Due to the long historical and cultural background in China, funeral is a very important section of local life.
There are some traditional and typical rituals and activities during the funeral and in the first three years after the funeral.
In Chinese culture, the best way for a person to say goodbye to this world is to die peacefully at an old age in the bed (寿终正寝). Therefore,saying someone to die a graveless death (死无葬身之地)is a really bad thing, even can be considered as a curse. Saying this means that there must be profound hatred between them.
There are some traditional and typical rituals and activities during the funeral and in the first three years after the funeral.
In Chinese culture, the best way for a person to say goodbye to this world is to die peacefully at an old age in the bed (寿终正寝). Therefore,saying someone to die a graveless death (死无葬身之地)is a really bad thing, even can be considered as a curse. Saying this means that there must be profound hatred between them.
Part 1 During the Funeral
Encoffinness 入殓
This happens after the death. Families clean the body of the deceased and dress him/her up. Then put the body into the coffin, or wrap it to get ready for the cremation.
This happens after the death. Families clean the body of the deceased and dress him/her up. Then put the body into the coffin, or wrap it to get ready for the cremation.
Report Death 报丧
After the encoffinness, families of the deceased need to tell their relatives about this sad news and let them know some important dates, including the evocation and funeral.
After the encoffinness, families of the deceased need to tell their relatives about this sad news and let them know some important dates, including the evocation and funeral.
Evocation招魂(接三)
Evocation is the ritual to call back the soul or spirit of the deceased. This happens on the 3rd evening after the death. People think three days after a person died, he/she had already been to the terrace in hell from which the deceased can see their homes in this world. Therefore they hold this ritual to let the deceased know that they are dead and their families cannot get them back; their souls can only be released from the purgatory by monks or Taoist chanting. This ritual is the last chance for the deceased to meet his/her families. Actually this is only one of the memorial rituals.
Evocation is the ritual to call back the soul or spirit of the deceased. This happens on the 3rd evening after the death. People think three days after a person died, he/she had already been to the terrace in hell from which the deceased can see their homes in this world. Therefore they hold this ritual to let the deceased know that they are dead and their families cannot get them back; their souls can only be released from the purgatory by monks or Taoist chanting. This ritual is the last chance for the deceased to meet his/her families. Actually this is only one of the memorial rituals.
Entombment下葬
After the evocation ritual, it is the entombment or funeral. There are a lot of traditions about the time of funeral.
In Pingdu, Shandong Province, people usually choose the 5th day after the death as the day for entombment. But recently due to the high cost of funeral, some people may also choose the 3rd day after death as the day for entombment.
After the evocation ritual, it is the entombment or funeral. There are a lot of traditions about the time of funeral.
In Pingdu, Shandong Province, people usually choose the 5th day after the death as the day for entombment. But recently due to the high cost of funeral, some people may also choose the 3rd day after death as the day for entombment.
Keening 哭丧
Keening is a special part in Chinese funeral culture. It goes through the whole process, especially during evocation and entombment.
During entombment, all the descendants must cry, otherwise they will be considered as being without filial piety. What's more, the volume of the keening is also important. If there is no resounding crying on funeral, the descendants will be considered as being without filial piety too, and people will mock them about this. Therefore, in order to show their piety, filial sons and grandsons will hire some people to help them to increase the volume of crying. There are even professional keening people in some places and they make a good money on this.
Keening is a special part in Chinese funeral culture. It goes through the whole process, especially during evocation and entombment.
During entombment, all the descendants must cry, otherwise they will be considered as being without filial piety. What's more, the volume of the keening is also important. If there is no resounding crying on funeral, the descendants will be considered as being without filial piety too, and people will mock them about this. Therefore, in order to show their piety, filial sons and grandsons will hire some people to help them to increase the volume of crying. There are even professional keening people in some places and they make a good money on this.
Mourning Suits丧服
During funeral, the descendants wear the mourning suits to show their piety and grieve. This originated from <Zhou Li>--a classical book about rituals in China--as one of the rituals of Confucius. Family members dress the proper mourning suits according to the closeness of relationship between them and the deceased. Typically, the closer the relationship is, the rougher the mourning suits‘ fabric will be. People usually choose linen to sew suits. And the color should be all in white, from head to toes.
Nowadays, China is influenced by western culture. People start to wear black suits. Or, they will wear black armband for men and white paper chrysanthemum on the hair or on the chest for women to convey their grieve or condolence.
During funeral, the descendants wear the mourning suits to show their piety and grieve. This originated from <Zhou Li>--a classical book about rituals in China--as one of the rituals of Confucius. Family members dress the proper mourning suits according to the closeness of relationship between them and the deceased. Typically, the closer the relationship is, the rougher the mourning suits‘ fabric will be. People usually choose linen to sew suits. And the color should be all in white, from head to toes.
Nowadays, China is influenced by western culture. People start to wear black suits. Or, they will wear black armband for men and white paper chrysanthemum on the hair or on the chest for women to convey their grieve or condolence.
Sacrificial Offerings祭品
In Chinese culture, people believe that the deceased will continue to live in their afterlife. Therefore, their families should prepare all things that they used use in this world and things that they might use in their afterlife, including daily necessities,food, money, houses, servants, vehicles, etc. The more offerings they prepare, the more piety they will be considered. All the offerings need to be burnt so that the deceased would be able to get them in another world.
