Exploring Chinese Burial Rituals
China is an enormous country comprised of many different regions and dialects, giving rise to many different traditions. In addition, the Chinese diaspora has spread out all over the world, meaning that ethnic Chinese in countries such as Taiwan, Malaysia, and the United States have created their own funeral rituals. It’s therefore impossible to cover Chinese rituals in their entirety, but exploring certain aspects of some of the traditions can be both fascinating and illuminating:
A Mark of Respect
In mainland China, respect is traditionally something that is shown to older family members: The older you are, the more respect you are owed from your relatives. This is why the services for older members of the family are most likely to be as elaborate as the family can afford, while the service for a young, unmarried person is likely to be fairly simple.
Coming Home
Many traditional mainland Chinese services are actually held at the family home. Burial services for family members who did not die at home are usually conducted directly outside the house, while burial services for people who have passed at home will be within the home. Some Chinese burial traditions may seem strange to outsiders. For example, the burial services are usually pre-planned or arranged before the person’s passing.
Color Coding
Traditional Chinese burial services require a complex color code, one very different from the subdued blacks and grays to which the Western world is accustomed. The color red is forbidden, except to cover religious figurines or to decorate the envelopes of money that are offered to mourners. This is because red is a color that means luck or happiness. The person is dressed in their finest outfit, but is also shrouded by two different pieces of cloth; blue for the body, yellow for the face. You can also tell the relationship of a mourner to the deceased by the clothing the mourner is wearing, since only immediate family members wear black, while grandchildren and great-grandchildren wear blue and light blue, respectively.
If a member of your family has passed on and you want to honor them by holding a traditional Chinese burial service, then you should consult with Chapel of the Chimes. Chapel of the Chimes works with the relatives of the deceased to provide the most respectful and appropriate burial services possible. To learn more about how we can help you during this difficult time, please call (866) 475-9407.
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