Here's how they do it in... China
| 2.4 minutes reading time
China is a huge country and has a number of religions: Daoist and Buddhist, but also Islamic, Protestant and Roman Catholic. The first two are the most important, but all religions have their own way of burial and their own cemeteries. They do have a common denominator: in China, white is the color of mourning and death. An old custom is to hang a blue or white lantern at the front door in the event of a death.
Ancestor worship
In the event of a death, a photo of the deceased and a list of names of deceased parents, grandparents and ancestors adorn the house altar. Relatives also burn incense to honor the deceased and his ancestors.
A Feng Shui master, Buddhist monk or priest determines the time and place of the Chinese funeral based on the relationship of the deceased to his ancestors. The Chinese believe that the ancestors have an influence on the lives of the living.
Good food
A day before the Chinese funeral, the family cooks the deceased's favorite food. Before all the food is put on the table, all the lights in the house are turned on. It serves as an invitation to the deceased to come and say goodbye. Only after the funeral do the lights go out again.
The Hun-Soul and the Po-Soul
Chinese people believe that every human being has two souls: a their-soul and a po-soul. The their-soul accompanies the deceased to paradise, but the po-soul remains connected to the body after death. Offerings and grave goods help the po-soul to say goodbye to the body.
The soul of the deceased makes a journey of seven times seven days through the seven heavens and hells on the way to salvation.
The spiritual leader washes the deceased person together with the immediate family. After washing, the deceased is dressed in seven layers of clothing necessary for the journey of seven times seven days. After that, it's time to close the coffin. The rest of the family is also present at this time. During the closing of the coffin, the family members turn around, to prevent the spirit of the deceased person from remaining with them.
Burning fake money
A special funeral ritual that precedes a Chinese funeral is that the next of kin burn fake money and other valuable items made of paper. The relatives wish the dead a rich life in the afterlife. During the ritual, they bow three times with incense sticks in their hands.
No umbrella
As with many funeral rituals in other cultures, there are many rituals that have to do with chasing away ghosts. Raising an umbrella in a cemetery is out of the question. The ghost of the deceased could be hiding underneath. So even if it's pouring down from heaven... Umbrella closed!
Red envelope
At Chinese funerals, red envelopes are handed out to those present. The envelope contains a candy for good luck, a coin to reimburse the costs incurred to come to the funeral and a red wire for your wrist as a sign of mourning. The common thread is an old tradition. You show your support and condolences to the family of the deceased.
Commemorate
The Chinese also have various festivals to commemorate deceased relatives, such as the Qingming Festival and the Chongyang Festival. Chinese people don't often talk about death or about the deceased. Tradition says that this can cause bad luck.
