Chinese Funeral Traditions
- Funeral Preparation The job of coordinating and preparing Chinese funerals falls on the children or younger family members of the deceased person. ...
- Chinese Funeral Attire Guests at a Chinese funeral wear somber colors like black. ...
- The Wake There is often a wake preceding the funeral that may last several days. ...
- The Funeral ...
- After the Funeral ...
What is the Chinese tradition when someone dies?
Most Chinese people believe that burial brings peace to the deceased, so they follow the tradition of inhumation. Influenced by Buddhism, many Chinese people believe that the souls of the dead stay and protect their descendants.
How do Chinese bury the dead?
Do Chinese bury their dead? While traditionally inhumation was favoured, in the present day the dead are often cremated rather than buried, particularly in large cities in China. According to the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA), of the 9.77 million deaths in 2014, 4.46 million, or 45.6%, were cremated.
What are some Chinese customs and traditions?
Customs and traditions of the Chinese People
- Bowing. To indicate deep respect and appreciation the Chinese may make the traditional gesture of cupping a fist with the other hand and bringing the hands towards the forehead while ...
- Color Symbolism. ...
- Sealing a deal in China. ...
- English in China. ...
- Food and Drink. ...
- Foreigners. ...
- Foxes 狐狸 hú li. ...
- Birthdays. ...
- Hierarchy. ...
- Luck. ...
What are funeral traditions in China?
► The Chinese funeral involves a lot of rites which have to be completed properly. Traditionally, the period called “wake” precedes the actual funeral. Held either in the family home or local temple, this period lasts for several days, wherein family members and close friends are expected to bring flowers for the deceased.
See 7 key topics from this page & related content
See 7 key topics from this page & related content
What is the Chinese tradition when someone dies?
After death, relatives and friends pour water over one hand of the deceased in a bathing ceremony. They then place the body in a casket and surround it with flowers, candles and sticks of incense. If possible, a photograph of the person is placed alongside and colored lights are hung around the casket.
What do you send to a Chinese family when someone dies?
White or yellow chrysanthemums are an ideal choice of sympathy flowers, as traditional Chinese customs state that white and yellow flowers serve symbolic needs for the funeral.
What are 3 important aspects of Chinese death and mourning rituals?
Besides inhumation (the major custom of Chinese death culture), there are many other customs on disposing the dead, such as cremation, 'water burial', 'sky burial' (to let vultures eat the corpse), 'tree burial' (put the corpse on a big tree), 'cave burial' (put the corpse in a cave), 'cliff burial' (put the corpse on ...
Why do the Chinese turn away from the coffin?
Then yellow and white "holy" paper is pasted on the coffin to protect the body from malignant spirits. During the sealing of the coffin all present must turn away since watching a coffin being sealed is considered very unlucky.
How do you pay respect at a Chinese funeral?
Paying respects to the dead If it is a Buddhist or Taoist event, you can offer a lit joss-stick and bow to the deceased if you also practise the religion. However, if you prefer not to for personal reasons, you can just bow for a few moments to pay your respects to the deceased.
What color should you not wear to a Chinese funeral?
Guests at a Chinese funeral wear somber colors like black. Bright and colorful clothing, especially red, must be avoided as these colors are associated with happiness. White is acceptable and, if the deceased was 80 or above, white with pink or red is acceptable as the event is cause for celebration.
What can you not do at a Chinese funeral?
5 Things to Avoid after a Taoist FuneralTrimming hair and nails. ... Avoid visiting friends and relatives. ... Refrain from entertainment. ... Don't wear bright colors. ... Marry during the mourning period.
How do you express condolences to a Chinese family?
Typical condolences messages like 'I'm sorry for your loss', and 'My thoughts are with you during this time' are quite safe. In Chinese, you can say something like 'jie ai shun bian'. Apart from the actual condolence wishes, you might find yourself having the opportunity to chat with the deceased family members.
How much money do you give at a Chinese funeral?
The most common minimum amount is $30. From there, you can increase the amount if you'd like, as long as the initial digits make up an odd number. This is because even numbers are considered auspicious in the Chinese culture – and funerals are anything but auspicious.
