. With the promotion of science, breaking the old and establishing the new, people's ideological consciousness is increasing day by day. In addition, since cremation is widely practiced, there are no coffins anymore, so rituals such as enclosing, placing the coffin, burying the body, and picking up the bones no longer exist. The portrait of the deceased replaces the wooden owner, and the funeral ceremony changes from complex to simple. During the funeral, relatives also send scrolls, usually with wreaths or money instead. The bereaved family publishes an obituary in the newspaper, and the funeral home has large, medium and small mourning halls for the bereaved family to hold farewell ceremonies and hold memorial services. The body is cremated in the crematorium.
1. Moving the hall
Moving the hall is also called "moving the shop". When a loved one at home is critically ill, funeral preparations must begin, commonly known as "the aftermath." Elderly people or parents over 50 years old must move to the ancestral hall (main hall). The main hall and the main bed are the most sacred places in the family, and they are also a courtesy. They are commonly known as "the main hall for the end of life." Use two benches and 3 (sometimes 4) bed boards or door boards to build a "water bed", also called a "turnover bed". After moving the house and before dying, family members cannot cry in person. The critically ill person also knows that the time has come and begins to explain his funeral arrangements, leave a will and hope that all his descendants will be present and surround him to "die" him. When moving a shop, if the critically ill person still has elders alive, they generally do not move into the main hall, but can only move into a side room (side room). Before the critically ill person dies, he is put on a shroud. The number of shrouds ranges from 3, 5, or 7, usually more than 5 or 7. When wearing it, you should first put it on the dutiful man or other relatives, put it on one piece at a time, then peel it off completely, and put it on the critically ill person at once.
According to Xiamen custom, if the deceased does not die a good death outside, such as drowning, hanging in the wild, or a car or horse accident, the dead body cannot be carried into the hall for parking, but can only be placed under the eaves or among the firewood. Or a separate funeral shed may be set up outside, and the funeral is generally simple.
2. First Bereavement
The critically ill person stops breathing and dies, which is also called the beginning of "passing over" and entering the first bereavement. At that time, a mourning hall will be set up and the funeral will be announced. The mourning hall is located in the main hall, also known as the "filial piety hall". There is also a special shed set up next to the court, called the "spiritual shed". If the mourning hall is located in the main hall, it must be "cleaned" first, that is, the original festive decorations such as the Tiangong furnace, candlesticks, statues, ancestor tablets, red couplets, large mirrors, etc. must be removed (arrangements have been made during the move), and the filial curtains must be hung. (white curtain). The dead person's face is covered with a white cloth, and the body is covered with a heaven and earth quilt, or the original cover sheet is used to cover the face. A bowl of rice is offered behind the feet of the deceased, with a single chopstick and a duck egg, commonly known as "foot-end rice". An oil lamp or a white candle (commonly known as an "ever-lasting lamp") is lit, and incense and paper money are burned continuously (in the Ming Dynasty). money). An offering table is placed in front of the door, and a temporary memorial tablet (soul silk) made of paper or a portrait prepared in advance is placed in the center of the table. There are a pair of "desktop ladies" on both sides, constantly lighting white candles and incense sticks. Those who come to visit the shop must bow first and then go inside to comfort the bereaved family. Dutiful men, filial daughters, wives, and grandchildren must put on linen filial piety clothes, and cover the toes of their shoes with hemp, which is commonly known as "wearing linen and wearing filial piety." The whole family gathers around the deceased and howls, which is commonly known as "mourning". At this time, remove the original red paper door couplets from the door and stick them diagonally with long strips of white paper. If the parents are deceased, stick crossed white papers to show "losing both heads", or hang a piece of white cloth on the door called "hanging filial piety" , is also a sign of mourning. Outside the gate, there is a paper sedan with a height of half a person, commonly known as "roller coaster sedan". There are paper "carriers" standing on the front and back of the sedan, and beside them are "Wan Cake Kueh" (small bowl of fat cakes) with incense sticks inserted as snacks for the "carriers". They also fold a few strings of paper ingots (silver paper) and hang them on the "carriage bearers" as "wages". Putting up a "roller coaster sedan" is the most obvious symbol of the bereaved family, and it can also reveal the gender and seniority of the deceased. The men's "coaster sedan" has a green top with a red top; the women's "coaster sedan" has a white top with a red top. The sedan is also marked with several generations, making it clear at a glance. In addition, people should be sent separately to tell relatives and friends to "report the funeral." In some cases, filial sons and grandsons personally announce the funeral to relatives and friends. Because they wear mourning clothes, they do not enter other people's homes and only announce the funeral outside the door. When a relative is reported, the visitor must be given a cup of water or tea to rinse his mouth to add "colorful energy". Some people are unable to go to other people's homes to report their funeral because of their filial piety, so they post "mourning notices" (also known as "mourning notices") on their doors. Some people write four big characters on the paper, "Sorry for not reporting carefully" and "Sorry for not publishing the obituary". They use words of apology to achieve the purpose of announcing the funeral. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the funeral newspaper was called an obituary. . After hearing the news, relatives and friends send "memory ceremonies", which include paper, scrolls (blanket, cloth, etc.) or cash. The bereaved family should give towels or handkerchiefs, red silk thread and a few candies.
