Chinese Burial Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Chinese Burial Practices - Essay ExampleAn older person, according to Chinese tradition, does not show respect to some consistence younger so if a young child dies, no burial rites are performed since there is no one that can pay their respects. A child is buried with silence. If a young unmarried homophile dies, his parents cannot bring his body home or offer prayers. However, burial practices for an elderly person must strictly adhere to certain traditions. These rites which befit the deceased persons age and social status must be carried out by the family whether or not they can afford it without going into debt (Chinese Funeral Customs, 2003). after(prenominal) a person has died, their body is cleaned with a damp towel dusted with powder then dressed in simple, basic attire before being placed in the coffin. All of the other clothes of the deceased are burned. The body is not dressed in red as this is believed to transform the body into a ghost. The body is coered with a light blue cloth, the face with yellow (Chinese Funeral Custom, 2003). Adornments much(prenominal) as jewelry are not worn because the deceased has already taken rebirth and would not be able to take anything along with him (Suvanno, 1996). In the house of the deceased family, mirrors are temporarily remote because it is thought that if someone sees the coffins reflection in a mirror, this will lead to their admit demise. Red paper covers any statues of gods in the house and a white cloth is placed over the front door of the house with a gong placed either to the left of the cloth if a man died or to the right for a woman (Chinese Funeral Custom, 2003).During the wake, the coffin is positioned on a stand in the home if the deceased passed away at home or is placed orthogonal if the person did not die at home. The coffin remains unsealed during the wake and is positioned with the head of the body toward the home on two stools about a foot tall. Visitors are obliged to light infuriate t o show respect for the departed and to