If you come to China for a funeral, you may be shocked. The traditions and rites of the Celestial Empire are completely different from the western ones. Here a special place is given to religion and beliefs, and the funeral ceremony is held according to the customs of the ancestors.
So how are people buried in China? How are funerals in this country different from ours? You will find the answer to all these questions in the article.
Traditions
Unlike in Western countries, the Chinese have always buried the dead in white clothes and put on this mourning color themselves. Now this tradition is maintained only in remote provinces, and in big cities people put on clothes of more restrained colors for funerals.
White clothing should only be with the relatives of the deceased. In addition, they tie a white bandage over their heads. The invitees should have a white ribbon on their hand. If a woman could, then on her right hand, and if a man on her left.
In antiquity, the deceased were also dressed in white robes. Now they put on a traditional costume. The number of wearing clothing must be considered important, it is important that the number is odd. A photo of how people are buried in China can be seen in the article.
Red is excluded at the funeral, as the Chinese, this color means life. In the Middle Kingdom, they believe that if the deceased is clothed in red clothes, his spirit can be stuck between two worlds (dead and living). If in our country all mirrors are covered for this, then China removes all red objects, including hieroglyphs.
How people are buried in China
They say goodbye to the dead in a large hall, which is usually rented. It is very important for the Chinese that as many people as possible attend the ceremony. For this purpose, invitations written on a white sheet of paper are sent to relatives and friends. If the deceased was more than 80 years old, the color of the paper should be pink. The fact is that for everyone, the ceremony of farewell to the people of the older generation is happiness, because the person lived for a very long time.
The invitees bring to the funeral flowers of white color (irises, orchids), as well as an envelope with money. In honor of the deceased, a commemoration is arranged, usually magnificent. If there are no funds, they set a modest table only for family people. There must be an odd number of dishes on the table. There are usually a lot of treats so that all guests remember the deceased properly.
Mourning lasts 7 days. During all this time, relatives are forbidden to comb their hair and haircut as a sign of grief. It is also forbidden to hold weddings at this time.
As in Russia, in China there is one day a year (Qingming), when relatives come to the graves to clean up the territory.
In honor of the departed for the Chinese New Year, locals launch bright lanterns that illuminate the path to heaven for souls. The Chinese believe that it is these lights that prevent souls from getting lost in the world of shadows.
Funeral rituals and rites
Speaking about how they bury in China, it is necessary to mention that everything is carried out in accordance with multiple rituals, as well as rituals, each of which has a certain meaning. Usually they are associated with beliefs and religion:
- The path of the deceased should be lit. To prevent this from happening, a burning candle should stand at the feet of the deceased, which will illuminate his path. The candle should not go out from the moment of death until the very burial or cremation.
- So that the deceased could not get lost, from ancient times they put a gold or silver coin into his mouth. The Chinese believe that due to the brilliance of precious metals, the soul will be able to find the right path. Sometimes for this purpose a pearl necklace was placed at the head of the head or on the forehead.
- When people are buried in China, then for the good life in the world of spirits, the relatives of the deceased burn money. But these are not ordinary yuan, but special funeral money, on which many zeros are written. Also, copies of things made of paper, which may be needed in another world, are transferred to the fire: a house, a car, beautiful clothes, household appliances, favorite things, and more. Be sure to burn an animal figurine made of paper, which was a symbol of the deceased according to the Chinese horoscope.
- Despite the fact that the Chinese people are not very emotional, they cry and lament very loudly at the burial ceremony. This must be done so that as many people as possible learn about the mountain. New people come up and start to cry too. As a result, the whole district gathers at the funeral.
- How are people buried in China? With music. Moreover, it must necessarily be loud, if not mournful. Music is needed in order to drive away evil spirits from the deceased. Foreign citizens often do not realize that they were at a funeral ceremony.
How to protect the dead from evil spirits?
Residents of China believe that in the process of farewell, all guests can be affected by evil spirits. In order to protect themselves from them, special guard rituals are held. After the deceased is already buried, red envelopes with a coin inside are handed out to the invitee.
She will help to return home safely. Upon arrival home, a red cloth is tied to the door handle, which does not let evil spirits into the home.
Funeral costs
When the Chinese are buried in China, they are given a magnificent funeral for which huge sums of money are spent. The more people come to say goodbye to the dead, the better.
But there is such a tradition that every invitee brings with them a white envelope in which the money lies. This can be any amount that a person can afford.
In small towns, some relatives write down the data of the person who came and the amount that he presented on a piece of paper. This is not at all connected with the commercialism of the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom. If the person close to him dies or he himself, the family will be obliged to return to him the same amount that he brought for the funeral to their relative.
Where are the Chinese buried in China
Previously, the bodies of the dead were interred, and a hill was laid on the grave, which was covered with stones. A monument has always been placed at the head.
But now, China is the most populous country in the world. As a result of this, cemeteries suffer from “overpopulation, ” so little space has been allocated for graves in recent decades. Now in the Middle Kingdom, a tendency to cremate the deceased is actively spreading. After the process, ashes can also be buried in the ground, but more often relatives disperse it over the sea.
In one province in China, the administration has banned the burial of the dead in tombs, as there is no available land left. The dead can only be cremated. But often relatives carry out the last will of the deceased, burying his ashes in the ground.