3. Encoffining
Encoffining, also known as enclosing, is divided into small and large coffins. The small coffin is to dress the deceased, and first "beg for water" to purify the body.
When "begging for water", the filial man takes the lead, holding a "water bowl" (earthen pot) or a small wooden bucket. In the bowl or bucket, a piece of white cloth and 12 copper coins (later replaced by coins) are placed. The filial woman follows. They line up according to their relatives and go to a nearby stream, river, pond or ancient well. They kneel down half-kneeling and throw money into the water. After chanting "Buy water from the Lord of the Land", they scoop up the water with a bowl or bucket and cry all the way back. After arriving home, inside the bedroom door, use a white cloth dipped in water to scrub the deceased's face, hands, and feet to give him a facelift. The deceased is then put into a shroud and moved into the main hall. From "begging for water" to purification to putting on the shroud of the deceased, it is also called "Zhang Chuan", that is, dressing the deceased in "Zhang old shirt and jeans". Folks believe that using this "long running water" method of bathing and cleansing the body can make the deceased reborn in a paradise. Big burial means putting the corpse into the coffin, also known as "putting into the coffin" or "putting into the coffin", commonly known as "putting into the big house". The big house is the coffin, also known as the longevity board. The ceremony of welcoming the coffin in Xiamen is called "receiving the board". The mourning family members, wearing sackcloth and mourning, lined up and knelt beside the door to welcome the birthday banquet, which was carried by a team of people playing music and horses. The bereaved family first burns silver paper (underworld money), and puts a bag of white rice and two handfuls of dry firewood on the coffin before carrying it into the house, which symbolizes the prosperity of returning home. In addition, there is the custom of "begging for fire ashes". The bereaved family members have to beg for "fire ashes" from three neighbors with different surnames, and then put the "fire ashes" into the coffin for the bottom.
Before the burial, a "farewell" ceremony is held, and 12 bowls of dishes are offered to the deceased, including 6 bowls of meat and vegetables. If the deceased is a devout Buddhist, 12 bowls of all vegetarian dishes are provided. During the sacrifice, the "good fortune person" or the master (Taoist priest) should pick up each bowl of food one by one, pick up the dishes with chopsticks, make a feeding gesture, say good things, and offer the 12 bowls of food to the deceased one by one. A monk was asked to recite the "Rebirth Mantra" sutra, which is commonly known as the "Pu Qian Sutra".
It is necessary to choose an auspicious time for burial. If the deceased is a woman, her natal relatives should generally be present. Those whose zodiac signs are incompatible with the deceased should be avoided. During the burial, the body is put into the coffin, commonly known as "entering the big house". This is an auspicious event for the deceased to move to a new home. Therefore, the mourning family members cannot cry when the coffin lid is opened. Before the body is placed in the coffin, a ceremony of "letting go of the remaining money" is held. This ceremony is usually combined with the "farewell" sacrifice. That is, after 12 bowls of food are offered to the deceased, the remaining money on the deceased (some of which were kept by oneself before death, and some of which were stuffed by family members on the old man when he was dying), are taken out and distributed according to the room, commonly known as "breakup money", which is regarded as the deceased's money. When leaving money to your descendants, a "lucky person" or a master would say: "Let go of the remaining money, and your descendants will be rich and prosperous for thousands of years."
