As a Chinese, i am always confused when it comes to the way different dialect groups mourn the death of their loved ones. It is especially overwhelming for Taoism as there are tonnes of customs, ceremonies and practices.
Today, i shall be focusing on the deceased's last journey in life.
The pallbearers would have to carry the coffin a few hundred meters before it can be placed in the colourful van (it used to be a 3-tonne lorry twenty years ago) to be sent to the crematorium or cemetery.
It's quite easy to spot the immediate family amidst the attendees; white shirt, bare-footed (wearing socks though). Wearing anything red is frowned upon as being disrespectful towards the family.
A band procession with members decked out in outrageous looking attire is always present to send off the deceased in a sombre manner. Rich families will usually engage the service of lion dancers or even singers to hype up the occasion.
From personal experience which is not a lot (thankfully), although Chinese funerals might seem interesting to the onlookers, there are way too many dos and don'ts that are just straining for a family who are still grieving.
Hi! Nowadays do we still see them carrying the coffin? or wouldn't they directly place them into the hearse instead? (do you still remember when was the last photo taken?)
ReplyDeletei think it's getting rarer and you are right, more often than not, it would be placed directly in the hearse. The last photo was taken about 6 years ago!
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