In Chinese culture, people believe that the deceased will continue to live in their afterlife. Therefore, their families should prepare all things that they used use in this world and things that they might use in their afterlife, including daily necessities,food, money, houses, servants, vehicles, etc. The more offerings they prepare, the more piety they will be considered. All the offerings need to be burnt so that the deceased would be able to get them in another world.
Part 2 After the Funeral
Bank up with Earth on the Grave Three days after the Funeral (圆坟)
This is also part of the process of the whole funeral, also a kind of way to worship the deceased. It usually happens on the third day after the funeral. But in my hometown, this happens on the second day of the funeral. On the early morning of that day, all the families (including the women in the family) need to go to the graveyard to bank up with earth on the grave. They also need to burn hell money and other offerings in front of the grave. The grandchildren need to walk around the grave three rounds clockwise and anti clockwise, which means to "open the gate". People believe that after "opening the gate", the families can communicate with the deceased, and the deceased can actually "get" the offerings burnt to them so that they will have a good life in another world.
This ritual is the end of the funeral.
This is also part of the process of the whole funeral, also a kind of way to worship the deceased. It usually happens on the third day after the funeral. But in my hometown, this happens on the second day of the funeral. On the early morning of that day, all the families (including the women in the family) need to go to the graveyard to bank up with earth on the grave. They also need to burn hell money and other offerings in front of the grave. The grandchildren need to walk around the grave three rounds clockwise and anti clockwise, which means to "open the gate". People believe that after "opening the gate", the families can communicate with the deceased, and the deceased can actually "get" the offerings burnt to them so that they will have a good life in another world.
This ritual is the end of the funeral.
Doing the Sevenths(做七,或烧七)
Counting from the day that the deceased pass away, the families need to burn hell money and other paper daily life items and offerings on the seventh days for seven times, totally in 49 days. This is called Doing the Sevenths. But most of the time, people will do four times, including the 1st seventh (usually combined with Banking up with earth on the Grave), the 3rd seventh, the 5th seventh, and the 7th seventh, which are all odd numbers, known as Doing Big Sevenths. According to the tradition, the 1st and 7th seventh are done by sons indicating doing things with starting and ending, in a complete circle; the 3rd seventh is done by the daughter-in-laws; the 5th seventh is done by daughters.
Counting from the day that the deceased pass away, the families need to burn hell money and other paper daily life items and offerings on the seventh days for seven times, totally in 49 days. This is called Doing the Sevenths. But most of the time, people will do four times, including the 1st seventh (usually combined with Banking up with earth on the Grave), the 3rd seventh, the 5th seventh, and the 7th seventh, which are all odd numbers, known as Doing Big Sevenths. According to the tradition, the 1st and 7th seventh are done by sons indicating doing things with starting and ending, in a complete circle; the 3rd seventh is done by the daughter-in-laws; the 5th seventh is done by daughters.
The Hundredth Day (烧百天)
The First Anniversary(一周年祭)
The Third Anniversary(三周年祭)
According to Chinese tradition, people are going to be judged after they go to the another world (die) based on what they do when they are living in this world by ten hell judges. Doing the Sevenths can help the deceased to pass the first 6 judges. After doing 7 Sevenths, the deceased will be sent to the hell court and judged by 4 hell judges. The judges will happen every ten days. Ten days after the last judge is the 99th day, and the day after that will be the Hundredth day.
Then the families need to burn offerings to the deceased on the 1st anniversary, and then on the 3rd anniversary. After the 3rd anniversary, the deceased is believed to be in the process of being reborn.
The First Anniversary(一周年祭)
The Third Anniversary(三周年祭)
According to Chinese tradition, people are going to be judged after they go to the another world (die) based on what they do when they are living in this world by ten hell judges. Doing the Sevenths can help the deceased to pass the first 6 judges. After doing 7 Sevenths, the deceased will be sent to the hell court and judged by 4 hell judges. The judges will happen every ten days. Ten days after the last judge is the 99th day, and the day after that will be the Hundredth day.
Then the families need to burn offerings to the deceased on the 1st anniversary, and then on the 3rd anniversary. After the 3rd anniversary, the deceased is believed to be in the process of being reborn.
How to calculate the dates?
For example, A died on January 1, then the evocation would be on the evening of January 3, the 1st Seventh on January 7 (usually replaced by the banking up on January 5); the 3rd Seventh on January 21; the 5th Seventh on February 4; the 7th Seventh on February 18; the Hundredth day on April 9.
For example, A died on January 1, then the evocation would be on the evening of January 3, the 1st Seventh on January 7 (usually replaced by the banking up on January 5); the 3rd Seventh on January 21; the 5th Seventh on February 4; the 7th Seventh on February 18; the Hundredth day on April 9.
Inhumation V.S. Cremation
Inhumation
One of the ways that people are buried after passing away, popular all over the world. The deceased will be put in a coffin, and then buried in the earth. Some graves have the gravestones, but some don't. They will only have a piece of rock or stone on the top of the grave. |
Cremation
Another way that the deceased's body is treated. After the cremation, the ash will be kept in a casket or urn, and then the casket will be buried in the graveyard to make a tomb. |
In China, until the Cultural Revolution, people used inhumation as the main way of burial. But after the Revolution, government started to promote cremation as a more modern and civilized way of burial. People couldn't take it at the beginning because they believed that if their bodies were burnt after death, their souls will be destroyed together with the bodies. But the authority passed a law to force through. There were even violence happening. And with the social developing, people started to accept this (actually they don't have another option other than accepting).