Before burial, first paste the coffin with memorial paper or yellow fiber paper The four walls are covered with "ground quilts", and the deceased wears not only a shroud but also jewelry. When encoffining, the eldest son usually holds the head of the body, and the remaining four or six children carry the body, lay it flat in the coffin, and cover it with a "heaven quilt" (commonly known as a "heaven and earth quilt", also known as a "big quilt"). On both sides of the body are also placed the deceased's previously loved things, daily necessities and other burial objects, the number of which varies depending on family background and status. Wealthy people often have gold, silver, jewelry and jade.
When the coffin was being closed, the mourning family members knelt down and cried bitterly, and finally bid farewell to the remains. After the coffin is covered, rituals and sacrifices are prepared, commonly known as "coffin sacrifice". The in-laws will bow first, followed by filial men, filial women, relatives, etc., who will kneel down in order of seniority. After the ceremony, the nails were sealed, and the four corners of the coffin were nailed. First, the uncle took the red sealing paper and an axe, and knocked it first. Then the tugong (also called earthworker, a person who specializes in funerals) nailed it firmly, singing while nailing. : "One nail of wood A and B from the east will bring fortune and wealth to the descendants from generation to generation; two nails of fire from the south of Bing and Ding will bring fortune to the descendants from generation to generation;...". Finally, a loose piece is left, and the filial man or grandson plucks it up with his teeth and spits it into a bucket. The bucket is filled with wood sticks, grains, copper coins, incense sticks, etc. There are also cases where the last nail is hammered in more than halfway, leaving the nail head outside, and the earthworker sings: "Cut out the nail" (meaning "out of Ding", the descendants will be prosperous). Some are simplified to directly sealing the coffin with earthwork nails.
After the burial, filial men and filial women will send the medicine jars, bowls and chopsticks, old mats, clothes, cups, basins and utensils used by the deceased to the countryside or nearby remote places to be burned. ", also called "sending the tail of the foot". The "roller coaster" outside the door will also be cremated. Xiamen also has the funeral customs of "knocking on the head of the coffin" and "jumping over the coffin". "Knocking on the head of the coffin" means that the deceased's parents are still alive. After the deceased's parents are buried, the parents hold wooden sticks and knock on the head of the coffin to express their condemnation of the deceased for failing to fulfill their filial piety. "Jumping over the coffin" means that if the wife dies first and the husband prepares to marry again, he has to carry a baggage and hold an umbrella and jump over the coffin. The intention is to pick up a backpack and umbrella and go out to make a living, and we will never see each other across mountains and rivers; some people think that they are separated and separated, and they will be reunited in the future, so as not to get entangled.
4. Stopping the coffin
Although Xiamen people have the custom of leaving the mountain (funeral) on the same day as the coffin, the coffin is usually kept for 3 to 7 days, and some people stop the coffin until "March 7" Then choose an auspicious day for burial. Most coffins are placed in the halls of their homes, and filial men and filial women keep vigil day and night. There are also relatives who accompany the deceased (sitting in mourning). After the wake, the master dipped peach branches in water and sprinkled them in the living room to ward off evil spirits. In the past, it was common in Xiamen for coffins to be left unburied for months or even decades, making it difficult to bury them. According to old records: "The poor people in Xiamen are buried in ten and a half months, because the houses are small. The rich... often leave the coffin without burying it." If the coffin stays for a long time, the coffin is moved to the clan ancestral hall or public hall or Borrow a house to put it down. Moreover, craftsmen should be hired regularly to paint the coffin.
5. Funeral
Funeral funeral, also known as "burying", commonly known as "going out of the mountain", is to deliver the coffin to the burial place. On the day of leaving the mountain, relatives of the bereaved family wear linen to express mourning and wear mourning clothes. According to ancient rituals, mourning clothes are divided into five types: zhansei, qixai, dagong, xiaogong and qianma. They are made of linen of different thicknesses. According to the Dress accordingly if you are close or distant. Relatives and friends generally wear white cloth strips around their left arms (later white handkerchiefs, white paper flowers, and small flowers are also worn on the chest). When it is time to "come out of the mountain", filial wives and other bereaved women put their hands on the coffin and cry bitterly, and filial sons and grandsons also knelt down on the side of the coffin and cried bitterly, which is called "crying the coffin head". The coffin bearer carries the coffin out of the house, which is commonly known as "carrying the coffin". Then the ceremony of "lifting firewood" is held, also known as "Qiling", which is the ceremony of delivering the coffin and burying it. Next, the coffin lid is nailed (commonly known as "nail sealing"), and the descendants of the bereaved line up in order. Under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, they circle the coffin three times, which is called "rotating the coffin." Then "hanging the coffin" is carried out, and the coffin is tied to the "Dulong Gang" (thick and long wooden pole) with thick ropes. There are small horizontal bars at both ends of the wooden pole. There are 8, 16, and 32 coffin bearers carrying the pole, and then the coffin cover is covered, which is also called "auger". The upper part of the coffin cover is decorated with colorful palaces and figures in ancient costumes, and the lower part is hung with embroidered curtains to cover the coffin.
