After the coffin circling is completed, the coffin is raised and the spirit is raised, which is locally called the "spiritual mourning ceremony". Coffins are popular for funerals in various parts of S

After the coffin circling is completed, the coffin is raised and the spirit is raised, which is locally called the "spiritual mourning ceremony". Coffins are popular for funerals in various parts of Shanxi. They are shaped like a long sedan with a tin top, a gourd head and a golden top. The four corners are dragon heads and tails for male deceased, phoenix head and phoenix tail for females, and are decorated with red, blue and yellow cloth curtains. , painted with various auspicious patterns. There are shops specializing in renting out this kind of utensils. The heavy coffin and the huge coffin cover make it more difficult if there are fewer people. As a result, the number of bearers increased from 8 to 16, 24, or even 32 people, commonly known as 16 bars, 24 bars, and 32 bars. Some places in Shanxi require that after the coffin leaves the house, it must be delivered to the cemetery without stopping (except for road festivals). There are many people carrying the coffin, which not only facilitates this, but also makes the coffin look grand. Before the coffin was lifted, the eldest son of the deceased fell on his knees. Holding the earthen basin with burning paper money in his hand, he burst into tears, and then broke the basin on the ground. The area around Xinzhou and Dingxiang is called the "Falling Mangzi Basin". Folks believe that if the funeral pot is broken, the deceased can take all the burned paper money to the underworld for use. After throwing the "child mourning basin", the funeral officially begins. In some places in southern Shanxi, coffins must be carried with the big end in front when leaving the hospital; after exiting the door, the coffin must be turned around and carried all the way to the cemetery. It turns out that people believe that the deceased lying in the coffin is like a person standing. When going out, head forward, which means looking back at home, showing attachment to the world; after going out, head backward, it means no longer looking back, and heading straight for the paradise of the west. . There is a path at the front of the funeral procession, and "road flags" - small pennants made of five-color paper or white paper are placed along the way to guide the souls of the deceased; paper money is thrown around to show that the ghosts along the way are bribed. Next are the ceremonial guards, various paper bindings (called "zhiwen" in Xingxian area), coarse and fine music classes, soul-inducing flags carried by nephews or grandsons, those carrying stools, and then the ropes and mourning sticks. The filial son is followed by the coffin, followed by the female family members in cars and sedans and relatives and friends on foot. When the funeral procession arrives at a crowded place or at a major intersection, it must also stop to hold memorial ceremonies and drum music must also stop to play. In ancient times, sacrifices were usually held by relatives, friends, and neighbors. Later, sacrifices were mostly held by the bereaved family themselves. The purpose was just to show that the funeral was grand and grand. After arriving outside the village, the relatives and friends attending the funeral stopped, and the son of the deceased "expressed his gratitude". Then the coffin cover is removed, the ceremony stops, and only family members and close relatives carry paper bundles and offerings along with the coffin to the cemetery. When the time comes, he will be buried immediately. After the coffin is placed in the tomb, Mr. Yin Yang will set up the compass to determine the direction in Qixian County, central Shanxi, and move it left and right until he thinks it is OK. Generally speaking, the upper direction is southeast-northwest (Qian-Xun position). There is a local saying that "the Purple Mountain is above the head and the Yanmen Pass is on the feet." In places such as Qin County in the southeast of Shanxi Province, Mr. Yin and Yang must install town objects, such as peach bows, willow arrows, mulberry branches, cotton, and grains. The son of the deceased went into the tomb to inspect, and then the family members threw "rich money" and "rich steamed buns" into the tomb. In the Fushan area, new bricks and tiles painted with symbols by Mr. Yin Yang are placed in tombs. Folks believe these are the locks and keys of the underworld. When burying coffins in Wuzhai and other places, it is required that "people stop and shovel without stopping." The family will call the deceased to "hide the soil". After the tomb is piled up, the "weeping stick" and "soul-drawing flags" held by the deceased's children and grandchildren are inserted into the grave (the soul-drawing flags are also placed on the top of the coffin), and then all the paper bundles are burned (the "boys and girls" have already had their heads cut off). Or twist the feet backward and place them on the side of the coffin), everyone will pay homage again, cry bitterly, and then quietly exit, letting the deceased rest here forever. Excerpted from "Shanxi Folk Customs", Shanxi People's Publishing House, 1991