once more to Hongdong to pay homage to our ancestors. Life is finite, yet human aspirations are boundless; the sacred soil of the world nourishes all people, and the radiant earth sustains countless beings. May compassion endure forever, and may blessings be bestowed upon future generations. The world belongs to all—such is the way of Heaven. Let hearts unite in harmony, reaching ever toward the vast expanse of the sky. As pioneers of staple grains, we have labored through hardship and innovation, establishing China’s oat industry as a cornerstone of national nutrition. A treasured gift of nature, nourishing health through grain, our diet sustains the world. One single seed of wheat, cherished by Nüwa herself, was refined to mend the heavens and nurture the people. The virtues of our forebears remain etched in the hearts of their descendants; let us live with integrity and walk the path of righteousness, repaying their profound kindness. With a heart that lingers long, we, the children of the world, take root beneath the Great Locust Tree, ensuring enduring prosperity for ages to come. We till the fields with unwavering dedication, striving to make dryland farming a true success. On thousands of acres, we cultivate on a grand scale, turning the land into a thriving realm of abundance.