There are mascots on the top of the coffin cover, a unicorn for men and a phoenix for women, both of which are lifelike Xiamen craftsmanship. At this time, the mourning family members knelt down and cried, the master made sacrifices, and the funeral relatives and friends saluted the coffin. The road-opening drum music is played, and the burial ceremony begins. The funeral procession is often led by the "road-opening god" (a statue of a god made of paper that is more than ten feet tall and has a majestic and ferocious face), followed by a "grass dragon" (straw bundle), burning The fire emits smoke (mostly incense burners are used instead), and then there is the horizontal plaque, which is made of black or blue cloth strips with "×××Funeral Ceremony" written on it, and is supported by two bamboo poles. There is also a pair of large white lamps under the leader. On the lamps are written "X generation of eldest father" or "× generation of eldest mother" according to the generation of the deceased's children and grandchildren (Changxu increases one generation). If it belongs to the Five Dynasties, a red cloth half cover is added to the large white lamp. The big white lantern is usually carried by the nephew, and paper money is scattered along the way, which is passing money for wild ghosts. Then there are the incense pavilion (burning incense and lighting candles), the statue pavilion (for the portrait or wooden owner of the deceased), the scroll, local folk music, colorful flags, the funeral of relatives, friends, masters, and finally the coffin. The tail of the coffin is tied with a holding ribbon, which is pulled by filial relatives as they walk. It is commonly known as "pulling the hemp tail", which means to retain the deceased. Some filial sons and grandsons hold funeral sticks (commonly known as mourning sticks) and support the coffin in mourning. The filial wives followed in line according to their relatives and seniority. For example, in a wealthy family or a bereaved family with many descendants, the bereaved family members walk in front of the coffin and pull the two white cloths drawn from the dragon heads on the "Dulong Bar", which is commonly known as "pulling the dragon's beard". The filial master (also called the mourning master, usually the eldest son) walks in the middle holding the "rabbit tail", and the two ends of the "dragon beard" (called the dragon's eyes) are held by the son-in-law, grandson-in-law or nephew-in-law. Behind the coffin is a folk band, commonly known as "blowing behind the coffin". After the "coming out of the mountain" procession passes through the bustling streets, the dutiful man should kneel on the side of the road and kowtow to the mourning relatives and friends. Please stop here, which is commonly known as the "step of thanks". Relatives and friends set up libations on the road to offer sacrifices, which is called "road offering". There are also homeless people who perform roadside sacrifices to earn money from bereaved families.
6. Burial
Burial is also called burial. After the "Farewell", speed up the process and the coffin should be buried before the sun goes down. When the coffin arrives at the cemetery, the grave has been dug in advance. When the coffin falls, the chief priest will take a handful of soil from the grave and put it into the furnace before returning home for the purpose of placing incense. This is also a custom to attract the spirit. After burial, five or three animals should be sacrificed to the "Houtu" (Lord of the Land) beside the tomb, and a "Pointing Lord" ceremony should be held. The filial host carries the wooden Lord (God Lord Card) on his back and kneels down in the direction of the sun. The Dian Zhuguan (a respected person or Feng Shui master) uses a red pen and ink pen to first put red dots and then black dots on the character "王" on the wooden master, so that the character "王" becomes the character "主", commonly known as "成" host". Since then, the wooden master has also become a god card containing the soul of the deceased, and can be worshiped for a long time in the future. Before "Dianzhu", there was also the custom of "Tinzhu", which was also called "Qiuzhu" and "Written Zhuzhu".