What color flowers are appropriate for a Chinese funeral?
In China, Japan and Korea, white chrysanthemums are symbolic of lamentation and grief. Yellow chrysanthemums are also a traditional funeral flower. In Chinese cultures, the family wears white at the funeral and does not wear any jewelry or red clothing, as red is the color of happiness.
Are Chinese buried standing up?
Yes, that's right: China wants you to bury your loved ones standing up. This isn't the first time in recent years that the Communist government in Beijing has urged non-traditional burial practices to preserve land space.
Why are funerals 3 days after death?
Historically, funerals had to take place after just a matter of days, because of decomposition. With today's preservation methods, families have a bit more time to prepare and get affairs in order. This helps families make arrangements, and to pick a day to hold the funeral.
How do you express condolences in Chinese?
Various terms for passing away. To express the idea that someone passed away, the words 逝世 shìshì, 辞世 císhì, 去世 qùshì, and 过世 guòshì are most commonly used.
What kind of gifts do Chinese like?
List of Good Gifts you Can Present to ChineseHome Specialties. ... Local Wine & Cigars. ... Kitchen Gadgets. ... Exotic Coffee. ... Tea: Flower tea or fruit tea. ... Engraved Pens. ... A Banquet. ... Clothes.More items...•
What flowers do you give for a Chinese death?
In China, Japan and Korea, white chrysanthemums are symbolic of lamentation and grief. Yellow chrysanthemums are also a traditional funeral flower. In Chinese cultures, the family wears white at the funeral and does not wear any jewelry or red clothing, as red is the color of happiness.
What are Chinese funeral traditions?
Burial is traditionally favoured in Chinese funerals, but with a rapidly expanding population, cremation is becoming more common.
What happens at a Chinese funeral?
Before the funeral ceremony, family members take turns sitting with the person who has died in a vigil or wake known as shou ling. This shows loyalty to the person who has died, keeping them company as they are prepared to journey into the spiritual afterlife . The wake usually takes place in the family home or at the local temple over a period of up to seven days.
What is the money for a Chinese funeral called?
Paper money called Joss paper is burnt during Chinese funerals. Made from bamboo or rice paper, Joss paper is often made to look like money and is burnt in order to ‘give’ money to the souls of those who have died.
Why is paper money burned in Chinese funerals?
Burying grave goods and giving food offerings has always been part of the Chinese funeral ritual, and this has evolved into the practice of burning Joss paper at Chinese funerals.
Why do Chinese wear white at funerals?
If the person who died was over 80 years, guests may wear shades of pink to the funeral ceremony as it is considered a longevity milestone, and people are encouraged to celebrate rather than mourn. The colour red is never worn for funerals, as it symbolises happiness and good fortune in Chinese culture (which is why it is the traditional colour of Chinese New Year and of Chinese weddings).
What does feng shui mean?
Feng shui is the practice of spacing physical objects in a particular way to influence the flow of energy, or chi, and it is believed that the grave’s location will impact the chi surrounding the family of the person who has died. In the case of a royal burial, good or bad feng shui may affect the entire nation.
What is the color of death in China?
The colour white is associated with death in China, as in many Asian cultures. Sometimes a white banner is hung above the door of the bereaved household, and mourners often wear subdued colours. If the person who died was over 80 years, guests may wear shades of pink to the funeral ceremony as it is considered a longevity milestone, and people are encouraged to celebrate rather than mourn. The colour red is never worn for funerals, as it symbolises happiness and good fortune in Chinese culture (which is why it is the traditional colour of Chinese New Year and of Chinese weddings).
What is the role of coordinating and preparing Chinese funerals?
The job of coordinating and preparing Chinese funerals falls on the children or younger family members of the deceased person. It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety and devotion to one’s parents. Family members must consult the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date to hold the Chinese funeral ceremony. Funeral homes and local temples help the family prepare the body and coordinate the funeral rites.
What colors are used in Chinese funerals?
Guests at a Chinese funeral wear somber colors like black. Bright and colorful clothing, especially red, must be avoided as these colors are associated with happiness. White is acceptable and, if the deceased was 80 or above, white with pink or red is acceptable as the event is cause for celebration. The deceased person wears a white robe.
