1. Don't let him/her die alone.
In ancient China, people considered the family line very important and serious. They believed that when the old people are at their last moment, their descendants must be there with them so that they would not die alone and they would not worry about their children in another world. Their souls would be in peace. And they still believe so.
In ancient China, people considered the family line very important and serious. They believed that when the old people are at their last moment, their descendants must be there with them so that they would not die alone and they would not worry about their children in another world. Their souls would be in peace. And they still believe so.
2. Don't let him/her die naked.
In many places of northern China, people need to dress the deceased up before he/she passes away so that he/she will not die naked, which will be considered as a shame for both the deceased and the descendants.
Because of this, ever since the old ones in a family are at a certain age (the age varies in different areas, but usually after 60), children will prepare shroud or grave-clothes for them in the year with a leap month.
In many places of northern China, people need to dress the deceased up before he/she passes away so that he/she will not die naked, which will be considered as a shame for both the deceased and the descendants.
Because of this, ever since the old ones in a family are at a certain age (the age varies in different areas, but usually after 60), children will prepare shroud or grave-clothes for them in the year with a leap month.
3. Pick a good location as the graveyard.
In ancient China, wealthy people will pick the graveyard location according to Fungshui so that their children would benefit and their family would have a long-lasting good fortune.
But now in rural China, due to the land resource issue, there is only a small area for a village to bury their deceased. In cities, people can only bury the deceased in public graveyards. So, there are not so many options.
In ancient China, wealthy people will pick the graveyard location according to Fungshui so that their children would benefit and their family would have a long-lasting good fortune.
But now in rural China, due to the land resource issue, there is only a small area for a village to bury their deceased. In cities, people can only bury the deceased in public graveyards. So, there are not so many options.
4. Taboos about the Funeral
After the coffin or casket is buried, people on the graveyard, including the deceased's families and the helpers, need to walk around the tomb for three round and they should not look back on the way home from the graveyard. Otherwise, the ghost of the deceased will follow them home and haunt them.
On funerals, women can only walk with the men until the edge of the village. They cannot follow the men to the graveyard because of their gender. But they can go to the graveyard on the second day of the funeral for the ritual of "Yuan Fen"
The helpers on the funeral and the vehicles used on the funeral need to have something red on to keep the ghosts or bad luck away.
After the coffin or casket is buried, people on the graveyard, including the deceased's families and the helpers, need to walk around the tomb for three round and they should not look back on the way home from the graveyard. Otherwise, the ghost of the deceased will follow them home and haunt them.
On funerals, women can only walk with the men until the edge of the village. They cannot follow the men to the graveyard because of their gender. But they can go to the graveyard on the second day of the funeral for the ritual of "Yuan Fen"
The helpers on the funeral and the vehicles used on the funeral need to have something red on to keep the ghosts or bad luck away.
5. Do not visit the others during the period of mourning.
Descendants of the deceased should not visit their relatives, friends, or any others during the period of mourning. This period used to be 1-3 years in ancient China. Now it is much shorter, maybe a couple months. People in this period should not wear clothes in bright colors, put on heavy makeups, or have parties to show their sadness and piety.
Descendants of the deceased should not visit their relatives, friends, or any others during the period of mourning. This period used to be 1-3 years in ancient China. Now it is much shorter, maybe a couple months. People in this period should not wear clothes in bright colors, put on heavy makeups, or have parties to show their sadness and piety.
6. On the Graveyard
On the graveyards, people should talk in a lower voice to show their respect. They should never step on the top of a tomb because that means they are stepping on their ancestor's body, which is very humiliating.
On the graveyards, people should talk in a lower voice to show their respect. They should never step on the top of a tomb because that means they are stepping on their ancestor's body, which is very humiliating.