That is, on or before the day of burial, the bereaved family invites someone from the same clan or a famous person to inscribe the inscription on the wooden master (divine master card). Generally, the title and posthumous title are written on the front of the wooden owner, and the resume, birth and death dates, names of children and spouse, and the burial address are written on the back. The word "Zhu" on the front of the wooden master is temporarily written as the word "王", which will be added later when the main naming ceremony is held. It is also completed at the main naming ceremony. Generally speaking, you should first "topic" and then "click on". "Point Master" is also somewhat on the portrait. The god's tablet or portrait is taken home by the filial man, which is called "returning to the Lord". "Returning to the Lord" generally does not take the original route. When crossing the bridge and turning the corner, one has to greet the deceased and ask the gods to follow him back home. Bereaved women should weep at outdoor intersections to welcome the deceased. After the host is invited back, he places it on the temporary table in the main hall, offers sacrifices, lights incense and candles, and the mourning family members kneel down and worship, which is called the Peace of Mind Ceremony. At this point, the rituals of "coming out of the mountain" and "entering the grave" are completed, and then a banquet is held for relatives and friends. The last dish must be "hongzaorou" (pork with red wine grains). People attending the funeral consider eating "hongzaorou" to be auspicious.
7. Observing filial piety
Keeping filial piety was called "living in mourning" in ancient times and commonly known as "bringing filial piety". Some wear mourning clothes, and some wear "filial piety cloth". The duration of mourning varies, ranging from a few months to three years. Some people take off their mourning after seven or forty-nine days, while others take off their mourning after "a hundred days" or the "year of mourning". There are also those who stay in mourning for three years. Only after the mourning period has expired do you take off your mourning.
8. Sacrifice
Sacrifice to the deceased begins with the worship of "foot and tail rice". Many rituals in the funeral process are sacrifices to the deceased. The sacrifices held every seven days after death are called "Do Xun", also called "Do Qi". Most people in Xiamen are in their seventies. The first, third, fifth and seventh days are the big ten days, and the second, fourth and sixth days are the small ten days. The first ten days and the seventieth ten days are celebrated by the son, commonly known as the "filial son's ten days"; the third ten days are celebrated by the married daughter, commonly known as "Zha Xun Xun"; the fifth ten days are celebrated by the married granddaughter, commonly known as "Zha Mou Sun Xun"; the other ten days are only celebrated General worship. The first ten days are more solemn, especially the last ten days, when sacrifices are abundant. During the "Tian Xun" celebration, a "spiritual house" is often burned, that is, a spiritual house made of paper is burned to allow the soul of the deceased to live. Most people in Xiamen "do meritorious deeds" during the 30th, 50th, and 70th days of the "ten-day period", usually on the 50th day of the year, but sometimes on the 100th day or on the anniversary (anniversary). "Doing meritorious deeds" means singing meritorious deeds and reciting virtues for the deceased to express the gratitude of the descendants and to wish the deceased to ascend to heaven and be reincarnated as soon as possible. The time for "making merit" varies from one day and one night, to three days and three nights, to seven days and seven nights. Generally, a merit field is arranged in the hall of the funeral home, and green and white vertical couplets are hung, the content of which is to express condolences to the deceased. To do meritorious deeds, you should always do the "dojo" in conjunction with "Wu Qi". The "spiritual house" must also be burned when building a meritorious temple. "Lingcuo" is made by a paper-pasting shop. A large-scale paper-pasting house is built in the square with a bamboo frame in the style of a building courtyard. A plaque is hung high in the hall, a paper statue of the deceased is sitting in it, and servants are waiting on both sides. There are various furniture in the bedroom. There were decorations, roads and bridges, carriages, boats and sedan chairs outside the house, markets and shops, pedestrian scenery, and finally they were burned to the ground. On the third day of the first lunar month before the "year of the year", the bereaved family will offer sacrifices to the deceased and "burn a new bed" (a bed made of bamboo and paper) for the deceased so that the deceased can sleep on the new bed in the underworld.
9. Scavenging bones
Scavenging bones, also known as "picking up bones", is commonly known as "picking up bones". "Collecting bones" is usually performed within 10 days before and after the Qingming Festival 3, 5, or 7 years after the deceased was buried. There are also other auspicious days and times. At that time, the relatives of the deceased asked earthworkers to dig the grave and open the coffin, pick out the bones, arrange them and expose them to the sun. They used red silk threads to connect the human bones and put them into a special waist-drum-shaped pottery urn, which is called a corpse jar, commonly known as the "Golden Urn". There are also cases where the bones are stored in a small coffin, called a "golden coffin", also known as a "skeleton coffin", and then moved to a new cave or buried together in another cave.