What do the sons and daughters wear in the funeral procession?
The sons and daughters wear black and white mourning clothes and walk in the front row of the procession. Daughters-in-law come next and also wear black and white clothes. Grandsons and granddaughters wear blue mourning clothes.
What is the color of the funeral flowers in China?
Traditional Chinese funeral flowers are white. The white envelopes are similar to red envelopes that are given at weddings. White is the color reserved for death in Chinese culture. The amount of money put in the envelope varies depending on the relationship to the deceased but must be in odd numbers. The money is meant to help the family pay ...
What are the invitations for Chinese funerals?
Announcements of the funeral are sent in the form of invitations. For most Chinese funerals, the invitations are white. If the person was age 80 or older, then the invitations are pink. Living until 80 or beyond is considered a feat worth celebrating and mourners should celebrate the person’s longevity rather than mourn.
What is included in a funeral invitation?
The invitation includes information about the funeral’s date, time, and location, as well as a small obituary that includes information about the deceased that may include his or her birth date, date of death, age, family members that survived them and sometimes how the person died. The invitation may also include a family tree.
What to give to guests at a wedding?
The family will distribute to guests red envelopes with a coin inside to ensure they return home safely. The family may also give guests a piece of candy that must be consumed that day and before going home. A handkerchief may also be given. The envelope with coin, sweet, and handkerchief should not be taken home.
What is the ritual of Chinese funerals?
Chinese funeral rituals. Chinese funeral rituals comprise a set of traditions broadly associated with Chinese folk religion, with different rites depending on the age of the deceased, the cause of death, and the deceased's marital and social statuses. Different rituals are carried out in different parts of China, ...
How long does it take to do a Chinese funeral?
However, in general, the funeral ceremony itself is carried out over seven days, and mourners wear funerary dress according to their relationship to ...
What is the funeral procession?
The funeral procession (發引 fā yǐn) is the process of bringing the hearse to the burial site or site of cremation. During the funeral, offerings of food items, incense, and joss paper are commonly presented. The offering of food and joss paper signifies the continuing interdependence between the deceased and their living descendants. Taoist or Buddhist prayers are sometimes carried out by monks, to help the deceased's soul to find peace and escape a fate of becoming a "restless ghost".
Why do monks pray to the deceased?
Taoist or Buddhist prayers are sometimes carried out by monks, to help the deceased's soul to find peace and escape a fate of becoming a "restless ghost". Every year at the Qing Ming Festival (清明節), people pay respect to their ancestors by visiting their graves and tidying up their tombstones.
What colors do people wear during mourning?
The colours red, yellow, and brown are traditionally not worn during the mourning period, which may last up to three years.
What is the traditional burial custom?
Traditional burial customs show a strong belief in life after death and the need for ancestor veneration among the living; Confucian philosophy calls for paying respect to one's ancestors as an act of filial piety (孝 xiào ). These ideals still inform funeral rites for many Chinese people today.
How many terracotta figures are there in China?
The late 3rd century BCE Terracotta Army contains approximately 9,000 terracotta figures that were buried to protect Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China .
What is the main funeral style in China?
Inhumation, the Main Funeral Style in China. Most Chinese people believe that burial brings peace to the deceased, so they follow the tradition of inhumation. Influenced by Buddhism, many Chinese people believe that the souls of the dead stay and protect their descendants. Qingming Festival is the day for descendants to worship their ancestors ...
What did the Chinese believe about the death of the dead?
to 1,046 B.C.), Chinese people believed that the souls of the dead lived in another world: the nether world and graves were their earthly residences . Death of course brings boundless grief to the living, but the living have traditionally held grand, even extravagant funerals to see off the dead. Today, funerals are much more simple and economical.
What are Chinese coffins made of?
Coffins (棺材, guancai /gwann-tseye/) in China can be made from many materials, including wood, stone, and bronze. Wooden coffins are the commonest ones. A Chinese coffin is made with three longer boards and two shorter boards, so in Chinese language, the phrase of sanchang liangduan (三长两短, /san-chang lyang-dwan/ 'three long, ...
What do Chinese people do on Qingming Festival?
On Qingming Festival, almost all Chinese people go to graveyards for tomb-sweeping (cleaning the tombs, burning joss sticks and joss paper, and sacrificing some ready-to-eat food and some flowers), sending their memory and respect to their ancestors.
Why do people celebrate Qingming Festival?
Qingming Festival is the day for descendants to worship their ancestors and pray for their protection, which is believed to bring luck to descendants. That’s one of the most important reasons why Chinese people (especially some successful Chinese businesspersons) are very serious about the festival. Check out the food, customs, and the legend of Qingming Festival.
How many feng shui cities are there in China?
China has six fengshui cities, selected because of their precise layouts based on fengshui: Beijing, Tekesi Town (aka Eight Trigarams City) in Xinjiang, Kunming in Yunnan, Wenzhou in Zhejiang, Hengyang in Hunan, and Shenzhen in Guangdong.
How many historical relics are there in China?
According to 2007 data, there are about 70 million historical relics collectors in mainland China. Supposing each collector owns three historical relics, the total number of historical relics in the general population (not including those kept in museums) could be more than 200 million, and most of which (at least 65%) are unearthed objects. Why does China have so many historical relics hidden underground? It is due to the death culture of inhumation in China.
Why do people wear red at Chinese funerals?
Wearing red to a Chinese funeral is considered extremely poor taste because red is associated with happiness and prosperity. Remove your shoes before entering if the funeral is in a temple. Doing so is a sign of respect for the building, the deceased and his or her family.
Why do people give candy at funerals?
This is to remind people that life has its sweetness among the bitterness.
What to write in a note for a deceased person?
If you knew the deceased well, it is appropriate to write about a special memory. You could include a verse or poem, either composed by you or copied from another source, along with your note.
Why do you remove shoes at a temple?
Remove your shoes before entering if the funeral is in a temple. Doing so is a sign of respect for the building, the deceased and his or her family.
How to honor a deceased person?
Place poems, calligraphy or a gift of money in or near the casket. This honors the deceased. If you give money, never give an even amount. For example, instead of leaving $10 or $52, leave $11 or $53. Odd amounts cannot be divided equally between two people. One person will always have more than the other.
Do Chinese friends offer condolences?
Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one appreciates the expressions of sympathy offered by friends. This is the case regardless of whether you may feel unsure about offering your condolences to someone of a different cultural background. It's natural to feel this way. Any gesture of sympathy will be welcomed by your Chinese friends.
Can you give flowers at a Chinese funeral?
Gifts of flowers are common at Chinese funerals in the same way that people give food or flowers in a Western funeral. Make sure the florist understands not to use any red flowers, a red vase or any red decorations in the arrangement. Open the white envelope that the family may have distributed.
Funeral Preparation
Chinese Funeral Attire
- Guests at a Chinese funeral wear somber colors like black. Bright and colorful clothing, especially red, must be avoided as these colors are associated with happiness. White is acceptable and, if the deceased was 80 or above, white with pink or red is acceptable as the event is cause for celebration. The deceased person wears a white robe.
The Wake
- There is often a wake preceding the funeral that may last several days. Family members are expected to keep an overnight vigil for at least one night in which the person’s picture, flowers, and candles are placed on the body and the family sits near by. During the wake, family and friends bring flowers, which are elaborate wreaths that include banners with couplets written on …
The Funeral
- At the funeral, the family will burn joss paper (or spirit paper) to ensure their loved one has a safe journey to the netherworld. Fake paper money and miniature items like cars, houses, and televisions are burned. These items are sometimes associated with the loved one's interests and are believed to follow them into the afterlife. This way they have everything they need when they …
After The Funeral
- After the funeral ceremony, a funeral procession to the cemetery or crematorium is held. A hired band resembling a marching band typically leads the procession and plays loud music to frighten spirits and ghosts. The family wears mourning clothes and walks behind the band. Following the family is the hearse or sedan containing the coffin. It is typically adorned with a large portrait of …